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

How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Colorado

Colorado's respiratory therapy job market is anchored by the Denver metro, a fast-growing healthcare ecosystem that includes major academic medical centers, Level I trauma centers, and one of the top children's hospitals in the country. RTs in Colorado work in ICUs and NICUs, emergency departments, home health, and altitude-medicine clinics, a niche virtually unique to Colorado's mountain communities. Here is the complete licensure path for 2026.

Step 1: Complete an Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program

Colorado RT license applicants must graduate from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredited program. Colorado has accredited RT programs at institutions including Pueblo Community College, Concorde Career College (Aurora), and other Front Range institutions.

The standard credential is the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Respiratory Therapy (two years). Bachelor's programs (BSRT) are available through some Colorado universities and are increasingly preferred at UCHealth, SCL Health, and Children's Colorado for senior and leadership roles.

Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations

Colorado licensure requires NBRC credentials from the National Board for Respiratory Care.

TMC (Therapist Multiple Choice) Exam

• 160 questions, 3 hours
• Earns the CRT credential
• Fee: approximately $190

CSE (Clinical Simulation Exam)

• 22 simulated cases, 4 hours
• Requires high-cut TMC score
• Earns the RRT credential
• Fee: approximately $200

Colorado requires the RRT for full licensure. CRT alone is not sufficient. Given the high-acuity nature of Colorado's major trauma and NICU programs, RRT is the de facto minimum for nearly all Colorado RT positions.

Step 3: Apply for Your Colorado License

RT licensure in Colorado is administered by the Colorado Medical Board, specifically its Respiratory Therapy section. Your application includes:

• Completed Colorado Medical Board RT application form
• License fee of approximately $75-$100
• NBRC RRT credential verification
• Background check
• Proof of CoARC program completion

Confirm current fee amounts and requirements on the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations website before applying, as these are updated periodically.

Continuing Education Requirements

Colorado requires 24 CE hours every two years for renewal, lower than many states and reflective of its streamlined regulatory approach. Acceptable CE includes AARC-approved courses, NBRC specialty exam prep, employer-sponsored accredited education, and online programs. Document all CE activities; audits happen.

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

Colorado requires the RRT for full unrestricted licensure. CRT holders cannot independently practice under a Colorado RT license. Beyond the regulatory requirement, UCHealth, SCL Health, Presbyterian/St. Luke's, and other major Colorado systems all require RRT for ICU and NICU roles, the CRT-only credential limits you even in states where it's technically accepted.

Colorado Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges

Colorado RTs in the Denver metro typically earn $60,000-$88,000 per year at staff level. Mountain communities and resort-area hospitals offer modest salary premiums to attract workers to higher cost-of-living locations. ICU, NICU, and ECMO-specialized RTs earn toward the top of the range. Travel RT contracts in Colorado pay approximately $42-$58 per hour all-in; Denver is an active travel market. Altitude exposure adds a unique clinical dimension for RTs treating altitude sickness, HAPE, and chronic hypoxemia in mountain hospital settings.

Top Employers for Respiratory Therapists in Colorado

• UCHealth, the largest health system in Colorado with major hospitals in Denver, Aurora, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs
• Children's Hospital Colorado (Aurora), a nationally ranked pediatric hospital with one of the region's most demanding NICU and PICU RT programs
• SCL Health (now Intermountain), major system with Front Range and mountain hospitals
• Denver Health, safety-net Level I trauma center with high ICU RT volume
• Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, HCA-affiliated Denver hospital
• VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (Denver)
• Vail Health, St. Anthony Summit Medical Center, mountain market positions with unique altitude-medicine exposure
• Home health and home oxygen, Lincare and regional providers serve Colorado's large COPD and altitude-adjustment patient population