The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC Inc. is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

organization formed in 1960 with the purpose of awarding and maintaining credentialing for

Respiratory Therapist A respiratory therapist is a specialized healthcare professional, healthcare practitioner trained in Intensive care medicine, critical care and cardio-pulmonary medicine in order to work therapeutically with people who have acute critical condit ...

s in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. The NBRC is the only organization in the United States which develops certification examinations for

Registered Respiratory Therapist A respiratory therapist is a specialized healthcare professional, healthcare practitioner trained in Intensive care medicine, critical care and cardio-pulmonary medicine in order to work therapeutically with people who have acute critical condit ...

s (RRTs) and Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRTs). The NBRC also offers additional specialization credentialing for

respiratory practitioner A respiratory therapist is a specialized healthcare practitioner trained in critical care and cardio-pulmonary medicine in order to work therapeutically with people who have acute critical conditions, cardiac and pulmonary disease. Respirato ...

s that hold its certifications. The CRT and RRT designations are the standard credential in respiratory care for licensure requirements in the portions of the

that have enacted a Respiratory Care Act. States that license

respiratory therapist A respiratory therapist is a specialized healthcare professional, healthcare practitioner trained in Intensive care medicine, critical care and cardio-pulmonary medicine in order to work therapeutically with people who have acute critical condit ...

s sometimes require the practitioner to maintain their NBRC credentialing to maintain their license to practice. The NBRC is headquartered in

Overland Park, Kansas Overland Park ( ) is the largest city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States, and the List of cities in Kansas#Highest population listing, second-most populous city in the state of Kansas. It is one of four principal city, principal cities in ...

. It has been in the

Kansas City metropolitan area The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more t ...

since 1974. The NBRC is located at 10801 Mastin St, Suite 300, Overland Park, KS 66210.

Certification levels

Entry level certification

Certification is the entry level and is separated as such by the NBRC. Certified Respiratory Therapists and Certified Pulmonary Function Technologists may require oversight and supervision by their advanced-practice counterparts.

Specialties

The NBRC has sub-specialties for the

designations. Both the CRT and the RRT are eligible to sit for additional credentialing but the CRT still requires the same supervision by the RRT in clinical applications. * Sleep Disorders Specialist — The sleep disorder specialist (RRT-SDS or CRT-SDS) is a credential recognized by the

American Academy of Sleep Medicine The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is a United States professional society for the medical subspecialty of sleep medicine which includes disorders of circadian rhythms. It was established in 1975. The organization's functions includ ...

for the role of Scoring in sleep studies. * Neonatal & Pediatric Specialist — The neonatal and pediatric specialist (RRT-NPS or CRT-NPS) is a

that may work in advanced care in pediatrics and neonatology centers and units. * Adult Critical Care Specialist — The adult critical care specialist is only available to the RRT (RRT-ACCS) that is a pulmonary and hemodynamic specialist in intensive medicine in adult practice. * Asthma Educator Specialist — The asthma educator specialist is a multi-disciplinary examination available to a wide range of health care professionals. * Pulmonary Function Technologist — The Pulmonary Function Technology (PFT) Examination objectively measures essential tasks required of pulmonary function technologists.

Testing

NBRC examinations are developed by NBRC staff and administered by PS

Examinations maintained by the NBRC

Candidates must have a minimum of an associate degree from a respiratory therapy education program supported by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) to be eligible for the TMC Examination. Credentialed practitioners may then apply for state

licensure Occupational licensing, also called licensure, is a form of government regulation requiring a license to pursue a particular profession or vocation for compensation. It is related to occupational closure. Some claim higher public support for ...

Respiratory Therapist

* TMC — The Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination (TMC) is designed to objectively measure essential knowledge, skills, and abilities required of entry-level respiratory therapists, as well as determine eligibility for the Clinical Simulation Examination. There are two established cut scores for the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination. Candidate achieving the lower cut score earn the CRT credential. Candidate achieves the higher cut score earn the CRT credential and become eligible for the Clinical Simulation Examination (provided that those eligibility requirements are met and the candidate is eligible to earn the RRT credential). Candidate must be 18 years old and must have either: a minimum of an associate degree from a respiratory therapist education program accredited by the

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care In-Commission or commissioning may refer to: Business and contracting * Commission (remuneration), a form of payment to an agent for services rendered ** Commission (art), the purchase or the creation of a piece of art most often on behalf of anot ...

