How to Get Your Pennsylvania Respiratory Therapist License in 2026

How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania licenses respiratory therapists through the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA), under either the State Board of Medicine or the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine depending on the supervising physician's licensure type. The Commonwealth's RT Licensure Act sets standards for education, credentialing, and continuing education, with some of the most specific mandatory CE requirements in the nation, including child abuse recognition and opioid training. Pennsylvania's two major metro markets, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, rank among the strongest RT employment markets on the East Coast.

Step 1: Complete a CoARC-Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program

Pennsylvania requires graduation from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Highly regarded in-state programs include those at Harrisburg Area Community College, Community College of Allegheny County, Thomas Jefferson University, and Gwynedd Mercy University. Both AAS (two-year) and BSRT (four-year) programs are available; Jefferson and Gwynedd Mercy offer BS completion pathways for working RTs.

Your program must include mechanical ventilation, neonatal/pediatric respiratory care, pulmonary diagnostics, cardiopulmonary pharmacology, and critical care management. Pennsylvania's large academic medical centers provide world-class clinical rotation environments for students.

Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations

Pennsylvania's licensure pathway requires NBRC credentials:

• TMC (Therapist Multiple Choice) Examination, 160-question exam. A high-cut score earns the RRT directly; a low-cut score earns the CRT.
• CSE (Clinical Simulation Examination), 22-scenario exam required for full RRT designation.

Pennsylvania requires the RRT credential for licensure. CRT holders must pass the CSE before applying. Pearson VUE centers are located throughout Pennsylvania, including in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and Harrisburg.

Step 3: Apply for Your Pennsylvania License

After earning your RRT, submit your application through the BPOA:

1. Complete the RT licensure application through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) online portal.
2. Pay the licensure fee (approximately $75-$125; confirm current fees on the BPOA website, as Pennsylvania's fees reflect its extensive regulatory framework).
3. Submit NBRC credential verification.
4. Provide official transcripts from your CoARC-accredited program.
5. Complete an Act 34 criminal background check and FBI fingerprinting as required.
6. If licensed in another state, provide a certificate of good standing.

Processing times typically run four to six weeks. Pennsylvania does not participate in the RT Licensure Compact, requiring full licensure for all practitioners including those from other states.

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

Pennsylvania requires the RRT credential. The BPOA does not accept the CRT alone as meeting the state's minimum standard. Pennsylvania's major employer systems, UPMC, Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, and Geisinger, also largely require RRT for clinical staff positions, making RRT attainment a practical necessity regardless of the licensing requirement alone.

NBRC specialty credentials (ACCS, NPS, SDS, CPFT, RPFT) are highly valued in Pennsylvania's academic medical center environment and frequently required for advanced positions in pulmonary function labs, sleep medicine, and pediatric critical care.

Continuing Education Requirements

Pennsylvania has some of the most specific mandatory CE requirements for RT renewal:

• 30 total CE hours per two-year renewal cycle, of which:
  • 2 hours must be approved child abuse recognition and reporting training (Act 31 requirement, mandatory for all healthcare licensees in PA)
  • 2 hours must be approved opioid education and pain management training (a PA-specific mandate)
  • Remaining 26 hours must be in respiratory care or a related clinical field

Approved CE providers include the AARC, NBRC specialty exams, accredited colleges, and BPOA-approved continuing education organizations. Failure to complete the mandatory child abuse and opioid modules will result in renewal denial regardless of total CE hours accumulated.

Retain all CE certificates for at least four years; the BPOA conducts audits and takes enforcement action against licensees with inadequate documentation.

Pennsylvania Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges

Pennsylvania's two major metro markets are among the best-paying on the East Coast:

• Entry-level RRT (0-2 years): $58,000-$70,000/year
• Mid-career (3-7 years): $66,000-$80,000/year
• Senior/Lead RT (8+ years): $76,000-$92,000/year
• Philadelphia market premium: 8-12% above statewide average
• Travel RT contracts in PA: $1,900-$2,700/week

Pittsburgh trails Philadelphia by roughly 5-8% in base compensation but offers a significantly lower cost of living, often resulting in better purchasing power for RT professionals. Central Pennsylvania (Harrisburg, Hershey, Danville/Geisinger) tends to align closely with the statewide median.

Top Employers

Pennsylvania's RT market is defined by several large, nationally recognized health systems:

• UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), One of the largest health systems in the US, with UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh as flagship facilities. Employs a large RT workforce across acute care, critical care, NICU, and home health divisions.
• Penn Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania Health System, including HUP (Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania), Penn Presbyterian, and Pennsylvania Hospital. Penn Medicine is a national leader in lung transplant and ECMO, creating premium RT positions.
• Jefferson Health, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and its network; strong presence in Philadelphia and suburban markets.
• Geisinger, Central/northeastern Pennsylvania's dominant health system; operates a major tertiary center in Danville and employs RTs across its regional hospital network.
• Temple Health, North Philadelphia academic medical center with strong pulmonary and critical care programs.

Pennsylvania's combination of mandatory CE specificity, high employer density, and strong academic medical center market makes it one of the most professionally demanding, and rewarding, states for respiratory therapists.