Virginia respiratory therapist license renewal and continuing education

Virginia rule 18VAC85-40-66 states: “In order to renew an active license as a respiratory therapist, a licensee shall attest to having completed 20 hours of continuing education within the last biennium”.

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.

Sources read on November 12, 2026: 18VAC85-40-66, 18VAC85-40-60.

Cycle

Licensed respiratory therapists renew “biennially in each odd-numbered year in his birth month”.

What counts

Accepted hours include AARC-recognized sponsors, AMA Category 1 courses related to respiratory care, post-licensure academic credit, and passing an NBRC specialty exam (credited as 20 hours). Up to two hours may come from volunteer care for low-income patients (paraphrased).

First renewal and records

“A practitioner shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements for the first biennial renewal following the date of initial licensure in Virginia.” Records are kept for four years after renewal (paraphrased).

Required topics

None named. The official source this page quotes sets the CE hours but does not name a required topic (read November 12, 2026). Other state laws can still apply, so confirm with the board before you renew.

Compare states: required CE topics by state.

What this page does not do

It covers the state respiratory care license only, and only what the official page named above says. It does not list fees and does not replace the board’s own instructions. NBRC credential maintenance is separate; see the RT overview. Rules change; check the board before you renew.