How to Get Your Respiratory Therapist License in Alaska (2026)

How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Alaska

Alaska is one of the most geographically unique healthcare markets in the country. Respiratory therapists here serve patients in urban Anchorage, rural bush communities, and everything in between, working in ICUs, emergency departments, NICUs, and traveling to remote clinics where full-scope care teams are rare. If you're pursuing RT licensure in Alaska, here's what you need to know for 2026.

Step 1: Complete an Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program

Alaska has limited in-state respiratory therapy education options, so many Alaska-bound RTs complete their training out of state and then apply for reciprocal licensure. Your program must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

The standard pathway is the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Respiratory Therapy (two years). Bachelor's programs (BSRT) are increasingly valued and provide a stronger foundation for leadership positions, specialty credentials, and advancement into management or education roles. For those planning to serve remote Alaska communities, additional training in transport ventilation and wilderness medicine is worth pursuing.

Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations

Alaska licensure requires an active credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

TMC (Therapist Multiple Choice) Exam

• 160 questions over 3 hours
• Passing earns the CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) credential
• Exam fee: approximately $190

CSE (Clinical Simulation Exam)

• 22 simulated clinical cases over 4 hours
• Requires high-cut TMC score to sit
• Passing earns the RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) credential
• Exam fee: approximately $200

Alaska requires the RRT credential for full licensure. Given the acuity of patients in Alaska's hospitals, particularly in transport and critical care settings, RRT is the practical standard across all major employers.

Step 3: Apply for Your Alaska License

Respiratory therapist licensure in Alaska falls under the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business & Professional Licensing (CBPL). The application process includes:

• Completed CBPL application form
• License fee of approximately $100
• Official NBRC credential verification
• Criminal background check
• Proof of graduation from a CoARC-accredited program

Alaska accepts reciprocal applications from licensed RTs in other states, though you must still submit required documentation and the fee. Processing timelines vary; apply several weeks before your intended start date.

Continuing Education Requirements

Alaska requires 20 CE hours every two years for license renewal. Acceptable CE includes AARC-approved continuing education, NBRC specialty examination preparation courses, hospital in-service programs, and accredited online courses. The lower CE hourly requirement than many states reflects Alaska's recognition of the challenges its practitioners face accessing in-person education.

Document all CE activities carefully in case of a renewal audit.

CRT vs. RRT: Which Do You Need in Alaska?

Alaska requires the RRT for full independent licensure. The CRT alone is not sufficient for an unrestricted Alaska RT license. Hospitals serving Alaska's critical access and remote communities expect RRT credentials, and travel RT contracts placed in Alaska, which pay a significant frontier premium, nearly universally require RRT.

Alaska Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges

Alaska's combination of high cost of living, frontier healthcare demand, and workforce shortages drives RT salaries well above the national median. Staff RT positions typically pay $65,000-$95,000 per year, with ICU and transport-focused roles at the top of the range. Travel RT assignments in Alaska often pay $50-$70 per hour all-in, with housing stipends that reflect Anchorage and rural Alaska costs. RTs specializing in neonatal transport, ECMO, or high-frequency ventilation command the highest rates.

Top Employers for Respiratory Therapists in Alaska

• Providence Alaska Medical Center (Anchorage), the state's largest private hospital and a primary ICU/NICU referral center
• Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC, Anchorage), federally operated, serves a large Alaska Native patient population
• Bartlett Regional Hospital (Juneau)
• Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
• VA Medical Center (Anchorage)
• Air medical transport programs, transport RT roles are in high demand given Alaska's geography
• Home health and home oxygen providers, serving remote communities through companies like Lincare and regional providers