Respiratory Therapist Credentials in Wyoming (2026): The NBRC Pathway

Respiratory Therapist Credentials in Wyoming: Understanding the NBRC Pathway

Wyoming is one of a small number of U.S. states that does not require respiratory therapists to hold a mandatory state-issued license to practice. As of 2026, Wyoming does not have a formal state RT licensure statute administered by a state regulatory board. This makes Wyoming one of the so-called "unlicensed" or "unregulated" states for respiratory therapy, a status shared by a handful of other states.

This does not mean you can practice respiratory therapy in Wyoming without credentials. It means the credentialing burden shifts entirely to the NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care) and to individual employers, who set their own qualification standards. In practice, Wyoming hospitals have standards that are as rigorous as any licensed state, and in critical care, RRT is universally required.

This guide explains how Wyoming's credential-only system works and what you need to know to practice here.

Step 1: Complete a CoARC-Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program

Even without a state license requirement, Wyoming employers require graduation from a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program as a baseline hiring qualification. Wyoming does not have its own CoARC-accredited RT program as of 2026, candidates typically attend programs in neighboring states (Colorado, Utah, Montana, Nebraska) or complete accredited online/hybrid programs.

The CoARC-accreditation requirement is enforced through hospital credentialing and HR hiring standards, not through state law, but the effect is the same. Without a degree from a CoARC-accredited program, you will not be hired at any Wyoming hospital.

Verify your program's CoARC accreditation at coarc.com. AAS programs are the standard entry-level credential; BS programs provide added career flexibility.

Step 2: Pass the NBRC Examinations

In the absence of a state license, NBRC credentials are the primary professional credential that Wyoming employers recognize and require. The NBRC offers two exams that lead to the two credential levels:

Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination: Taken after program graduation, the TMC tests clinical respiratory care knowledge. Passing at the lower "CRT cut score" earns the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential. Passing at the higher "RRT cut score" qualifies you to take the CSE.

Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE): The CSE tests clinical decision-making in complex patient scenarios. Passing the CSE combined with the RRT-level TMC score earns the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) designation.

Wyoming hospitals, particularly for any ICU, ventilator management, or critical care role, require the RRT credential. The CRT may be sufficient for some outpatient or long-term care settings, but acute care employment in Wyoming effectively requires the RRT.

Register for NBRC exams at nbrc.org.

Step 3: Apply for Employment (No State License Application Required)

Because Wyoming does not require a state RT license, there is no state application, fee, or Board to submit to. Your NBRC credential is sufficient documentation to present to Wyoming employers during the hiring and hospital credentialing process.

When you begin employment at a Wyoming hospital, you will typically go through the hospital's internal credentialing process, which will require:

• Your official NBRC RRT certificate or primary-source verification from NBRC
• Official transcripts from your CoARC-accredited program
• References and employment history verification
• Any applicable background check per hospital policy

This hospital-level credentialing substitutes for the state licensing process and is typically handled by the medical staff office or HR department.

If you are licensed in another state and relocating to Wyoming: You do not need to convert or transfer your license to a Wyoming equivalent. Wyoming has no license to issue. Your NBRC credential travels with you, and Wyoming employers will accept it directly.

If you later relocate from Wyoming to a licensed state: You will need to apply for a state license in that state using your NBRC credential as the basis. Having practiced in Wyoming without a state license does not disadvantage you, the other state's Board will evaluate your NBRC credential on its merits.

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

Wyoming has no state statute specifying a required credential level, so there is no official state answer to this question. The answer instead comes from employers:

• ICU, critical care, and ventilator management positions: RRT required at virtually all Wyoming hospitals
• Emergency department RT positions: RRT required or strongly preferred
• NICU/pediatric RT positions: RRT required; NPS credential preferred at larger facilities
• Outpatient pulmonary rehab or long-term care settings: CRT may be accepted, but RRT candidates are preferred

The pragmatic answer: get your RRT before applying for Wyoming hospital positions. The CRT-only pathway will significantly limit your options in Wyoming's small, acute-care-focused RT market.

Continuing Education Requirements

Wyoming does not impose mandatory CE requirements on respiratory therapists because there is no state RT licensure system. However, NBRC credential maintenance requirements still apply:

The NBRC requires Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) participation to maintain active RRT and CRT credentials. NBRC's CMP requirements include completing continuing competency activities over each 5-year credential maintenance cycle. Details are available at nbrc.org.

Additionally, Wyoming hospitals typically require employees to complete hospital-mandated annual education, BLS/ACLS recertification, infection control, annual competency assessments, as a condition of continued employment, independent of any state CE mandate.

Wyoming Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges

Wyoming is a frontier state with a small population and a concentrated healthcare infrastructure. RT salaries in Wyoming are competitive given the low cost of living in most of the state.

Cheyenne (largest city, highest wages):

• Entry-level RRT: $52,000-$62,000/year
• Mid-career RT: $60,000-$72,000/year
• Senior/specialty RT: $68,000-$80,000/year

Casper / Central Wyoming:

• Entry-level RRT: $50,000-$60,000/year
• Mid-career RT: $58,000-$70,000/year

Gillette / Campbell County (energy sector economy):

• Entry-level RRT: $50,000-$62,000/year (some premium due to competitive labor market with energy sector wages)

Travel RT in Wyoming: Wyoming is an attractive travel RT market, particularly for experienced RTs. Small hospital census fluctuations and the absence of a local RT pipeline (no in-state programs) mean Wyoming hospitals frequently use travel RT staff. All-in travel compensation in Wyoming runs approximately $1,700-$2,300/week, with some rural critical access facilities offering higher facility rates to attract qualified candidates. For travel RTs, Wyoming assignments offer low cost of living, outdoor recreation access, and a unique frontier practice environment.

Top Employers

Cheyenne Regional Medical Center (Cheyenne), The largest hospital in Wyoming and the state's de facto tertiary care center for the southern half of the state. Cheyenne Regional is Wyoming's primary destination for complex respiratory and critical care patients and is the state's top RT employer by volume. RRT and ACCS credentials are strongly preferred for most positions.

Wyoming Medical Center (Casper), Wyoming Medical Center is the primary acute care hospital for the Casper area and central Wyoming, serving as a regional referral center. It is consistently one of Wyoming's top two or three RT employers.

Campbell County Health (Gillette), Campbell County Health serves the northeastern Wyoming Powder River Basin region, an energy-sector-driven economy. The facility hires RTs at staff and travel levels and is known for competitive compensation reflecting the area's energy-sector wage competition.

Billings Clinic Wyoming and Banner Health (multiple WY locations), Banner Health operates hospitals in Wyoming including Wyoming Medical Center (Casper) and facilities in other communities, representing a significant multi-site RT employer in the state.

Critical Access Hospitals, Wyoming has numerous critical access hospitals across its frontier geography (Thermopolis, Lander, Rawlins, Pinedale, etc.) that periodically recruit staff and travel RTs. These facilities offer the travel RT market one of its more distinctive placement opportunities.