Respiratory Therapist in Missouri
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for MO. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Missouri.
Jobs (MO)
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become a respiratory therapist in Missouri
To become a licensed Respiratory Therapist in Missouri, individuals must graduate from a CoARC-accredited Associate degree program and pass the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exam. The licensing body is the Missouri Board for Respiratory Care. A criminal background check is required for all applicants. Missouri offers reciprocity for licensed respiratory therapists from other states or territories with equivalent qualifications and at least one year of licensure.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Missouri. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Missouri requirements
| Licensing body | Missouri Board for Respiratory Care |
| State license | Required |
| Education | Associate degree from a CoARC-accredited program |
| Exam | NBRC CRT or RRT exam ($200) |
| Application fee | $40 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing education | 24.0 hours per cycle |
| Reciprocity | Missouri offers reciprocity for out-of-state licensed therapists with NBRC credentials and equivalent qualifications.Reciprocal states: Missouri offers reciprocity to applicants who hold a valid, current license from another state, a U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia, and have been licensed for at least one year in that jurisdiction, provided the qualifications are equivalent to Missouri's requirements. Verification of NBRC credentials (CRT or RRT) is required, and the applicant must be in good standing. |
| Notes | A criminal background check is required. Applicants may obtain a conditional license while awaiting a background check, valid for no more than twelve months and non-renewable. The NBRC exam system is changing in January 2027, replacing the TMC + CSE with a single 'Respiratory Therapy Examination' (185 questions, 4 hours, $360 new applicants / $300 repeat) with two cut scores for CRT or RRT. The CRT-to-Registry pathway is eliminated December 31, 2026. The CSE remains available through December 31, 2027, for those who passed TMC high cut before that date. |
Source: Missouri Board for Respiratory Care
Already licensed elsewhere and moving to Missouri? See whether Missouri recognizes an out-of-state credential — with the tier and pathway for all 50 states — in our Respiratory Therapist license reciprocity guide.
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
balance Is it worth it?
- check_circleMissouri license required — clearer credential signal to employers
- check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+12.1%)
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk
Compare Respiratory Therapist head-to-head
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