Respiratory Therapist State Licensure Information

Practice acts and respiratory therapy licensure laws contain exemption or exception sections. Be aware that different state laws may exempt different individuals, entities or services. Most licensure board websites have both the statute and regulations. It is important to know exactly what the law or regulations permit in each state. Also be aware that most licensure boards have the authority to make changes to the respiratory practice act through rules, regulations and advisory opinions, and they frequently do. To assure you have the most accurate respiratory therapist state licensure information, refer to the respiratory therapy licensure boards’ sites. A list of state licensure board and committee contacts is available.

Affiliate # of Licenses Renewal Period C.E. Hours Fees
Alabama
Licensure
2,914 Biennial 24 total

*Minimum 12 traditional

$100—Initial
$75—Renewal
Alaska
No License
Arizona
Licensure
4,153 Biennial 20 total

*Minimum 5 traditional

$273—Initial
$150—Renewal
Arkansas
Licensure
2,123 Annual 12 total $75—Initial
$40—Renewal
California
Licensure
23,680 Biennial 30 total

*3 hours state-specific laws and professional ethics

**Find our California Law and Professional Ethics course here.

$300—Initial
$300—Renewal
Colorado
Licensure
3,831 Biennial

August 31st of even-numbered years

Not required for renewal $85—Initial
$24—Renewal
Connecticut
Licensure
1,924 Annual 10 total

*Minimum 5 traditional

$190—Initial
$105—Renewal
Delaware
Licensure
762 Biennial 20 total

*Minimum 10 traditional

$143—Initial
$101—Renewal
District of Columbia
Licensure
800 Biennial

January 31st of odd-numbered years

16 total

*2 hours of ethics

* 2  hours of LGBTQ continuing education

**ten percent (10%) of the total required continuing education shall be in the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District, which shall be duly published every five (5) years or as deemed appropriate.

$254—Initial
$169—Renewal
Florida
Licensure
13,938 Biennial

May 31st of odd-numbered years

24 total

*2 hours of medical errors

*2 hours of laws and rules

*1 hour of human trafficking awareness

$105—Initial
$95—Renewal
Georgia
Licensure
5,479 Biennial 30 total $150—Initial
$105—Renewal
Hawaii 793 Triennial

June 30th every 3 years

Not required for renewal $340—Initial
$340—Renewal
Idaho
Licensure
1,091 Annual

June 30th

12 total $100—Initial
$65—Renewal
Illinois
Licensure
5,553 Biennial 24 total $120—Initial
$100—Renewal
Indiana
Licensure
5,240 Biennial 15 total $50—Initial
$50—Renewal
Iowa
Licensure
1,888 Biennial 24 total

*Minimum 12  traditional

$75 —Initial
$75—Renewal
Kansas
Licensure
2,182 Annual 12 total

*Minimum 6 traditional

$80—Initial
$75—Renewal
$72—Online Renewal
Kentucky
Licensure
3,840 Biennial 24 total $150—Initial
$90—Renewal
Louisiana
Licensure
3,510 Annual 10 total $125—Initial
$85——Renewal
Maine
Licensure
942 Annual Not required for renewal $86—Initial
$65—Renewal
Maryland
Licensure
2,744 Biennial 16 total $200—Initial
$176—Renewal
Massachusetts
Licensure
3,277 Biennial 20 total $260—Initial
$110—Renewal
Michigan 5,374 Biennial Not required for renewal

*1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of license or registration cycle

$95—Initial
$162—Renewal
Minnesota
Licensure
2,014 Annual 24 total every 2 years $190—Initial
$90—Renewal
Mississippi
Licensure
2,541 Biennial 20 total $75—Initial
$100—Renewal
Missouri
Licensure
4,460 Biennial 24 total

*Minimum 12 traditional

$40—Initial
$30—Renewal
Montana
Licensure
661 Annual

May 1st every year

24 total every 2 years, due at renewal on even-numbered years $100—Initial
$75—Renewal
Nebraska
Licensure
1,551 Biennial

June 1st of even-numbered years

20 total $118—Initial
$118—Renewal
Nevada
Licensure
1,753 Biennial

June 30th of odd-numbered years

20 total

*2 hours of ethics

$100—Application
$185—Initial Reg fee 1st yr.fi
$92.50—Initial Reg fee in 2ed yr
$185—Renewal
$75—Criminal background check
New Hampshire
Licensure
628 Biennial

*Beginning on February 22, 2023, licenses issued will expire two years from the date of issuance, on the last day of the month in the month the license was issued.

