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

How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Maine

Maine requires all practicing respiratory therapists to hold a state license issued by the Maine Board of Respiratory Care Practitioners, which operates under the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (DPFR). Maine is one of the smaller RT markets nationally, population approximately 1.5 million, but it has an outsized need for respiratory therapists driven by an older population, high prevalence of COPD and asthma, and the challenge of serving a largely rural, coastal geography.

Step 1: Complete a CoARC-Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program

Maine has limited in-state CoARC-accredited RT program options:

• Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) (South Portland), the primary in-state AAS in Respiratory Therapy program; feeds into MaineHealth and Northern Light facilities
• University of Maine, occasional allied health pathways, though formal RT programs are primarily at the community college level in Maine

Many Maine RTs graduate from programs in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, or Vermont and then apply for Maine licensure by endorsement. This is common and accepted by the Maine Board.

Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations

The Maine Board requires NBRC credentials for licensure:

1. Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Exam, Passing at the CRT cut score earns the CRT credential (~$190 fee)
2. Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE), Passing the TMC at the RRT cut score plus the CSE earns the RRT credential (~$200 fee)

Maine's major hospital systems, MaineHealth and Northern Light Health, require RRT for all acute and critical care positions.

Step 3: Apply for Your Maine License

After obtaining NBRC credentials, apply to the Maine Board of Respiratory Care Practitioners:

Application steps:

1. Access the Maine DPFR professional licensing portal (pfr.maine.gov)
2. Complete the Respiratory Care Practitioner application
3. Submit NBRC credential verification
4. Provide official CoARC program transcripts
5. Pay the initial licensure fee: approximately $50-$100

License term: Maine RT licenses are renewed every 2 years.

Endorsement: Maine routinely processes endorsement applications from New England-trained practitioners. Submit your current license verification, NBRC credentials, and the endorsement fee. This is the most common entry path for out-of-state RTs given limited in-state program capacity.

Rural practice context: Maine has significant respiratory therapist shortages in rural Aroostook County, Washington County, and coastal Downeast Maine. Some critical access hospitals in these areas accept CRT-credentialed applicants given the shortage, with the expectation of RRT completion within a defined timeframe.

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

Maine statute permits CRT-level licensure, but the Maine hospital market predominantly requires RRT:

Maine Medical Center, the state's only Level I trauma center, requires RRT across all inpatient RT roles. Northern Light Health's multi-hospital system similarly requires RRT for ICU and ED positions.

Continuing Education Requirements

Maine requires 20 CE hours every 2-year renewal cycle, in line with Maine's general allied health CE standard:

• CE must come from AARC-approved or NBRC-approved providers
• No mandatory subject distribution within the 20 hours
• Maine Society for Respiratory Care (MSRC) conference and regional New England AARC events qualify
• Retain CE documentation for potential audit

Maine Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges

Maine salaries are somewhat below the New England average due to the state's rural character and smaller market:

Portland (Greater Portland area, Maine Medical Center, Mercy Hospital) is the highest-paying market. Bangor (Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center) is the second market. Rural positions in the far north or Downeast Maine commonly include rural incentive pay, signing bonuses, and loan repayment to offset geographic challenges.

Top Employers

Maine's respiratory therapy market is effectively a two-system state:

• MaineHealth, Maine's largest health system; flagship Maine Medical Center (Portland, Level I trauma, Level IV NICU); regional hospitals in Saco, Brunswick, Damariscotta, and Biddeford
• Northern Light Health, Bangor-based system with 10 hospitals spanning the state from Portland (Mercy Hospital) to Presque Isle (Northern Light A.R. Gould Memorial)
• Central Maine Healthcare, Lewiston-based; Central Maine Medical Center; third major system in the state
• St. Mary's Regional Medical Center (Lewiston), Covenant Health affiliate; solid acute care RT program
• Lincare / Apria, Home health respiratory therapy for Maine's large COPD and home O2 patient population