Respiratory Therapist / Minnesota
2026 data Minnesota board official source

Minnesota Respiratory Therapist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Treats patients with breathing disorders. Requires TMC exam.

What the Minnesota data shows for Respiratory Therapists

To practice as a respiratory therapist in Minnesota, the state licensing board requires 1,851 documented education or training hours, a passing score on TMC Exam (Therapist Multiple-Choice). A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Minnesota's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Associate Degree".

Budget $120 to get started, plus $103 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 24 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: Respiratory Therapy Licensure Compact: adoption underway.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
51/100
Respiratory Therapist · Minnesota

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
1,851 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$120
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C-
$52/yr
$103 every 2 years
Continuing Education C-
12.0 hrs/yr
24 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Minnesota

Education / Training Hours
Associate Degree
1,851 hours
Exam Requirement
TMC Exam (Therapist Multiple-Choice)
Required
Initial License Fee
$120
Renewal Fee
$103
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
24 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Respiratory Therapist All Minnesota licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Minnesota licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Respiratory Therapist in Minnesota? ▼
Minnesota requires 1851 education/training hours, passing an exam (TMC Exam (Therapist Multiple-Choice)), and an initial fee of $120. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Respiratory Therapist in Minnesota? ▼
Certification as a respiratory therapist in Minnesota means clearing the state's checklist: 1851 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Minnesota licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Respiratory Therapist license to Minnesota from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for respiratory therapists: Respiratory Therapy Licensure Compact: adoption underway. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Minnesota licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Minnesota require a background check for Respiratory Therapist licensing? ▼
Minnesota does require a background check before issuing a respiratory therapist license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Respiratory Therapist in Minnesota? ▼
To stay licensed as a respiratory therapist in Minnesota, plan on 24 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $103.

Related Guides

What to do with this respiratory therapist license

Respiratory Therapist in Minnesota, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a respiratory therapist-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Minnesota's respiratory therapist requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Respiratory Therapist in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state respiratory therapist license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Minnesota's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Minnesota overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Minnesota licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.