How to Verify a Respiratory Therapist License

CRT vs. RRT: credential levels

The NBRC issues two primary credentials. Both require graduation from a CoARC-accredited program and passage of NBRC examinations:

• Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) — entry-level credential. Requires an associate's degree or higher from a CoARC-accredited program and passage of the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) examination at the CRT cut score. The CRT is the minimum credential required for state licensure in most jurisdictions.
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) — advanced credential. Requires passage of the TMC examination at the higher RRT cut score, plus passage of one of three Clinical Simulation Examinations (CSE): the Adult Critical Care Specialist (ACCS), the Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist (NPS), or the Sleep Disorders Specialist (SDS). Many ICU and critical care positions require or strongly prefer RRT.

NBRC also offers specialty credentials: RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, and RRT-SDS — each indicating advanced competency in a specific clinical area. These are distinct from state licensure but are increasingly expected in specialist roles.

Step 1: Verify NBRC certification status

The NBRC Credential Verification tool is the authoritative source for CRT and RRT certification status. It is publicly accessible and free.

Confirm the credential type matches the job requirement. An active CRT is not equivalent to an RRT for positions requiring advanced certification. Check the expiration date — NBRC credentials are time-limited and must be renewed through continuing education.

Step 2: Verify state license status

Respiratory therapy is regulated at the state level. All but a handful of states license respiratory therapists, and most require active NBRC certification as a condition of licensure. State license lookup is separate from NBRC verification — both checks are required.

For multi-state verification — common with travel respiratory therapists — verify licensure in each state where the practitioner has worked. Unlike nursing or physical therapy, there is no interstate compact for respiratory therapy as of 2026; each state must be checked independently.

Note that a small number of states — Alaska, Hawaii, and Colorado among them — do not license respiratory therapists at the state level. In those states, NBRC certification and employer credentialing are the primary verification mechanisms.

Step 3: Verify CoARC program accreditation

The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredits entry-level respiratory therapy programs in the United States. NBRC requires graduation from a CoARC-accredited program (or CAAHEP-accredited predecessor) as a prerequisite for examination eligibility. A degree from an unaccredited program disqualifies the candidate from NBRC certification — meaning any claimed NBRC credential from an unaccredited program is fraudulent.

For candidates with degrees from institutions outside the United States, NBRC accepts applications from foreign-trained therapists who meet additional requirements including credential evaluation by a NACES-member agency and a NBRC-specific foreign application process. Verify that international candidates completed this pathway rather than claiming standard U.S. program graduation.

Step 4: Verify the education degree

Most respiratory therapists hold an associate's degree; bachelor's and master's programs exist for advancement into management or education roles. Verify the degree through the institution directly or via the National Student Clearinghouse.

Community colleges are the most common source of respiratory therapy associate's degrees. Contact the registrar directly if the institution is not in the Clearinghouse network — this is more common for smaller community colleges and programs in rural areas.

7 red flags in respiratory therapy credentials

1. NBRC credential not found in registry. Any claimed CRT or RRT should appear in the NBRC verification tool. Absence means the credential is unverified — not necessarily fraudulent, but requires direct inquiry with NBRC.
2. Expired NBRC credential presented as current. NBRC credentials require continuing education for renewal. Check the expiration date; an expired credential means the practitioner no longer meets the minimum standard.
3. RRT claimed when NBRC shows only CRT. The RRT requires additional examination steps beyond the CRT. Candidates sometimes claim RRT when they only hold CRT.
4. Degree from a program not in CoARC's directory. If the claimed respiratory therapy degree comes from a program not listed as CoARC-accredited or a recognized predecessor, NBRC certification eligibility is in question.
5. State license missing or suspended. Active NBRC certification does not guarantee an active state license. Verify both independently — a suspension in one state does not automatically appear in other state records.
6. Travel therapist with unlicensed states in work history. Multi-state travel assignments require licensure in each state. A candidate who worked in a state without a state license may have practice violations on record.
7. Specialty credential claimed without verification. RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, and RRT-SDS are verifiable through NBRC. A candidate claiming a specialty credential should show it in the NBRC registry alongside their base credential.

Verification resources

Respiratory therapist verification checklist