Pennsylvania Respiratory Therapist License Renewal | CE Requirements & Deadlines

Pennsylvania Respiratory Therapist licenses renew on a biennial cycle under the State Board of Medicine. The expiration date is fixed — unlike states where the license expires on the individual’s birthday or two years from issuance, every Pennsylvania Medicine Board license expires on December 31 of each even-numbered year. That means all licensees share the same renewal deadline. See the table above for the current renewal fee, CE requirements, and contact details.

The Board mails renewal notices before the December 31 deadline, but licensees are responsible for renewing on time regardless of whether a notice is received. Keeping your address current with the Board is essential — notice delivery depends on the address in your PALS account.

Continuing Education Requirements for Pennsylvania RT Renewal

Pennsylvania’s CE requirements for respiratory therapist renewal are codified in 49 Pa. Code § 18.309a. The total hours required per cycle are in the table above. Four of those hours are mandated for specific topics:

• 1 hour — medical ethics
• 1 hour — patient safety
• At least 2 hours — child abuse recognition and reporting (in accordance with 49 Pa. Code § 16.108(b))

The remaining hours must address respiratory care clinical or specialty content. Pennsylvania does not accept courses unrelated to clinical respiratory care — such as office management or practice-building courses.

Approved CE Providers

Pennsylvania’s regulation expressly designates CE programs approved by the AARC, AMA (PRA Category I), AOA (Categories 1A and 1B), and CSRT as automatically approved for Pennsylvania credit. Advanced academic coursework in respiratory care at institutions accredited by the U.S. Department of Education also qualifies, with credit hours converted per the Board’s formula. Source: 49 Pa. Code § 18.309b.

Live Format Requirement and Category Limits

At least 10 of the required 30 hours must be completed through live or traditional formats — meaning classroom lecture, clinical presentation, real-time webcast, or other sessions where a live presenter is involved. In any given biennial period, a maximum of 8 hours of advanced life support courses (ACLS, NRP, PALS) may be counted toward the CE total. Basic life support courses, including BLS and CPR provider courses, are excluded from CE credit entirely. Duplicate activities — activities with identical content and objectives already credited in the same period — also do not qualify. Source: 49 Pa. Code § 18.309a.

First-Time Renewal Exemption

An individual applying for renewal for the first time — meaning the initial biennial period in which the license was issued — is exempt from the CE requirements for that period. This exemption applies to the first renewal only. Source: 49 Pa. Code § 18.309a(b).

CE Record Retention

Licensees are required to maintain CE documentation for at least 2 years after the end of the biennial renewal period to which the CE applies, and must provide documentation to Board representatives upon request.

How to Renew a Pennsylvania Respiratory Therapist License

Renewal is completed online through pals.pa.gov. All State Board of Medicine licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years. The general renewal process:

1. Log in to PALS at pals.pa.gov and navigate to your Respiratory Therapist license renewal application
2. Complete the 30-hour CE requirement for the biennial period, including the 4 mandatory topic hours (medical ethics, patient safety, child abuse recognition)
3. Certify CE completion in the renewal application
4. Pay the renewal fee shown in the table above
5. Submit and retain confirmation as documentation

Keep your address current in PALS to ensure you receive the mailed renewal notice. The Board mails notices approximately 2–3 months before the December 31 deadline.

Compact Renewal Implications

Pennsylvania has not enacted the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact and no compact renewal implications apply to Pennsylvania licensees. Verify current compact status with the State Board of Medicine and the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact commission.

Practical Notes for Pennsylvania License Renewal

• Every Pennsylvania Medicine Board RT license expires December 31 of even-numbered years. Unlike states where renewal runs on an individual cycle from your issuance date, Pennsylvania uses a universal deadline. Mark December 31 of even-numbered years as your deadline regardless of when you originally licensed.
• Four CE hours are non-negotiable on topics. Medical ethics, patient safety, and child abuse recognition are individually mandated. Missing any one of them means a non-compliant renewal even if you have 30+ total hours. Plan those four hours deliberately early in your renewal period.
• BLS/CPR provider courses are excluded. They do not count. Advanced life support courses (ACLS, NRP, PALS) count up to the maximum shown in the table above, but basic life support does not. This is a common point of confusion.
• Travel respiratory therapists: plan your December 31 deadline into every Pennsylvania assignment. If your Pennsylvania license expires mid-assignment, you need to renew before December 31 of the relevant even-numbered year. The deadline is universal — there is no individual variance.
• First-time renewal is CE-free. If this is your first renewal after your initial license was issued, you are exempt from the CE requirement for that first cycle. No CE documentation is needed for that renewal.

Related Pages

• Pennsylvania Respiratory Therapist Licensing — Initial Requirements and Application
• Ohio Respiratory Care License Renewal — CE Requirements and Fees
• Respiratory Care Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

When does my Pennsylvania respiratory therapist license expire?

Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine licenses expire December 31 of every even-numbered year. This is a fixed universal deadline that applies to all licensees — it does not vary by individual issuance date. Source: Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine Renewal Information.

How many CE hours do I need to renew my Pennsylvania RT license?

Pennsylvania requires 30 hours of continuing education per biennial renewal period, which must include 1 hour of medical ethics, 1 hour of patient safety, and at least 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting training. Source: 49 Pa. Code § 18.309a.

Does AARC-approved CE count for Pennsylvania renewal?

Yes. Pennsylvania’s regulation expressly lists AARC as an approved CE provider — programs designated for professional development credits by AARC are deemed approved by the Board. Confirm that the specific activity carries AARC approval before counting it toward your Pennsylvania requirement. Source: 49 Pa. Code § 18.309b.

Are BLS or CPR courses acceptable for Pennsylvania CE credit?

No. Basic life support and CPR provider courses are explicitly excluded from CE credit under 49 Pa. Code § 18.309a. Advanced life support courses (ACLS, NRP, PALS) are accepted up to the maximum per-cycle limit shown in the table above. Source: 49 Pa. Code § 18.309a.

What happens if I am a first-time renewal applicant?

First-time renewal applicants — those renewing during the initial biennial period in which their license was issued — are exempt from the CE requirements for that first renewal cycle only. No CE documentation is needed for that renewal. Starting with the second renewal, the full 30-hour requirement applies. Source: 49 Pa. Code § 18.309a(b).

How do I renew my Pennsylvania respiratory therapist license?

Pennsylvania RT licenses are renewed online through PALS at pals.pa.gov. Log in, complete the renewal application, certify CE completion, and pay the renewal fee shown in the table above. The Board mails a renewal notice approximately 2–3 months before the December 31 deadline, but you are responsible for renewing on time whether or not the notice arrives. Source: Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine.