Respiratory Therapist / West Virginia
2026 data West Virginia board official source

West Virginia Respiratory Therapist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

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Treats patients with breathing disorders. Requires TMC exam.

What the West Virginia data shows for Respiratory Therapists

West Virginia sets the entry bar for respiratory therapists at 1,784 training hours and a passing score on TMC Exam (Therapist Multiple-Choice). A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under West Virginia's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Associate Degree".

Budget $107 to get started, plus $93 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 24-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

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

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
54/100
Respiratory Therapist · West Virginia

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
1,784 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$107
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C
$47/yr
$93 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 West Virginia

Education / Training Hours
Associate Degree
1,784 hours
Exam Requirement
TMC Exam (Therapist Multiple-Choice)
Required
Initial License Fee
$107
Renewal Fee
$93
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 West Virginia licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with West Virginia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Respiratory Therapist in West Virginia? ▼
West Virginia requires 1784 education/training hours, passing an exam (TMC Exam (Therapist Multiple-Choice)), and an initial fee of $107. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Respiratory Therapist in West Virginia? ▼
To become a licensed respiratory therapist in West Virginia, you must meet the state's requirements including 1784 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the West Virginia licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Respiratory Therapist license to West Virginia 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 West Virginia. Verify the specifics with the West Virginia licensing board.
Does West Virginia require a background check for Respiratory Therapist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the respiratory therapist licensing process in West Virginia. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Respiratory Therapist in West Virginia? ▼
To stay licensed as a respiratory therapist in West Virginia, plan on 24 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $93.

Related Guides

What to do with this respiratory therapist license

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

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

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