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

## How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Georgia Georgia is one of the Southeast's largest and most active healthcare markets, anchored by Atlanta's dense cluster of hospitals and health systems. Respiratory therapists in Georgia work across massive trauma centers, nationally ranked children's hospitals, academic medical centers, and rural critical access facilities spread across a large state. Here is the complete licensure path for 2026. ### Step 1: Complete an Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program Georgia RT applicants must graduate from a **Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)** accredited program. Georgia has CoARC-accredited RT programs at a number of institutions, including Darton State College, Athens Technical College, Georgia State University, and Augusta University. The standard entry credential is the **Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Respiratory Therapy** (two years). **Bachelor's programs (BSRT)** are increasingly available and preferred by Emory Healthcare, Grady Health System, and Wellstar for leadership and specialty roles. Georgia's growing healthcare economy creates strong upward mobility for BSRT holders. ### Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations Georgia licensure requires active 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 Georgia accepts the **CRT as the minimum** for licensure—similar to Arkansas, Georgia is one of the states where a CRT credential satisfies the regulatory threshold. However, most Georgia health systems require RRT for ICU and NICU roles, and the CRT-only path limits your employment options significantly. ### Step 3: Apply for Your Georgia License RT licensure in Georgia is administered by the **Georgia Composite Medical Board**—specifically its Respiratory Therapy section. Your application includes: - Completed Georgia Composite Medical Board RT application - License fee of approximately **$50–$75**—among the most affordable RT license fees in the Southeast - NBRC credential verification - Background check - Proof of CoARC program completion Georgia's license fees are relatively low, making initial licensure accessible. Confirm current fee schedules on the Board's website before submitting. ### Continuing Education Requirements Georgia requires **30 CE hours every two years** for renewal. AARC-approved courses, NBRC specialty exam preparation, hospital in-service education, and accredited online programs all qualify. Document your CE activities carefully; the Georgia Composite Medical Board audits renewals. ### CRT vs. RRT: Which Do You Need in Georgia? Georgia accepts the **CRT as a legal minimum**, but this does not mean CRT is sufficient for the Georgia job market. Emory, Grady, Wellstar, and especially Children's Healthcare of Atlanta all require RRT credentials for ICU, NICU, and independent practice roles. The CRT is useful as an interim step while you complete NBRC CSE preparation, but plan to upgrade to RRT for full Georgia market access. ### Georgia Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges Georgia RTs typically earn **$57,000–$83,000 per year** at staff level. Atlanta metro positions pay at the top of the range, reflecting the city's competitive healthcare labor market. NICU and ICU RTs with advanced credentials earn toward the upper end. **Travel RT contracts** placed in Georgia—including at rural critical access hospitals—pay approximately **$40–$56 per hour** all-in. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is among the more competitive employers for neonatal RT specialists in the Southeast. ### Top Employers for Respiratory Therapists in Georgia - **Emory Healthcare (Atlanta)** — flagship academic system including Emory University Hospital and the Emory Midtown campus - **Grady Health System (Atlanta)** — major safety-net Level I trauma center with high ICU RT volume - **Children's Healthcare of Atlanta** — nationally ranked pediatric system with exceptional NICU and PICU RT programs at two campuses - **Wellstar Health System** — major community health system across metro Atlanta and beyond - **Piedmont Healthcare** — growing multi-hospital system across Georgia - **Augusta University Health** — academic medical center in Augusta - **VA Medical Centers** (Atlanta, Augusta, Dublin) - **Home health and home oxygen** — Lincare and Apria serve Georgia's large rural COPD population - **Sleep medicine programs** — Atlanta has a high concentration of sleep labs and pulmonology practices