The Registry Examination System was developed to objectively measure essential knowledge, skills and abilities required of advanced respiratory therapists and to set uniform standards for measuring such knowledge. The CRT credential is a prerequisite for admission to the Registry Examination. The RRT Examinations consist of a written portion and a clinical simulation portion; candidates must schedule separate testing appointments for each of these portions. However, candidates may attempt both parts on the same day, provided testing sessions are available. Individuals who attempt both parts of the examination and achieve passing scores will be awarded the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. Click here for additional examination Frequently Asked Questions.

If you are planning to take any of the credentialing examinations offered by the National Board for Respiratory care, Inc. (NBRC), the Self-Assessment Examination provides an excellent opportunity for you to find out in advance how well you will do. The SAEs are available in web-based format and more information and pricing instructions can be found listed to in the right hand pane of this page.

Effective January 1, 2005, new graduates of accredited advanced level respiratory care education programs have three years after graduation to complete the CRT and RRT Examinations. 

NBRC’s mission is to evaluate the competency of respiratory therapists and to support the profession of respiratory care. It’s a role that we take very seriously.  As the provider of the RRT, the credential that is considered the “standard of excellence” in respiratory care, it is our responsibility to ensure that graduates of advanced-level education programs have the opportunity to earn the RRT credential.  During a time when there is a shortage of qualified respiratory therapists to provide the excellent care that patients expect, advanced-level graduates who earn the RRT credential are in high demand nationwide and can help to fill this shortage. 

Below is a list of questions about the RRT Eligibility Three-Year Time Limit and how it impacts you. NBRC staff is available to answer any other additional questions via phone or email.  Contact us at 888-341-4811 or at nbrc-info@nbrc.org.

RRT Eligibility Three-Year Time Limit - Frequently Asked Questions

Why adopt a three-year time limit to pass the RRT Examination after graduating from an advanced-level program?

NBRC approved the three (3)-year time limit in 2005 to ensure that individuals who consider themselves “registry eligible” have taken and passed the RRT Examination and demonstrated their knowledge and competence. 

In 2003, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), and the NBRC recognized the RRT credential as the “standard of excellence” for respiratory care professionals. At the request of the AARC and CoARC, NBRC approved a policy on Jan. 1, 2005 that requires graduates of advanced-level programs to complete the CRT and RRT Examinations within three (3) years of graduation. The original policy also required advanced-level graduates with an associate degree who had already earned the CRT credential to complete the RRT by December 31, 2007.

What happens if I don’t earn the RRT credential by my three-year deadline?

While the NBRC is dedicated to supporting respiratory therapists, there will be no  extension of this deadline.

Individuals whose three year time limit has expired must retake and pass the CRT Examination to reinstate their eligibility for the RRT Examination.  Upon successful completion of the CRT Examination, candidates are then required to submit an application and fee for the RRT Examination. Any previous passing performance prior to the original three year time limit is considered null and void.

The Written Registry Examination for Advanced Respiratory Therapists consists of 115 multiple-choice questions (100 scored and 15 pretest items) covering the recall, application and analysis of clinical data, equipment and therapeutic procedures. Written Registry candidates will be given two hours to complete the examination. Note the link at the top right of this page for more information.

The Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) currently consists of 10 separate patient management problems. The clinical setting and patient situation for each problem are designed to simulate reality and be relevant to the clinical practice of respiratory care. Candidates will be given four hours to complete the CSE. Find out more about pretesting on the CSE. Note the link at the top right of this page for more information.

1. Applicants shall be 18 years of age or older.

2. Applicants shall satisfy ONE of the following educational requirements:

     a. Be a CRT having earned a minimum of an associate degree from an advanced-level respiratory therapist educational program supported by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), or its predecessor the Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education (JRCRTE), or accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

     b. Be a CRT having been enrolled in an accredited respiratory therapy program in an institution offering a baccalaureate degree offering a “special certificate of completion” issued by a sponsoring educational institution. The CoARC will authorize such institutions to issue the “special certificate of completion” at the advanced level following completion of the science, general academic and respiratory therapy coursework commensurate with the requirements for accreditation.

    c. Be a therapist Certified (CRT) by the NBRC who has four years* of full-time clinical in respiratory therapy under licensed medical supervision following Certification and prior to applying for the Registry Examination. In addition, the applicant shall have at least 62 semester hours of college credit from a college or university accredited by its regional association or its equivalent. The 62 semester hours of college credit must include the following courses: anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, physics, and mathematics.

     d. Be a CRT having earned a minimum of an associate degree from an accredited entry-level respiratory therapist educational program with two years of full-time, clinical experience in respiratory care under licensed medical supervision following Certification and prior to applying for the examination.

     e. Be a CRT with a baccalaureate degree in an area other than respiratory care, including college credit level courses in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, mathematics, microbiology and physics. In addition, they shall have two years of full-time clinical experience** in respiratory care under licensed medical supervision following Certification and before applying for the examination. In addition, the applicant shall have at least 62 semester hours of college credit from a college or university accredited by its regional association or its equivalent.

*Individuals certified (CRT) prior to January 1, 1983, are required to complete only three years of clinical experience.

**Clinical experience in respiratory care under licensed medical supervision is interpreted as a minimum of 21 hours per week. Clinical experience must be completed before the candidate applies for this examination.

The web-based NBRC self-evaluation examinations are designed to simulate taking an NBRC examination. The software is identical to that which is used for the administration of NBRC examinations. To use this software you will need an HTML 4.0 compatible browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator with "cookies enabled" and an HTML capable e-mail account for delivery of a feedback report. (Web tests are NOT compatible with limited functionality browsers such as WebTV.)

Clicking the hyperlink below will open the self-evaluation examination login page. Please read the following instructions:

• Login using your e-mail address. Your results will be sent to this address.
• Use the mouse to select your responses and to maneuver through the examination.
• To obtain your results, you must take the entire examination in one sitting. Your results are not saved if you exit the examination.
• When you have completed the examination, click Finish and Display. Your results are displayed onscreen and will be e-mailed to you if you provided your e-mail address on the login page. (For the CSE self-evaluation examination, you must display your results onscreen at the end of the examination for this e-mail to be generated.)
• If you need help using the examination software, click on the Help button in the lower portion of the screen once you begin the examination.