Respiratory Therapist in Illinois

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for IL. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$81,310

trending_up +1.1% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Illinois.

engineering

5,450

Jobs (IL)

monitoring Surging

+12.1%

10-yr job growth

payments

$120

Licensing fees

schedule

2-4 years (based on degree program)

Time to complete

route How to become a respiratory therapist in Illinois

To become a licensed Respiratory Therapist in Illinois, individuals must graduate from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)-accredited program and pass the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam. The licensing body is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. A fingerprint-based criminal background check is required, and licenses are renewed every two years with continuing education requirements, including specific training in implicit bias, sexual harassment prevention, and Alzheimer's disease.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $63,430

25th percentile $74,480

50th (median) $81,310

75th percentile $92,260

90th (experienced) $97,310

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Illinois. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Illinois requirements

Licensing body	Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
State license	Required
Education	Associate degree from a CoARC-accredited program
Exam	NBRC CRT or RRT exam
Application fee	$120
Renewal	Every 2.0 years
Continuing education	24.0 hours per cycle
Notes	A fingerprint-based criminal background check is required. First-time renewals are exempt from continuing education requirements. Requires 1 hour of implicit bias awareness training per renewal period (effective Jan 1, 2023), 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training, and 1 hour of Alzheimer's disease and dementia care training. Effective January 1, 2025, a one-hour course in cultural competency training is required every 6 years.

Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+12.1%

Much faster than average

Annual openings

8,800

Nationwide per year

Total employment

139,600

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

verified Low exposure -0.19/1.00

This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

check_circleIllinois license required — clearer credential signal to employers
check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+12.1%)
check_circleLow AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if a respiratory therapist career is the right fit?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I become a respiratory therapist in Illinois? expand_more

Illinois requires respiratory therapists to complete the required education (Associate degree from a CoARC-accredited program), pass the NBRC CRT or RRT exam, and submit your application ($120 fee).

Does Illinois require respiratory therapist licensure? expand_more

Yes, Illinois requires a state license to practice as a respiratory therapist. The licensing body is Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. You must pass the NBRC CRT or RRT exam.

What is the average respiratory therapist salary in Illinois? expand_more

Illinois respiratory therapists bring home a median salary of $81,310. That's roughly in line with the $80,450 national median. Wages range from $63,430 (10th percentile) up to $97,310 (90th percentile).

How long does it take to become a respiratory therapist in Illinois? expand_more

The typical timeline in Illinois is 2-4 years (based on degree program). This includes completing education, gaining any required experience, and passing the licensing exam.

Does Illinois require continuing education for respiratory therapists? expand_more

License renewal in Illinois requires completing 24.0 hours of continuing education on a 2.0-year cycle.