ArizonaRespiratory Therapist License Requirements

Clinical Hours

Varies by program (set by CoARC-accredited programs) hours

Accepted Programs

• •Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Respiratory Therapy
• •Bachelor of Science (BS) in Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory therapy programs must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Graduates are eligible to sit for the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) examination.

Additional Scope

• •Patient assessment
• •Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
• •Hemodynamic monitoring
• •Neonatal and pediatric respiratory care

Notes

Full scope of respiratory care practice including ventilator management, ABGs, medication administration

Details

Respiratory therapists in Arizona practice under physician orders or approved institutional protocols. Direct bedside supervision is generally not required for routine procedures.

Respiratory therapists typically work under the direction of a physician, but the level of supervision varies by state. Some states allow protocol-based practice where RTs follow physician-approved protocols without direct orders.

CE Topics

Regulatory Board

Respiratory therapist licenses must be renewed on schedule. Most states require continuing education covering clinical practice updates, patient safety, and emerging respiratory care technologies.

Additional Requirements for Transfer

• •State application
• •State jurisprudence exam
• •Background check
• •NBRC credential verification

Respiratory therapist license transfer is typically facilitated by holding current NBRC credentials (CRT or RRT). Most states accept the NBRC credential as the primary basis for out-of-state licensure.