Services & Resources
Licensing, continuing education, and legislative advocacy for respiratory care professionals in Maryland and DC.
Respiratory Care Licensure
Both Maryland and DC require respiratory care practitioners to hold a current license. Here's what you need to know.
Maryland Licensure
Licensing Authority: Maryland Board of Physicians
Respiratory care practitioners in Maryland are licensed under the Board of Physicians, part of the Maryland Department of Health. To practice, you'll need to meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be of good moral character
- Graduate from a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program
- Hold current NBRC certification (CRT or RRT)
- Pass the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination
- Complete application and pay required fees
Continuing Education: 16 CEUs required per biennial renewal cycle. You must also maintain active NBRC credentials.
Contact: 800-492-6836
District of Columbia Licensure
Licensing Authority: DC Department of Health (DC Health), Board of Respiratory Care
In the District of Columbia, respiratory care practitioners are licensed through DC Health. The requirements are broadly similar to Maryland but with a few distinctions:
- Graduate from an accredited respiratory therapy education program
- Hold NBRC CRT or RRT credential
- Pass required NBRC examinations
- Complete application, background check, and pay fees
Continuing Education: 24 CEUs required per biennial renewal — must include an ethics component. Active NBRC credentials required.
National Credentialing — NBRC
The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) is the credentialing body for respiratory therapists in the United States. The core credentials are:
- CRT — Certified Respiratory Therapist. Entry-level credential; requires passing the TMC exam at the low cut score.
- RRT — Registered Respiratory Therapist. Advanced credential; requires passing the TMC at the high cut score plus the Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE).
Specialty credentials include:
- ACCS — Adult Critical Care Specialist
- NPS — Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist
- SDS — Sleep Disorder Specialist
- RPFT — Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist
- CPFT — Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist
RCEC Site Authorization Program
The RCEC (Respiratory Continuing Education Credit) site authorization program is administered by the MD/DC Society. It establishes a system for the approval and administration of CEU programs on an on-site basis. Approved agencies are authorized to award RCECs according to program guidelines and in accordance with Society policies.
This program is especially useful for hospitals and healthcare systems that want to offer in-house continuing education that counts toward licensure renewal requirements.
Get Started
Application: Submit your RCEC application online
Questions? Contact:
Michelle Gianotti-Gredlein, MHA, RRT
Director of Respiratory at UM St. Joseph Medical Center
University of Maryland Medical System
410-337-1305 | michelle.gianottigredlein@umm.edu
Legislative Action
The MD/DC Society maintains active involvement in legislative affairs in both Maryland and the District of Columbia. Keeping an eye on legislation that affects respiratory care practitioners — from scope of practice issues to healthcare funding — is a core part of what we do.
How We Engage
- The Society retains the law firm of Schwartz, Metz & Wise, P.A. for representation before the Maryland General Assembly, courts, and regulatory agencies.
- We work closely with respiratory care leadership in the District of Columbia on legislative issues as they arise.
- Board and Society members participate in the annual AARC PACT (Political Advocacy Contact Team) gathering in Washington, DC — lobbying Congressional representatives on bills impacting respiratory care and healthcare broadly.
Current Topics
Here are some of the policy topics the Society is tracking:
- Interstate Licensure Compact (RCIC): Efforts to allow multi-state practice under a single license, reducing barriers for RTs near state lines.
- Scope of Practice: Ongoing discussions about modernizing what RTs can do, especially in advanced practice areas like critical care and telehealth.
- Workforce Support: Legislation addressing RT shortages, student loan programs, and workforce development for allied health professionals.