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 |
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| 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 |
