Licensing
How to Get Your Respiratory Therapist License in Louisiana (2026)
In brief
Complete guide to Louisiana RT licensure through the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Covers NBRC credentials, ~$75-$100 application fee, 30-hour CE, Ochsner and Tulane salaries, and disaster readiness context.
In this article
- How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Louisiana
- Step 1: Complete a CoARC-Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program
- Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations
- Step 3: Apply for Your Louisiana License
- CRT vs. RRT: Which Do You Need in Louisiana?
- Continuing Education Requirements
- Louisiana Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges
- Top Employers
How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Louisiana
Louisiana requires all respiratory therapists to hold a state license administered through the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME), which oversees respiratory care practitioners as part of its broader allied health licensing portfolio. Louisiana's licensing fees run slightly higher than the national average, reflecting LSBME's regulatory overhead. The state's unique geography, dense Gulf Coast hospital markets combined with significant rural parishes, and its history of hurricane-related mass-casualty events make disaster-readiness competency a valued (and often expected) clinical skill.
Step 1: Complete a CoARC-Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program
LSBME requires graduation from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)-accredited program. Louisiana-based programs include:
- Our Lady of the Lake College (Baton Rouge), AAS in Respiratory Therapy; strong ties to Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady (OLOL) Health
- Delgado Community College (New Orleans), AAS program serving the New Orleans metro; major Ochsner and Tulane feeder
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSU Health), New Orleans and Shreveport; BSRT and advanced RT pathways
- Northwestern State University (Natchitoches), northwest Louisiana AAS program
- Bossier Parish Community College, Shreveport metro AAS program
Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations
LSBME requires NBRC credentials as part of the licensure process:
- Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Exam, Passing at the CRT cut score earns the CRT credential (~$190 fee)
- Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE), Passing the TMC at the RRT cut score plus the CSE earns the RRT credential (~$200 fee)
Louisiana's major academic and Level I trauma centers require RRT for all critical care and acute care RT positions.
Step 3: Apply for Your Louisiana License
After obtaining NBRC credentials, apply to LSBME:
Application steps:
- Access the LSBME online portal (lsbme.la.gov)
- Complete the Respiratory Therapist application
- Submit NBRC credential verification (NBRC can send directly to LSBME)
- Provide official CoARC program transcripts
- Pay the initial licensure fee: approximately $75-$100
License term: Louisiana RT licenses renew every 2 years.
Endorsement: Louisiana accepts out-of-state licensure by endorsement for current, unencumbered licensees. Submit proof of licensure, NBRC credentials, and endorsement fee.
Disaster readiness note: LSBME may require or recognize completion of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) or Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP) registration as part of Louisiana's disaster health workforce preparedness. RTs in Louisiana are regularly deployed during major weather events to support ICU surge and ventilator management.
CRT vs. RRT: Which Do You Need in Louisiana?
Louisiana statute permits CRT-level licensure, but the acute-care market is uniformly RRT-focused:
| Setting | Typical Requirement |
|---|---|
| Academic medical center (Tulane, LSU Health) | RRT required |
| Level I trauma center (University Medical Center) | RRT required |
| Community hospital ICU/ED | RRT required |
| General inpatient | CRT minimum, RRT preferred |
| Home health / DME | CRT accepted |
| Pulmonary rehabilitation | CRT accepted |
Ochsner Health, Louisiana's largest health system, lists RRT as required across all acute care RT openings across its 40+ facilities.
Continuing Education Requirements
Louisiana requires 30 CE hours every 2-year renewal cycle:
- CE must be from AARC-approved or NBRC-recognized providers
- No state-mandated subject distribution (beyond respiratory care scope)
- Louisiana Society for Respiratory Care (LSRC) annual conference CE credits qualify
- Disaster medicine and emergency respiratory management training may qualify as CE in applicable categories
Louisiana Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges
Louisiana salaries are moderate by national standards, with New Orleans consistently commanding the highest rates:
| Role | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| CRT (entry-level) | $50,000 - $63,000 |
| RRT (general floor) | $58,000 - $74,000 |
| RRT (ICU/neonatal specialist) | $68,000 - $82,000 |
| Travel RT (Louisiana assignments) | $38 - $55/hr all-in |
Baton Rouge and Shreveport are the second and third markets. Rural parishes, particularly in northern Louisiana and the Acadiana region, frequently pay signing bonuses ($3,000-$10,000) to attract credentialed RTs.
Top Employers
Louisiana's respiratory therapy market is anchored by major academic and community systems:
- Ochsner Health, Louisiana's largest non-profit health system with 40+ hospitals and clinics; flagship in Jefferson Parish (New Orleans area); large, stable RT staff
- Tulane Medical Center, New Orleans academic medical center; Level I trauma; research-focused RT roles
- LSU Health New Orleans & Shreveport, public academic medical centers with teaching hospital RT programs
- University Medical Center New Orleans (UMC), Level I trauma; high-acuity RT demand; LCMC Health network
- Willis-Knighton Health System, largest private health system in northwest Louisiana (Shreveport-Bossier)
- Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge flagship; major NICU and cardiac RT programs
- Lincare / Apria, Extensive home health RT networks across Louisiana
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