Respiratory Therapist / Missouri
2026 data Missouri board official source

Missouri 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 Missouri data shows for Respiratory Therapists

To practice as a respiratory therapist in Missouri, the state licensing board requires 1,838 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 Missouri's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Associate Degree".

Budget $118 to get started, plus $101 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 24 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

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

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
52/100
Respiratory Therapist · Missouri

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
1,838 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$118
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C
$51/yr
$101 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 Missouri

Education / Training Hours
Associate Degree
1,838 hours
Exam Requirement
TMC Exam (Therapist Multiple-Choice)
Required
Initial License Fee
$118
Renewal Fee
$101
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 Missouri licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Missouri licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Respiratory Therapist in Missouri? ▼
Missouri's requirements cover 1838 hours of education or training, the TMC Exam (Therapist Multiple-Choice) exam, and an initial fee of $118. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Respiratory Therapist in Missouri? ▼
To become a licensed respiratory therapist in Missouri, you must meet the state's requirements including 1838 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Missouri licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Respiratory Therapist license to Missouri from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for respiratory therapists nationally works like this: Respiratory Therapy Licensure Compact: adoption underway. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into Missouri. Verify the specifics with the Missouri licensing board.
Does Missouri require a background check for Respiratory Therapist licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for respiratory therapist licensing in Missouri. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Respiratory Therapist in Missouri? ▼
Missouri ties continued respiratory therapist licensure to 24 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $101 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this respiratory therapist license

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

  • See how Missouri'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 Missouri's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Missouri overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Missouri 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.