RT credential maintenance and state license CE
Respiratory therapists who hold NBRC credentials such as the CRT or RRT take part in the NBRC Credential Maintenance Program. States license respiratory care practitioners and set their own continuing education rules.
Quoted from official pages checked November 12, 2026. Confirm current requirements, fees, and dates on those sites. This page is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility, certification, or licensure.
NBRC credential maintenance
The NBRC’s credentialed practitioners page, read November 12, 2026, says it offers “three options for maintaining your credential through our Credential Maintenance Program.” Option 1 is to “Complete the quarterly assessment(s) for your credential(s) and, if needed, provide proof of completion of a maximum of 30 required hours of Category I Continuing Education (CE) acceptable to the NBRC, according to your assessment progress.”
Option 2 is to retake and pass the examination for the highest credential you hold that is subject to the program; “A new five-year period will begin on the date you successfully pass the examination.” Option 3 is to pass an NBRC credentialing examination you have not completed before, which extends your other NBRC credentials for five years (paraphrased). The page states: “This program does not affect credentials achieved before July 1, 2002.”
State license CE: a first set of states
| State | Respiratory care license CE | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 20 contact hours, including 1 on Ohio law or ethics and at least 15 clinical | Every two years |
| Washington | 30 credit hours, at least 10 AARC-approved, plus 2 hours of health equity | Every two years |
| Minnesota | 24 contact hours of board-approved CE | Every two years |
| Vermont | 12 hours | Two-year renewal period |
| Mississippi | 20 clock hours | Biennial; period ends August 31 of odd years |
Summaries of official pages read November 12, 2026. Read the state page and the board’s own site.