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

How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Massachusetts

Massachusetts requires all practicing respiratory therapists to hold a state license issued by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Respiratory Therapists, which operates under the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure (DPL). Massachusetts has one of the higher licensing fee structures in New England, consistent with the state's professional licensing overhead. Boston is the single highest-paying RT market in New England, and one of the top RT markets nationally, anchored by Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Boston Children's Hospital, all of which are world-class research and clinical institutions.

Step 1: Complete a CoARC-Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program

The Massachusetts Board requires graduation from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)-accredited program. Massachusetts-based programs include:

• Quinsigamond Community College (Worcester), AAS in Respiratory Therapy; established program with strong clinical placement network
• Massasoit Community College (Brockton), AAS program serving the southeastern Massachusetts and Boston-south markets
• Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), western Massachusetts AAS program
• University of Massachusetts, BSRT completion and graduate pathways through various UMass campuses

Many Boston-area RTs graduate from programs in Rhode Island, Connecticut, or New Hampshire and apply via endorsement.

Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations

The Massachusetts 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)

Every major Massachusetts acute-care employer requires RRT without exception. Boston's Level I academic medical centers are among the most competitive RT hiring environments in the country.

Step 3: Apply for Your Massachusetts License

After obtaining NBRC credentials, apply to the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Respiratory Therapists:

Application steps:

1. Access the Massachusetts DPL online portal (mass.gov/orgs/division-of-professional-licensure)
2. Complete the Respiratory Therapist licensure application
3. Submit NBRC credential verification
4. Provide official CoARC program transcripts
5. Background check (CORI check required)
6. Pay the initial licensure fee: approximately $100-$175, the highest initial fee range in New England

License term: Massachusetts RT licenses renew every 2 years.

Endorsement: Massachusetts accepts out-of-state endorsements for practitioners with current, unencumbered licenses. The CORI background check and endorsement fee apply. Processing can take 8-12 weeks given DPL workload.

Boston academic market note: Mass General, Brigham & Women's, and Boston Children's all have credentialing processes that go beyond state licensure, including hospital-specific competency assessments, BLS/ACLS, and in some cases NRP or specialty certifications. Begin the hospital credentialing process in parallel with your state license application.

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

Massachusetts statute permits CRT-level licensure, but the employer market is exclusively RRT-focused in acute care:

Massachusetts General Hospital's job portal has no open CRT postings, all RT positions require RRT. This is consistent across Boston's major systems (Partners HealthCare / Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Boston Children's).

Continuing Education Requirements

Massachusetts requires 30 CE hours every 2-year renewal cycle:

• CE must come from AARC-approved or NBRC-approved providers
• No mandatory subject distribution within the 30 hours
• New England Society for Respiratory Care (NESRC) conference credits qualify
• Massachusetts-specific employer in-services with AARC approval count
• Documentation must be retained for potential DPL audit

Massachusetts Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges

Massachusetts, particularly the Boston metro, offers the highest RT salaries in New England and among the highest in the nation:

Boston metro (Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk counties) drives the highest rates. Worcester and Springfield run 8-12% lower. Night differential in Boston can add $5-$8/hr on top of base, making full-time night ICU RTs in Boston among the highest-compensated allied health professionals in the region.

Top Employers

Massachusetts has some of the most prestigious healthcare employers in the world:

• Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), flagship of Mass General Brigham (formerly Partners HealthCare); multiple nationally ranked programs; among the largest and most competitive RT employers in New England
• Brigham and Women's Hospital, cardiac and transplant programs; ECMO-trained RT specialists in high demand
• Boston Children's Hospital, preeminent pediatric center; NICU, PICU, and cardiac ICU RT demand; nationally competitive compensation
• Beth Israel Lahey Health, major Boston-area system including Beth Israel Deaconess and Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
• Tufts Medical Center, academic medical center; Floating Hospital for Children pediatric RT roles
• Boston Medical Center (BMC), Boston's largest safety-net hospital; Level I trauma; strong RT staff
• UMass Memorial Health, Worcester-based academic medical center; western Massachusetts's largest health system
• Baystate Health, Springfield-based system serving western Massachusetts