{"application_form_url":null,"application_portal_url":"https://secureaccess.wa.gov/","board_contact_url":"https://doh.wa.gov/about-us/contact-us","board_email":"See board website","board_fax":"N/A (contact by phone)","board_mailing_address":"See board website","board_name":"Washington DOH \u2014 Respiratory Care","board_parent_org":"Washington State Department of Health (DOH)","board_phone":"(360) 236-4700","board_physical_address":"See board website","board_source_url":"https://doh.wa.gov/","board_url":"https://doh.wa.gov/","canonical_url":"https://statelicensingreference.com/washington-rrt","ce_requirements_url":"https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/respiratory-care-practitioner/continuing-education","common_delays":[{"description":"Applications cannot be finalized until all state verifications are received directly from the respective boards.","title":"Missing Out-of-State Verifications"},{"description":"Paying for or scheduling fingerprints before receiving a DOH notification can lead to non-refundable fees and processing errors.","title":"Premature Fingerprinting"},{"description":"Failure to request an official credential report from the NBRC rather than just providing a certificate copy.","title":"Incomplete NBRC Verification"},{"description":"Online credit card payments require a 2.5% convenience fee; ensure the total amount is cleared.","title":"Unpaid Convenience Fees"}],"compact_member":false,"compact_name":"N/A","compact_privilege_fee":"N/A","created_at":"2026-04-09T17:05:35.316782+00:00","credential_type":"Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)","description":"Apply for a Washington Respiratory Therapist credential. Learn about the requirements, NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care) TMC Exam, and state fees.","endorsement_application_url":"https://secureaccess.wa.gov/","endorsement_fees":{"app_fee":"$100","background_check_fee":"$0 (included in application)","jurisprudence_exam_fee":"$0","total_estimated_cost":"$100"},"endorsement_steps":[{"description":"Check if your current state of licensure is considered 'substantially equivalent' by Washington DOH.","title":"Verify Substantial Equivalency","url":"https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/respiratory-care-practitioner/substantially-equivalent-states","url_label":"Check Equivalent States"},{"description":"Apply via the HELMS portal using the standard Respiratory Care Practitioner application pathway.","title":"Submit Endorsement Application","url":"https://secureaccess.wa.gov/","url_label":"Apply Online"},{"description":"Contact all states where you have held a license and request they send a verification form directly to Washington DOH.","title":"Request License Verifications","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Ensure your NBRC RRT credential is in good standing and request official verification be sent to the board.","title":"Provide NBRC Proof","url":"https://www.nbrc.org/","url_label":"NBRC Portal"}],"exam_registration_url":"https://www.nbrc.org/","faqs":[{"answer":"Licensed respiratory care practitioners must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years.","question":"How many continuing education hours are required for renewal?"},{"answer":"Yes, beginning January 1, 2024, practitioners must complete 2 hours of health equity training every renewal cycle.","question":"Is there a specific health equity training requirement?"},{"answer":"Licenses expire every two years on the practitioner's birthday.","question":"When does my Washington respiratory therapist license expire?"},{"answer":"Yes, you may submit a 'Declaration of No Social Security Number' form along with your application.","question":"Can I apply for a license if I do not have a Social Security Number?"},{"answer":"As of May 1, 2025, the DOH no longer sends paper renewal notices; notifications are sent via email.","question":"Will I receive a paper renewal notice in the mail?"}],"fee_payment_url":null,"fingerprint_delay_weeks":"2-4","fingerprint_fee":"$35.50","fingerprint_method_in_state":"LiveScan (IdentoGO)","fingerprint_method_out_of_state":"IdentoGO Out-of-State Live Scan (adds ~$39.95 fee) OR FD-258 hard card via mail (tip: moisturize hands for days prior to reduce smudge rejects)","fingerprint_required":true,"fingerprint_url":"https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/fingerprint-background-check-information","fingerprint_vendor":"IdentoGO / WSP","fingerprint_vendor_url":"https://www.identogo.com/locations/washington","initial_fee_amount":100.0,"initial_fee_breakdown":"$100 application/license fee","last_updated":"2026-02-25","last_verified":"2026-02-25","license_duration":"2 Years","licensing_pathway":"endorsement","payload_url":"https://statelicensingreference.com/api/washington-rrt.json","processing_time":"4 to 6 Weeks","profession":"Respiratory Therapist","provisional_info":"Many states offer a limited permit or provisional license for new graduates waiting to take the NBRC. Check specific board rules for supervisory requirements.","reciprocity_info":"Respiratory Therapists licensed in another state can often apply via endorsement by providing license verification and current certification.","renewal_cycle":"Every 2 years","renewal_fee_amount":50.0,"renewal_portal_url":"https://secureaccess.wa.gov/","required_documents":[{"description":"Evidence of graduation from a CoARC, CAAHEP, or CAHEA accredited respiratory therapy program.","name":"Official Transcripts","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Verification of current RRT or CRT certification sent directly from the National Board for Respiratory Care.","name":"NBRC Credential Verification","url":"https://www.nbrc.org/","url_label":"NBRC Website"},{"description":"If applicable, verification from every state where you hold or have held a healthcare license.","name":"Out-of-State License Verification","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Completed attestation regarding criminal history, disciplinary actions, and health conditions.","name":"Personal Data Questions","url":null,"url_label":null}],"slug":"washington-rrt","state_name":"Washington","state_slug":"washington","statutes_url":"https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/respiratory-care-practitioner/laws","steps":[{"description":"Register for a SAW account to access the Department of Health's online licensing system (HELMS).","title":"Create a Secure Access Washington (SAW) Account","url":"https://secureaccess.wa.gov/","url_label":"Sign Up for SAW"},{"description":"Log into SAW, select 'Add a New Service,' and choose 'Health Professional and Facility Licensing (HELMS)' from the Department of Health list.","title":"Add the HELMS Service","url":"https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/apply-online","url_label":"Online Instructions"},{"description":"Fill out the Respiratory Care Practitioner application within the HELMS portal, answering all personal data and professional history questions.","title":"Complete the Online Application","url":"https://secureaccess.wa.gov/","url_label":"Start Application"},{"description":"Submit the non-refundable application fee of $140 via credit/debit card (2.5% fee) or electronic check (no fee) through the portal.","title":"Pay Application Fees","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Request official transcripts from your respiratory therapy program and verification of NBRC credentials to be sent directly to the DOH.","title":"Submit Supporting Documents","url":"https://www.nbrc.org/","url_label":"Request NBRC Verification"},{"description":"Wait for the DOH to contact you regarding a fingerprint-based background check. Do not schedule this until officially notified.","title":"Complete Background Check","url":"https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/fingerprint-background-check-information","url_label":"Fingerprint Info"}],"temp_license_available":false,"temp_license_duration":"See board","temp_license_fee":"See board","temp_license_processing_time":"See board","updated_at":"2026-04-26T09:03:17.849580+00:00","verify_license_url":null}