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

How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Delaware

Delaware is a small but strategically positioned state in the Mid-Atlantic healthcare corridor. Its respiratory therapy workforce is anchored by Christiana Care Health System, one of the largest health systems in the Mid-Atlantic, and influenced by the high-paying Philadelphia market just across the border. RTs in Delaware work in ICUs, ERs, NICUs, and home health settings serving a population that skews toward chronic pulmonary conditions. Here is the complete 2026 licensure guide.

Step 1: Complete an Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program

Delaware has limited in-state respiratory therapy programs, Delaware Technical Community College offers an accredited RT program, but many Delaware-practicing RTs complete training at CoARC-accredited programs in nearby Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Maryland and then apply for a Delaware license by reciprocity.

Your program must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). The standard entry credential is the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Respiratory Therapy (two years). Bachelor's programs (BSRT) are available at regional institutions and are favored by Christiana Care for senior positions.

Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations

Delaware requires active credentials from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

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

Delaware requires the RRT for full licensure. CRT alone does not qualify for an unrestricted Delaware RT license.

Step 3: Apply for Your Delaware License

RT licensure in Delaware is overseen by the Delaware Board of Medical Practice, specifically its Respiratory Care Practitioner section. Your application includes:

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

Delaware participates in reciprocal licensure arrangements with some neighboring states; confirm current reciprocity options on the Board's website. Processing typically takes two to four weeks.

Continuing Education Requirements

Delaware requires 20 CE hours every two years for renewal, lower than many states. AARC-approved courses, NBRC specialty exam preparation, employer-sponsored CE, and accredited online programs all qualify. Document your activities carefully for potential audits.

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

Delaware requires the RRT for an unrestricted license. CRT alone is not accepted. Christiana Care and Bayhealth Medical Center both require RRT credentials for ICU and NICU positions. Given Delaware's geographic overlap with the Philadelphia healthcare market, most Delaware RTs hold RRT to maintain cross-border employment flexibility.

Delaware Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges

Delaware RTs typically earn $60,000-$85,000 per year at staff level, with rates elevated by the influence of the Philadelphia metro labor market. Christiana Care, which operates at near-academic-medical-center acuity, pays near the top of the Delaware range. Travel RT contracts placed in Delaware often pay $43-$58 per hour all-in. RTs willing to commute to Jefferson Health or Penn Medicine in Philadelphia can access Pennsylvania's higher pay scale.

Top Employers for Respiratory Therapists in Delaware

• Christiana Care Health System (Newark/Wilmington), the dominant Delaware employer, operating Christiana Hospital and Wilmington Hospital with significant ICU and NICU RT programs
• Bayhealth Medical Center (Dover and Milford), serving central and southern Delaware
• Nemours Children's Health (Wilmington), pediatric and neonatal RT demand
• VA Medical Center (Wilmington)
• Home health and home oxygen, Lincare and regional providers serve Delaware's significant COPD and home vent patient population
• Philadelphia-area health systems, many Delaware RTs hold dual-state licenses and work at Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, or Temple University Hospital