Montana Respiratory Therapist License 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Montana

Montana is a frontier state with a small but critically important respiratory therapy workforce. The Montana Board of Respiratory Care Practitioners (under the Department of Labor and Industry) issues RT licenses and sets professional standards. The state's vast geography and limited training programs make early planning especially important. This 2026 guide covers every step from education through licensure.

Step 1: Complete a CoARC-Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program

Montana currently has limited in-state CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy programs. Prospective Montana RTs often complete programs in neighboring states, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, or Washington, before returning to Montana for employment. Montana's community colleges have explored RT program development, but candidates should verify current program availability through CoARC's program finder at coarc.com.

If you complete your education out of state, your CoARC accreditation still satisfies Montana's educational requirement for licensure. An Associate of Applied Science is the minimum; bachelor's-level completion is increasingly valuable for advancement in Montana's larger health systems.

Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations

NBRC credentials are required before Montana will issue a state license:

• TMC Exam, Pearson VUE-administered. A CRT cut score earns the CRT credential; the higher RRT cut score plus passing the CSE earns the RRT.
• Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE), Required for the RRT pathway.

Montana requires the RRT credential for licensure. Pearson VUE testing centers exist in Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls. If you are completing your education in another state, you can schedule NBRC exams at any Pearson VUE location nationally.

Step 3: Apply for Your Montana License

Apply through the Montana Department of Labor and Industry's Business Standards Division online at app.mt.gov. Required materials include:

• Official CoARC program transcript
• NBRC verification confirming active RRT credential
• Completed application with background disclosure
• Application fee of approximately $50-$75 (verify current fee at app.mt.gov)

Montana processes most applications within two to four weeks. For applicants relocating from another state with an active RT license, Montana accepts endorsement applications that can expedite the process, contact the Board directly to confirm required documentation.

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

Montana requires the RRT credential for licensure. Given the frontier context, where RTs in critical-access hospitals often function as the sole RT on duty covering ED, ICU, and Med-Surg simultaneously, the RRT's advanced clinical preparation is well-matched to the realities of Montana practice. A CRT credential alone does not satisfy the state's licensing requirements.

Continuing Education Requirements

Montana requires 20 hours of continuing education every two years for license renewal, somewhat lower than many states, reflecting the practical challenges of accessing in-person education in a frontier state. Acceptable CE includes:

• AARC-approved online or in-person programs
• Montana Society for Respiratory Care events
• Hospital-based in-service education
• NBRC Continuing Competency activities

Online CE platforms are widely used by Montana RTs given the long distances between population centers. Retain documentation of all completed CE hours for at least four years.

Montana Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges

Montana salaries reflect the state's lower cost of living but are supplemented by travel RT market dynamics:

• Entry-level (0-2 years): $48,000-$58,000/year
• Mid-career (3-8 years): $58,000-$70,000/year
• Senior/specialty RTs: $70,000-$82,000/year
• Travel RT (13-week contracts in MT): $2,000-$2,900/week all-in

Travel RT demand is consistently strong in Montana, particularly for critical-access hospitals across the eastern plains and mountain west regions that cannot recruit permanent staff. Travel packages frequently include housing stipends that enhance total compensation significantly.

Top Employers

• Billings Clinic, Montana's largest hospital and the region's tertiary referral center; Level II trauma, cardiac surgery, and a large ICU that drives strong RT demand.
• SCL Health (now Intermountain Health in Montana), Operates St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings and multiple other Montana facilities; consistent RT hiring across the system.
• Providence Health (Missoula), Providence St. Patrick Hospital serves western Montana and northern Idaho; ICU and pulmonary programs with stable RT staffing.
• Bozeman Health, Fast-growing system anchored by Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital; the Bozeman market is expanding rapidly and creating new RT openings.
• Critical-Access Hospitals statewide, From Miles City to Havre, Montana's 53+ critical-access hospitals are chronic RT recruiters; many work with travel agencies year-round.