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