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Learn How to Become a Respiratory Therapist: Education & Licensing

Learn about a respiratory therapist career, the required education, licensing and salary.

By: All Allied Health Staff

Updated: December 4, 2025

To pursue a career as a respiratory therapist, you typically need to complete either an Associates degree in Respiratory Care or a Bachelor of Health Science in Respiratory Care. After completing your education, you’ll need to pass credentialing examinations and obtain state licensure. These requirements enable you to qualify for employment in this rapidly growing field and make a meaningful impact on patients’ respiratory health.

Respiratory Therapist At a Glance

What you’ll do: You might work in the intensive or critical care unit, helping patients with a variety of respiratory illnesses to breathe normally, or work with a variety of people with chronic lung diseases. Some have cystic fibrosis, some are elderly or premature infants, and some need long-term care for diseases such as emphysema. You will measure patients’ lung capacity, set up and monitor ventilator equipment, test patients for lung abnormalities, assist patients with rehabilitative exercises.

Where you’ll work: Most work in hospitals, but a growing number are employed by nursing homes, home care agencies, respiratory therapy clinics, and emergency centers.

Degree you’ll need: Associate degree at minimum; bachelor’s degree preferred

Median annual salary: $80,450

What is it like going back to school as an adult? Find out in this real respiratory therapist student’s story.

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Median Annual Respiratory Therapist Salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 Occupational Employment Statistics reports the following median annual salaries for respiratory therapists.

Respiratory Therapists

National data

Median Salary: $80,450

Projected job growth: 12.1%

10th Percentile: $61,900

25th Percentile: $68,410

75th Percentile: $95,530

90th Percentile: $108,820

Projected job growth: 12.1%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$64,010	$48,490	$82,920
Alaska	$94,210	$76,900	$104,610
Arizona	$79,290	$62,480	$88,650
Arkansas	$67,960	$52,470	$82,850
California	$102,120	$78,150	$138,000
Colorado	$80,690	$63,770	$102,210
Connecticut	$83,250	$70,480	$101,900
Delaware	$87,380	$70,770	$106,040
District of Columbia	$104,240	$79,630	$125,470
Florida	$79,710	$62,940	$98,890
Georgia	$81,890	$63,510	$108,380
Hawaii	$94,670	$85,700	$101,000
Idaho	$75,510	$61,070	$89,280
Illinois	$81,310	$63,430	$97,310
Indiana	$77,820	$62,250	$89,320
Iowa	$68,790	$56,260	$83,480
Kansas	$73,580	$56,690	$90,620
Kentucky	$65,670	$52,060	$81,110
Louisiana	$70,140	$59,760	$84,540
Maine	$79,330	$62,480	$91,710
Maryland	$85,570	$71,160	$104,070
Massachusetts	$96,940	$74,200	$118,950
Michigan	$77,460	$63,750	$87,430
Minnesota	$88,040	$71,740	$100,600
Mississippi	$61,320	$49,920	$90,240
Missouri	$73,880	$57,590	$93,140
Montana	$80,950	$61,380	$94,130
Nebraska	$78,880	$61,660	$85,870
Nevada	$79,510	$64,370	$115,330
New Hampshire	$83,620	$69,740	$98,790
New Jersey	$98,020	$77,360	$117,750
New Mexico	$66,460	$59,280	$85,530
New York	$103,820	$78,100	$127,530
North Carolina	$77,050	$61,370	$90,910
North Dakota	$76,660	$61,040	$96,660
Ohio	$78,400	$63,730	$94,490
Oklahoma	$76,080	$61,460	$89,460
Oregon	$96,130	$80,290	$110,390
Pennsylvania	$76,160	$61,440	$97,490
Rhode Island	$83,600	$66,690	$104,010
South Carolina	$75,960	$62,190	$82,470
South Dakota	$64,720	$46,680	$79,820
Tennessee	$65,000	$51,840	$80,940
Texas	$77,550	$61,130	$94,640
Utah	$78,990	$65,270	$96,820
Vermont	$78,760	$47,080	$96,470
Virginia	$79,600	$60,830	$102,680
Washington	$97,150	$76,320	$121,280
West Virginia	$66,370	$51,200	$84,670
Wisconsin	$82,160	$67,270	$96,400
Wyoming	$75,900	$62,100	$85,840

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Respiratory Therapist Education

Respiratory therapists complete either 2-year associate’s degree or 4-year bachelor’s degree programs.

Upon graduation, you can choose to sit for a national exam to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). After passing this exam, you can decide to sit for two additional tests to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Most respiratory therapist schools offer an accredited four-year or higher degree. However, there are associate’s degrees and certificate programs that can get you started. All states, except Alaska, require respiratory therapists to obtain a license in order to practice.

Respiratory Therapist: Licensing

Generally, to qualify for state licenses, you must graduate from an accredited respiratory therapist school and pass the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam. Certified Respiratory Therapists who graduated from advanced-level programs and who have met experience requirements can take the exams leading toward the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. Certain specialty areas, such as intensive care units and supervisory positions, require CRT or RRT eligibility.

Your school advisor will be able to tell you what requirements have been set by the board of respiratory care examiners in your state.