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

## How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Maryland Maryland requires all practicing respiratory therapists to hold a state license administered through the **Maryland Board of Physicians**, which includes a dedicated Respiratory Care Practitioners section. Maryland has one of the higher licensing fee structures on the East Coast, reflecting the cost of operating under a Board of Physicians infrastructure. The state is one of the most desirable markets for respiratory therapy professionals — home to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), and MedStar Health, plus proximity to federal employers including the NIH Clinical Center, the VA Maryland Health Care System, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. ### Step 1: Complete a CoARC-Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program The Maryland Board of Physicians requires graduation from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)-accredited program. Maryland-based programs include: - **Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC)** (Catonsville) — primary pipeline for Baltimore-area hospitals; large AAS in Respiratory Therapy program - **Prince George's Community College** — serves the DMV area; feeds into MedStar and UMMS - **Frederick Community College** — western Maryland; serves Frederick and Hagerstown markets - **Chesapeake College** — Eastern Shore AAS program - **University of Maryland** — graduate and BSRT completion pathways through the School of Medicine allied health programs Many DMV-area applicants also graduate from programs in DC, Virginia, or Pennsylvania and apply via endorsement. ### Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations The Maryland Board requires NBRC credentials: 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) Maryland's major academic medical centers uniformly require RRT for clinical employment. ### Step 3: Apply for Your Maryland License After obtaining NBRC credentials, apply to the Maryland Board of Physicians: **Application steps:** 1. Access the Maryland Board of Physicians online portal (mbp.state.md.us) 2. Complete the Respiratory Care Practitioner application 3. Submit NBRC credential verification 4. Provide official CoARC program transcripts 5. Background check (required by Maryland Board of Physicians) 6. Pay the initial licensure fee: approximately **$100–$150** — one of the higher initial fee structures in the Mid-Atlantic **License term:** Maryland RT licenses renew every 2 years. **Endorsement:** Maryland accepts endorsement for out-of-state practitioners with current, unencumbered licenses. The endorsement fee and background check requirements apply. Processing time can run 6–10 weeks given the Board of Physicians workload. **Federal employment context:** Working at the NIH Clinical Center (Bethesda), Walter Reed NMMC, or VA Maryland Health Care System requires Maryland licensure plus federal employment credentialing. These positions offer GS-scale salaries, federal benefits, and loan repayment in some cases. ### CRT vs. RRT: Which Do You Need in Maryland? Maryland statute permits CRT-level state licensure, but the acute-care market universally requires RRT: | Setting | Typical Requirement | |---|---| | Academic medical center (Hopkins, UMMS) | RRT required | | Level I trauma center | RRT required | | Community hospital ICU/ED | RRT required | | General inpatient floor | CRT minimum, RRT preferred | | Federal health facility (NIH, VA, WRNMMC) | RRT required | | Home health / DME | CRT accepted | Johns Hopkins Hospital's HR portal requires RRT for all posted respiratory therapist openings. UMMS and MedStar similarly require RRT across their systems. ### Continuing Education Requirements Maryland requires **30 CE hours every 2-year renewal cycle**: - CE must come from AARC-approved or NBRC-approved providers - No mandatory subject distribution specified by the Board - Maryland-DC Society for Respiratory Care (MDCSRC) conference hours qualify - Documentation must be retained and may be subject to audit ### Maryland Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges Maryland offers some of the highest RT salaries on the East Coast outside of New York: | Role | Salary Range | |---|---| | CRT (entry-level) | $58,000 – $74,000 | | RRT (general floor) | $67,000 – $85,000 | | RRT (ICU/neonatal specialist) | $78,000 – $98,000 | | Federal RT (NIH, VA, WRNMMC) | $72,000 – $102,000 (GS-scale) | | Travel RT (Maryland/DC assignments) | $44 – $65/hr all-in | Baltimore metro is the primary market. The DC suburbs (Montgomery County, Prince George's County) command comparably high rates. Federal positions are especially competitive due to comprehensive benefits and pension. ### Top Employers Maryland's respiratory therapy market includes some of the most prestigious employers in the country: - **Johns Hopkins Medicine** — flagship Johns Hopkins Hospital (multiple national rankings); Johns Hopkins Bayview; top NICU, ECMO, and adult ICU RT programs - **University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS)** — R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center (world-renowned Level I); University of Maryland Medical Center; 11-hospital system - **MedStar Health** — largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Maryland/DC; Union Memorial, Good Samaritan, and St. Mary's in Maryland plus DC facilities - **LifeBridge Health** — Baltimore-based system including Sinai Hospital, Northwest Hospital, and Carroll Hospital - **NIH Clinical Center** (Bethesda) — world's largest research hospital; specialized RT roles in clinical trials - **Walter Reed National Military Medical Center** — premier military medical center; civilian RT positions available - **VA Maryland Health Care System** — Baltimore and Perry Point campuses - **Luminis Health** (Annapolis) — Anne Arundel Medical Center and Doctors Community Medical Center