Effective May 22, 2023, Plc 1507.04 Continuing Professional Competence Requirements states that New Hampshire requires 24 CEUs completed within the last 2 years $165—Initial
$165—Renewal
New Jersey
Licensure
3,450 Biennial 30 total

*1 hour of infection control

*1 hour of patient safety/medical errors

*1 hour of ethics

$125—Application
$160—Initial
$160—Renewal
New Mexico
Licensure
1,243 Biennial 20 total

*1 hour of ethics

$150—Initial
$150—Renewal
New York
Licensure
7,848 (6,956 RRT;
882 CRT)
Triennial 30 total

*Minimum 15 traditional

$294—Initial
$237—Renewal
North Carolina
Licensure
5,197 Annual 12 total

*Minimum 6 traditional

$125—Initial
$75—Renewal
North Dakota
Licensure
644 Annual 10 total $80—Initial
$80—Renewal
Ohio
Licensure
8,820 Biennial 20 total

*2 hours Ohio RC law or professional ethics

$75—Initial
$75—Renewal
Oklahoma
Licensure
2,423 Biennial 12 total $100—Initial
$75—Renewal
Oregon
Licensure
1,917 Annual 7 total

*2.5 hours must be directly related to clinical practice

$100—Initial
$100—Renewal
Pennsylvania
Licensure
7,379 (549 Board of Osteo Med;
6,830 Board of Med)
Biennial 30 total

Minimum 10 traditional

*1 hour medical ethics

*1 hour patient safety

*2 hours of board-approved recognition and reporting of child abuse

$30—Initial
$25—Renewal
Puerto Rico
Licensure
2,727 Triennial 30 total, due biennially $50—Initial
$25—Renewal
Rhode Island
Licensure
629 Biennial 12 total

*Maximum of 6 hours online

*2 hours of ethics

$60—Initial
$60—Renewal
South Carolina
Licensure
2,956 Biennial 30 total $120—Initial
$75—Renewal
South Dakota
Licensure
528 Biennial 20 total

*2 hours patient safety

$75—Initial
$60—Renewal
Tennessee
Licensure
4,958 (3,708 RRT;
1,250 CRT)
Biennial 12 every calendar year, 24 per renewal cycle

*1 hour of patient safety per year

*1 hour of ethics per year

$150—Initial
$175—Renewal
Texas
Licensure
15,869 Biennial 24 total

Minimum 12 hours traditional

*2 hours of ethics

*1 hour of human trafficking approved by executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission

$125—Initial
$106—Renewal
Utah
Licensure
1,715 Biennial Not required for renewal $60—Initial
$52—Renewal
Vermont
Licensure
457 Biennial 12 total $100—Initial
$240—Renewal
Virginia
Licensure
4,344 Biennial 20 total $135—Initial
$135—Renewal
Washington
Licensure
3,184 Biennial 30 total

Maximum 10 hours self-study (“Journal reading of publications related to respiratory care”)

$140—Initial
$110—Renewal
West Virginia
Licensure
1,864 Annual 20 total every 2 years

Maximum 10 hours self-study (“Programmed instruction, presented in respiratory care or in other appropriate professional journals”)

$200—Initial
$65—Renewal
Wisconsin
Licensure
2,843 Biennial Not required for renewal $150—Initial
$141—Renewal
$170—A/O
Wyoming
Licensure
784 Annual 8 total $100—Application
$100—Renewal

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