How to Get Your Utah Respiratory Therapist License in 2026

## How to Become a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in Utah Utah licenses respiratory therapists through the **Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL)**, which is part of Utah's Department of Commerce. DOPL administers RT licensing under the Utah Respiratory Care Practice Act. Utah's healthcare market is anchored by the Salt Lake City metro corridor but extends into a vast rural and frontier geography that creates significant demand for travel RTs and creates ongoing shortages in smaller communities across the state. Intermountain Health's national reputation and the University of Utah's academic medical center make Salt Lake City a destination market for RT professionals. ### Step 1: Complete a CoARC-Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program Utah requires graduation from a **CoARC-accredited** respiratory therapy program. Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) offers the primary in-state CoARC-accredited AAS program. Weber State University offers a BSRT completion program for working RTs with an AAS. Graduates from CoARC programs in neighboring states (Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho) routinely seek Utah licensure after completing their programs. Curriculum must include mechanical ventilation, neonatal and pediatric respiratory care, pulmonary function testing, cardiopulmonary pharmacology, and critical care management. Clinical rotations at Intermountain Medical Center or University of Utah Hospital provide exposure to high-complexity cases including lung transplant, ECMO, and high-altitude pulmonary physiology that is unique to Utah's geography. ### Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations Utah's DOPL licensure pathway is built on NBRC credentialing: - **TMC (Therapist Multiple Choice) Examination** — 160 questions. High-cut score earns the **RRT** credential; low-cut score earns the **CRT**. - **CSE (Clinical Simulation Examination)** — 22 advanced clinical scenario cases; required for full RRT designation. Utah requires the **RRT credential** for DOPL licensure. CRT holders must pass the CSE before applying to DOPL. Pearson VUE test centers in Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ogden serve Utah candidates. ### Step 3: Apply for Your Utah License With your RRT credential, complete the DOPL application process: 1. Submit the RT licensure application through DOPL's online licensing portal (dopl.utah.gov). 2. Pay the licensure fee (approximately **$75–$100**; verify the current fee on DOPL's website, as Utah periodically adjusts its fee schedule). 3. Provide NBRC credential verification (arranged through the NBRC). 4. Submit official transcripts from your CoARC-accredited program. 5. Complete a criminal background check as required by state law. 6. If licensed in another state, provide a certificate of good standing. Processing times for complete applications are typically two to four weeks. Utah does not currently participate in the RT Licensure Compact, requiring full licensure from all applicants regardless of credentials held in other states. ### CRT vs. RRT: Which Do You Need in Utah? Utah requires the **RRT** for DOPL licensure. The CRT does not meet Utah's minimum standard for an active practice license. Utah's major employers — Intermountain Health and University of Utah Health — also require RRT for all clinical staff as part of their internal credentialing standards. There is no practical pathway to RT employment in Utah's major health systems without the RRT. NBRC specialty credentials are particularly valued in Utah's academic and high-altitude context: - **ACCS** — Sought by Intermountain's ICU programs and U of U Health's adult critical care units. - **NPS** — Required or preferred for NICU/PICU positions at Primary Children's Hospital (part of Intermountain) and University of Utah. - **CPFT / RPFT** — High-altitude pulmonary physiology makes Utah's pulmonary function labs busy with conditions like hypoxic respiratory failure, high-altitude pulmonary edema research, and polycythemia — specialty credentials are valued. ### Continuing Education Requirements Utah RTs must complete **30 continuing education hours per two-year renewal cycle**. Accepted CE activities include: - AARC-approved seminars, conferences, and online self-study modules - NBRC specialty credential examinations - Accredited college coursework in respiratory therapy or a related clinical science - Employer-sponsored in-service training that meets DOPL standards The Utah Society for Respiratory Care (UTRC) is the state AARC chapter and coordinates annual CE conferences, typically held in Salt Lake City. Intermountain Health and University of Utah Health both host professional education events that qualify for CE credit. DOPL conducts renewal audits; retain CE documentation for each cycle. ### Utah Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges Utah RT salaries are competitive for the Mountain West and have risen in recent years with the rapid growth of the Wasatch Front population: - **Entry-level RRT (0–2 years):** $58,000–$68,000/year - **Mid-career (3–7 years):** $66,000–$78,000/year - **Senior/Lead RT (8+ years):** $76,000–$90,000/year - **NICU/PICU NPS specialist:** $80,000–$95,000/year - **Travel RT contracts in Utah:** $1,900–$2,600/week (rural contracts often at the high end) Salt Lake City is the highest-paying market; Provo and Ogden trail by approximately 5–8%. Rural Utah — including the San Juan Basin, Moab, Vernal, and St. George — frequently relies on travel RTs due to ongoing staffing shortages at critical-access hospitals. Travel contract rates for rural Utah placements are often at a significant premium compared to metro placements. ### Top Employers Utah's RT market is anchored by two dominant health systems and their regional networks: - **Intermountain Health** — The largest health system in the Mountain West, with headquarters in Salt Lake City and flagship facilities including Intermountain Medical Center, LDS Hospital, and Primary Children's Hospital. Primary Children's is a top-ranked children's hospital nationally and a major employer of neonatal and pediatric RTs with NPS credential requirements. Intermountain's system-wide presence spans rural Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and Colorado. - **University of Utah Health** — Utah's academic medical center, including U of U Hospital and Clinics and Huntsman Cancer Institute. U of U Health operates Utah's level I trauma center and is the primary site for lung transplant and advanced pulmonary programs in the state. Highly sought-after for RTs seeking research and subspecialty career tracks. - **St. Mark's Hospital (HCA Healthcare, Salt Lake City)** — Major Salt Lake metro hospital with active adult ICU and cardiac programs; part of HCA's national system. - **Steward Health Care / Mountain West Medical Center** — Regional facilities serving Salt Lake City's secondary market and outlying communities. - **Critical Access Hospitals across Rural Utah** — Facilities such as San Juan Hospital (Monticello), Uintah Basin Medical Center (Roosevelt), and Kane County Hospital (Kanab) actively recruit RTs and offer sign-on bonuses, housing assistance, and Federal HPSA loan-repayment eligibility. Utah's combination of a world-class Salt Lake City metro market, a rapidly growing Wasatch Front population, and genuine rural RT shortage creates a robust and diversified employment landscape for respiratory therapists at all career stages.