(CoARC), or hold the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (CSRT) RRT credential. The TMC consists of 160 multiple-choice questions (140 scored items and 20 pretest items) distributed among three major content areas: Patient Data Evaluation and Recommendations, Troubleshooting and Quality Control of Equipment and Infection Control, and Initiation and Modification of Interventions. Candidates are given three hours to complete the TMC Examination. * CSE — The Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) is a test in which the test-taker accepts the role as an autonomous respiratory therapist handling all sorts of intervention and therapy. Candidates that pass both the NBRC-TMC at the higher cut score and the NBRC-CSE will earn the RRT credential. CSE lasts 4 hours and consists of 22 separate patient management problems (20 scored and 2 pretest) designed to simulate the clinical practice of respiratory care.

Specialization of the Respiratory Therapist

* SDS — The Sleep Disorders Specialty Examination program is designed specifically for a respiratory therapist with an NBRC respiratory care credential and experience or education in the field of sleep medicine. Those who are actively certified as a Sleep Disorders Specialist are permitted to use the post-nominal letters "SDS", "RRT-SDS" or "CRT-SDS" depending on their level and preference. * ACCS — The Adult Critical Care Specialty Examination program is designed specifically for a respiratory therapist with the RRT credential and experience in the field of adult critical care. Those who are actively certified as a Respiratory Care Adult Critical Care Specialist are permitted to use the post-nominal letters "ACCS" or "RRT-ACCS" depending on their preference. * NPS — The Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Specialty Examination is designed specifically for a respiratory therapist with an NBRC respiratory care credential and experience in the field of neonatal/pediatric care. Those who are actively certified as a Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist are permitted to use the post-nominal letters "NPS", "RRT-NPS" or "CRT-NPS" depending on their level and preference.

Pulmonary Function Technologist

* PFT - The Pulmonary Function Technologist Examination is designed to objectively measure essential knowledge, skills, and abilities required of pulmonary function technologists. There are two established cut scores for the Pulmonary Function Technologist Examination. If a candidate achieves the lower cut score, he or she will earn the Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) credential. If a candidate achieves the higher cut score, he or she will earn the Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) credential.

Asthma Educator Specialist

* AE-C - The Asthma Educator Specialty Examination is designed to measure comprehensive, current knowledge of asthma pathophysiology and management including developmental theories, cultural dimensions, the impact of chronic illness, and principles of teaching-learning. If a candidate passes the test, he or she will earn the Asthma Educator Specialist (AE-C) credential.

Related organizations

Institute for Credentialing Excellence The Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.) is one of the two main U.S. organizations that accredit personnel certifications or certificates. In November 2009 the ICE formally changed its name from the National Organization for Competency ...

(ICE) *

National Commission for Certifying Agencies The Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.) is one of the two main U.S. organizations that accredit personnel certifications or certificates. In November 2009 the ICE formally changed its name from the National Organization for Competency ...

(the NBRC maintains accreditation of its programs through this organization and ICE) * American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) *

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is an accreditation agency for postsecondary education programs in 30 health science fields. Programmatic accreditation is granted after an education program is reviewed and ...

* Lambda Beta Society *

American Thoracic Society The American Thoracic Society (ATS) is a nonprofit organization focused on improving care for pulmonary diseases, critical illnesses and sleep-related breathing disorders. It was established in 1905 as the American Sanatorium Association, and ...

American Society of Anesthesiologists The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is a professional association of physicians in the field of anesthesiology. As of 2024, the organization included more than 57,000 national and international members and has more than 100 full-tim ...

American College of Chest Physicians The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) is a medical association in the United States consisting of physicians and non-physician specialists in the field of chest medicine, which includes pulmonology, critical care medicine Intensiv ...

References

External links

National Board for Respiratory Care
{{authority control Health care-related professional associations Pulmonology and respiratory therapy organizations Healthcare accreditation organizations in the United States Economy of Overland Park, Kansas Medical associations based in the United States Medical and health organizations based in Kansas