Continuing Education for Respiratory Therapists

After you have graduated with a degree in respiratory therapy, your education is not over—not by a long shot. Not only will you start treating actual patients, but you may also need to attend respiratory therapy continuing education (CEU) classes throughout your career.

What are CEUs?

Respiratory therapy continuing education courses are designed to update you on new medical developments within the respiratory therapy field. Medicine is a rapidly changing field. Every day, new medical breakthroughs are discovered, new medical procedures are developed; and new medical equipment is introduced.

All of these rapid technological advances can make your respiratory therapist training almost obsolete before you have even graduated. For that reason, you need to take continuing education courses to keep you abreast of all of the latest developments in respiratory therapy.

Most licensed professionals, including doctors, nurses—and respiratory therapists—are required to take a regular specified amount of CEUs in order to renew their licenses. This ensures that they are continuously updated on advances in their occupational fields.

Licensing Requirements

Before you can work as a respiratory therapist, you must obtain a license. This is a requirement in every state except Alaska and Hawaii.

In order to qualify for licensing, you must have:

  • Graduated from a respiratory therapy program that has been accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
  • Passed a comprehensive exam

If you have successfully completed both of these requirements, you will be awarded the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) license.

You may also receive a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) license if you:

  • Have graduated from an advanced (bachelor’s or master’s) respiratory therapy program
  • Are already CRT licensed
  • Have passed two separate exams. One of these is a written exam and the other is a clinical simulation exam

The RRT license is required of advanced respiratory therapists who typically have a lot of responsibility.

In addition to the above, state laws may dictate that you maintain a CPR certification. Like a CRT license, you must regularly renew your CPR certification. But this can be easily accomplished, in most states, by simply taking a current class in CPR.

Renewing your License

If you live in a state that requires you to take CEUs in order to renew your license—and most do—you will need to check with your local licensing board for the exact requirements. In most states, however, you will need to take at least 30 hours of CEUs every three years in order to renew your license.

You may obtain these CEU credits by:

  • Attending professional seminars
  • Taking respiratory therapy courses (online and in classrooms)
  • Participating in professional organizations
  • Attending professional conferences

In most cases, your employer will pay the cost of your CEU credits. For example, your employer may pay your membership in professional organizations, pay your CEU course fees, and pay your seminar fees.

Fulfilling the required number of CEUs will not only enable you to keep your license, but it will also enable you to give your patients the very best respiratory care.

Top Respiratory Therapist Schools

  • Grand Canyon University

    If you are driven to pursue a higher standard of success and require flexibility in your schedule to get there, Grand Canyon University, one of the Top 10 Christian colleges, is the right choice for you! GCU emphasizes individual attention for both traditional undergraduate students, as well as the working professional. With our cutting-edge curriculum, you will gain the real-world experience you need to succeed in today’s global marketplace. Online and campus-based bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are offered through the College of Education, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Ken Blanchard College of Business, and the College of Liberal Arts.

  • Platt College

    Find out where the future can take you with an outstanding college education. At Platt College, you’ll find the career-specific programs and training for the careers you really want. Come explore a variety of career paths that fit your lifestyle in a positive learning environment that combines real-world experience with small, private college instruction.

  • Carrington College

    Carrington College®, a recognized leader in private education, opened in 1976 and currently provides practical, real-world education to more than 4,000 students annually. Carrington College® offers small classes with hands-on learning taught by experienced faculty.

  • ATI Career Training Center

    For more than three decades, ATI has operated schools throughout Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklahoma with the primary objective of preparing its graduates for rewarding careers. These exciting employment opportunities include such fields as health care, personal fitness and wellness, business technology, information technology, automotive repair, air conditioning and refrigeration repair, and welding.

    At ATI you are a member of our extended family. Faculty and staff work with you to achieve your educational and career training objectives and secure the necessary skills you need to be successful in today’s competitive workplace environment.

    We have the experience, the tools, the instructors and the student support and benefits to help you change your life and earn a new career! Make today “the first day of the rest of your life” & make the call that will change your life and get you on the right track toward a rewarding future.

  • Sanford-Brown Institute

    Sanford-Brown can help prepare you for a rewarding career in health and dental care, business, paralegal, criminal justice or information technology. With nearly 20 campuses in the Sanford-Brown Institute and Sanford-Brown College divisions, selecting a school that suits your particular career training and education needs is easy.

  • Sanford-Brown College

    For over 140 years, Sanford-Brown College has provided career-oriented postsecondary educational programs. Our institution offers focused, innovative, quality short-term programs in the fields of business and healthcare. At Sanford-Brown, we have focused our study programs, which enable you the opportunity to develop your skills effectively to meet your specific career goals. Plus, our programs focus on the essential concepts and skills most employers look for in entry-level employees. Our goal is to provide you with the practical information and experience you need to get your foot in the door. The secret to our success is that we do not require students to take courses that are not directly supportive of their career goals.

  • Concorde Career College

    With over 15 years of experience in preparing adults for rewarding careers, Concorde is a recognized leader in training Healthcare Professionals. We offer short, manageable programs with day and evening classes to fit your busy schedule.

  • Kaplan Career Institute

    At Kaplan Career Institute, we provide affordable, career-focused programs that not only meet the demands of the market, but also the demands of your busy life. We offer day and evening classes to accommodate your busy schedule. Our accelerated curricula give you the opportunity to earn a diploma in as little as 9 to 15 months or an associate’s degree in less than 2 years. Our instructors have professional experience and provide an inside look into some of today’s hottest careers.

    Kaplan Higher Education or its authorized agents and representatives may contact me via email or telephone to discuss these and other educational opportunities in the future.

  • American Career College

    American Career College (ACC) offers training to students interested in pursuing a career in the fast-growing healthcare industry.* ACC’s three campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County all offer hands-on training with the same tools and technology found in professional healthcare facilities.

    ACC’s faculty and staff are committed to helping students achieve their educational goals. Our faculty members draw upon their own experiences in the healthcare industry to provide our students with in-depth training and education. All programs are a blend of classroom and hands-on training, with many programs ending with an externship in a local healthcare facility.

  • Keiser University

    At Keiser University we are here to help you succeed by providing the professional and academic foundation to meet your educational goals and objectives. Keiser University continues to be a valuable partner to employers, the community, and, above all, a valued choice for students serious about their education and career.