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

How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Idaho

Idaho is one of a small handful of states that does not require a separate state-issued respiratory therapist license. If you plan to practice respiratory therapy in Idaho, your credentials come from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and from the hiring facility. This does not mean the bar is lower, Idaho hospitals and health systems typically require the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential and adhere closely to NBRC national standards.

Understanding how licensure works (and doesn't work) in Idaho is essential before you relocate, accept a travel assignment, or start your career here.

Step 1: Complete a CoARC-Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program

Whether Idaho requires a state license or not, every employer will expect you to have graduated from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Programs typically include:

• Associate of Applied Science (AAS), 2-year community college or technical college program; the most common entry path
• Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT), 4-year degree, increasingly preferred for leadership and ICU-focused roles

Idaho-area programs include offerings through College of Western Idaho and programs at neighboring institutions in Utah, Oregon, and Washington that routinely place graduates into Idaho positions. Make sure your program holds active CoARC accreditation before enrolling.

Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations

The NBRC credential pathway is the same nationwide and is the backbone of professional recognition in Idaho:

1. Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Exam, After graduating from a CoARC program, you sit the TMC. Passing at the "CRT cut score" earns the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential (~$190 exam fee).
2. Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE), If you score at the "RRT cut score" on the TMC, you are eligible to sit the CSE. Passing both earns the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential (~$200 exam fee).

The RRT is the recognized gold standard and is required by virtually all Idaho acute-care employers.

Step 3: Apply for Your Idaho License

Idaho does not maintain a state respiratory therapy licensing board or issue state RT licenses. There is no application, no state fee, and no state renewal cycle. Your NBRC credential card and your CoARC transcript are your primary professional documents.

What this means in practice:

• You can begin working in Idaho as soon as you hold your NBRC credential and are credentialed by your employer
• There is no waiting period for a state license to be processed
• Travel RTs and per-diem workers do not need to obtain an Idaho-specific license, NBRC credentials transfer immediately
• Verification requests from employers are handled directly through NBRC's online verification portal

If Idaho ever enacts a state licensure law in the future (advocacy groups periodically discuss it), requirements would be published through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL).

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

Even without a state licensing requirement, Idaho employers draw a clear line:

St. Luke's Health System and St. Alphonsus both publish job postings requiring RRT. If you hold only a CRT, your employment options in Idaho are primarily limited to non-acute settings.

Continuing Education Requirements

Because Idaho has no state license, there is no state-mandated CE cycle. However:

• NBRC credential maintenance requires 30 CE hours every 5 years to maintain your CRT or RRT credential
• Employer credentialing committees may require additional BLS, ACLS, or NRP certifications depending on the unit
• Many Idaho RTs pursue voluntary specialty credentials (NPS, ACCS, SDS) to remain competitive

Idaho Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges

Without a state licensing layer, Idaho compensation is set entirely by market and employer. Typical ranges:

Boise metro commands the highest rates; rural eastern Idaho markets (Pocatello, Idaho Falls) typically run 5-10% lower. Travel RT demand is consistent because Idaho faces rural shortages similar to other Mountain West states.

Top Employers

Idaho's respiratory therapy job market is anchored by a handful of major health systems:

• St. Luke's Health System, largest non-profit health system in Idaho, with facilities in Boise, Twin Falls, Meridian, and Magic Valley
• St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise and Nampa campuses, part of Trinity Health
• Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC), primary Level II trauma center for eastern Idaho, part of HCA Healthcare
• Kootenai Health, northern Idaho's largest community hospital (Coeur d'Alene)
• Home health and DME, Lincare, Apria Healthcare, and regional providers staff respiratory staff for CPAP/BiPAP and oxygen therapy programs

Idaho's lack of a state licensing barrier makes it an attractive destination for travel RTs and out-of-state new graduates who want to start working without waiting on a state agency.