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Healthcare license portability
Respiratory Therapist license reciprocity by state
Respiratory Therapist licenses are broadly portable across the US — 42 of 51 states accept transfers with either direct recognition or licensure by endorsement. Tier classifications below come from each state's licensing board; click into any row for the source language and current fees.
check_circle
5 states recognize
assignment_turned_in
37 via endorsement
edit_note
2 require exam
remove_circle_outline
1 no license required
Reciprocity tier legend
check_circle
Recognized
Existing license or national cert accepted directly.
assignment_turned_in
Endorsement
Apply for a new license — paperwork, fees, no re-exam.
edit_note
Exam required
Must retake the state exam or complete state-specific training.
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Not recognized
No reciprocity pathway. Satisfy state requirements from scratch.
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No license required
State does not license this profession.
help_outline
Unclear
State policy ambiguous or silent. Contact licensing board.
All 50 states + DC
Each row links to the full respiratory therapist profile for that state — exam costs, application fees, licensing board contact, and the source language behind the tier classification.
| State | Reciprocity tier | Summary | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alabama offers reciprocity for out-of-state licensed therapists if requirements are substantially similar. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Alaska | remove_circle_outline No license | Alaska does not require state licensure for respiratory therapists; NBRC certification is nationally recognized. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Arizona | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Arizona offers endorsement for out-of-state licensed therapists with NBRC credentials, requiring a jurisprudence exam. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Arkansas | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Arkansas offers reciprocity to out-of-state licensed practitioners if qualifications meet or exceed state requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| California | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | California does not have reciprocity, but out-of-state licensees with RRT/CRT do not retake exams. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Colorado | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Colorado offers endorsement for out-of-state licensed therapists with NBRC credentials and equivalent qualifications. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Connecticut | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Connecticut may license individuals with a current, good-standing license from another U.S. jurisdiction and four years practice. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Delaware | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Delaware does not list reciprocal states, but requires letters of good standing from other licensed states. | Full page arrow_outward |
| District of Columbia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | DC offers endorsement for out-of-state licensed therapists with NBRC credentials and equivalent standards. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Florida | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Florida offers endorsement for NBRC credentialed individuals or those licensed in states with comparable requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Georgia | help_outline Unclear | Reciprocity is not specified; Georgia offers a non-renewable temporary permit for out-of-state licensees. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Hawaii | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Hawaii may grant endorsement to out-of-state licensees if initial requirements were equivalent or higher. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Idaho | help_outline Unclear | No reciprocity language published; contact the state licensing board directly. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Illinois | help_outline Unclear | Reciprocity is not specified; a temporary permit may be available for out-of-state licensees. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Indiana | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Indiana offers endorsement for out-of-state licensed applicants, requiring licensure verification or NBRC credentials. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Iowa | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Iowa offers reciprocity; out-of-state licensees must provide official verification for qualification evaluation. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Kansas | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Kansas accepts NBRC-credentialed applicants from other states via endorsement. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Kentucky | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Kentucky offers reciprocity for out-of-state licensed therapists with NBRC credentials and equivalent qualifications. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Louisiana | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Louisiana offers reciprocity for out-of-state licensed therapists if their requirements are equivalent or exceed Louisiana's. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Maine | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maine does not have a compact, but requires verification of licensure from all previous states. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Maryland | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maryland may issue reciprocity if licensed in another state with equivalent requirements and reciprocal privilege. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Massachusetts | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Massachusetts offers reciprocity for out-of-state licensed therapists with NBRC credentials and equivalent requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Michigan | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Michigan does not have reciprocity agreements, but licensure by endorsement is possible for out-of-state licensees. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Minnesota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Minnesota offers reciprocity for out-of-state licensed therapists with recent work experience. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Mississippi | help_outline Unclear | Reciprocity information for respiratory therapists is not specified. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Missouri | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Missouri offers reciprocity for out-of-state licensed therapists with NBRC credentials and equivalent qualifications. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Montana | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Montana requires license verification; retesting is needed only if away from practice over three years. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Nebraska | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Nebraska offers reciprocity for out-of-state licensees meeting education/exam requirements, with CE if not practicing. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Nevada | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Nevada accepts out-of-state applicants with NBRC credentials via an endorsement process. | Full page arrow_outward |
| New Hampshire | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | New Hampshire offers reciprocity for active licenses from jurisdictions with substantially similar requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| New Jersey | help_outline Unclear | New Jersey offers reciprocity, but specific states are not listed and Board discretion applies. | Full page arrow_outward |
| New Mexico | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | New Mexico accepts out-of-state applicants with NBRC credentials via endorsement, plus other requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| New York | help_outline Unclear | New York's reciprocity prose mentions NREMT for EMTs, making it unclear for respiratory therapists. | Full page arrow_outward |
| North Carolina | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | North Carolina may grant reciprocity if other state's requirements are substantially similar. | Full page arrow_outward |
| North Dakota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | North Dakota offers endorsement for out-of-state licensees with similar requirements and NBRC credentials. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Ohio | check_circle Recognized | Ohio participates in the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact and offers licensure by endorsement. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Oklahoma | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Oklahoma offers endorsement for out-of-state licensees with equivalent qualifications and valid NBRC credentials. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Oregon | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Oregon offers endorsement or reciprocity for out-of-state licensees with equivalent qualifications or NBRC credentials. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Pennsylvania | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Pennsylvania offers endorsement (Act 41) for out-of-state licensees meeting specific practice and good standing criteria. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Rhode Island | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Rhode Island accepts out-of-state applicants with NBRC credentials via endorsement, plus other requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| South Carolina | check_circle Recognized | South Carolina participates in the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact and offers licensure by endorsement. | Full page arrow_outward |
| South Dakota | check_circle Recognized | South Dakota adopted the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact for practice via compact privilege. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Tennessee | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Tennessee may issue endorsement for out-of-state licensees with qualifications equivalent to state requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Texas | check_circle Recognized | Texas recognizes the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact and offers licensure by endorsement. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Utah | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Utah offers endorsement for out-of-state licensees, potentially requiring specific documentation. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Vermont | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Vermont accepts out-of-state applicants with NBRC credentials via endorsement, plus other requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Virginia | edit_note Exam required | Virginia does not have reciprocity; applicants must meet state education and examination requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Washington | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Washington offers endorsement for licensees from equivalent states; a compact takes effect in 2025. | Full page arrow_outward |
| West Virginia | check_circle Recognized | West Virginia offers endorsement for equivalent qualifications and participates in the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Wisconsin | edit_note Exam required | Wisconsin offers a temporary certificate requiring a state exam; permanent licensure requires full application. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Wyoming | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Wyoming offers endorsement for out-of-state licensees with equivalent qualifications or NBRC credentials. | Full page arrow_outward |
Other profession reciprocity guides
Each profession has its own state-by-state reciprocity matrix.
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EMT
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Surgical Technologist
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Notary Public
Paralegal
Personal Trainer
CDL Truck Driver
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HVAC Technician
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