North Carolina Respiratory Therapist License Requirements

To practice as a respiratory therapist in North Carolina, the state licensing board requires 1,946 documented education or training hours, a passing score on the TMC Exam (Therapist Multiple-Choice) examination. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under North Carolina's professional licensing framework, which classifies training as "Associate Degree".

Upfront cost is $139, with renewal running $117 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 is available: Respiratory Therapy Licensure Compact: adoption underway. Compared to the profession-wide pattern, the numbers above should be cross-checked against other states before relocating — licensing cost, training hours, and exam requirements vary enough that a different state may cut thousands of dollars and months of training from the path. The state board, not this page, is the final authority; verify every field below with the official regulator before you pay fees or enroll in training.