Illinois Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner Requirements

ByAllied License Guide Editorial Team

Editorial Note: This page is editorially reviewed by an ARDMS-credentialed sonographer as part of AlliedLicenseGuide.com’s allied health licensing database. Primary source: IDFPR Qualifications for Licensure: Respiratory Care Practitioner (Form 194, Effective 06/2025).

Who This Guide Is For

  • NBRC CRT or RRT holders applying for initial licensure as a Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner in Illinois, including those from other states seeking licensure by endorsement.
  • Respiratory care students and new graduates who want to understand Illinois’s credential requirements before sitting for the NBRC exam.
  • Travel respiratory therapists evaluating Illinois as a destination state and confirming the fixed October 31 renewal cycle and compact status.

Illinois Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner — At a Glance

License Required Yes
Credential Name Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner (LRCP)
Governing Body IDFPR, Division of Professional Regulation; Respiratory Care Board (advisory)
Licensing Pathways Acceptance of Examination (NBRC CRT or RRT); Endorsement (other-state licensees)
NBRC Credential Required CRT (primary); RRT accepted in place of CRT
Illinois State Exam None required
Education Requirement CoARC or CAAHEP accredited respiratory care program
Application Fee $100 (both pathways per 68 Ill. Adm. Code § 1456.75)
Application Method Online via IDFPR CORE system
Jurisprudence Exam Not identified on IDFPR RC pages
Interstate Compact (RCIC) Not enacted as of verification date
Governing Law 225 ILCS 106; 68 Ill. Adm. Code Part 1456

Illinois licenses respiratory care practitioners through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, a large multi-profession agency that oversees well over 100 license types in the state. The Respiratory Care Board, an advisory body appointed by the IDFPR Secretary, advises on standards of professional conduct, discipline, and qualification requirements. All licensing functions — applications, renewals, and records — run through IDFPR’s CORE online system.

Illinois uses a fixed biennial expiration date of October 31 of every odd-numbered year, which applies to every LRCP regardless of when the license was originally issued. This structure is distinct from birthday-based states and means all Illinois respiratory care practitioners renew at the same time, every two years.

What Makes Illinois Different

Illinois takes a notably CRT-forward approach to initial licensure. The Qualifications for Licensure document (Form 194, effective June 2025) states that the CRT is the required examination — the RRT is accepted in its place. An applicant holding only a current CRT credential from NBRC fully meets Illinois’s examination requirement.

The NBRC credential also serves double duty in Illinois. A copy of the CRT or RRT credential serves as evidence of meeting the education requirement for applicants from CoARC or CAAHEP accredited programs — there is no separate submission for education verification required for most applicants. For graduates of non-accredited programs, a separate education approval pathway exists under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1456.40.

Illinois also has an unusually clear and complete list of approved CE sponsors codified directly in the administrative rules. The American Association for Respiratory Care, Illinois Society for Respiratory Care, AMA, AHA, American Lung Association, and several others are named explicitly in the regulation as automatically approved — practitioners do not need to separately verify whether a course from these organizations counts. This is different from states where AARC’s approval must be inferred from board policy or confirmed separately.

Respiratory Care Interstate Compact (RCIC)

As of this page’s last verification date, Illinois has not enacted the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact. The RCIC Commission was formally established in April 2026, but Illinois is not among the current member states. Travel respiratory therapists working in Illinois must hold a standard Illinois LRCP license. Verify current compact status at respiratorycarecompact.org or directly with IDFPR.

Licensing Requirements

To be licensed as a Respiratory Care Practitioner in Illinois, an applicant must hold an active NBRC CRT or RRT credential from a CoARC or CAAHEP accredited respiratory care program, and submit a completed application through the IDFPR CORE system. For the examination pathway, a copy of the NBRC credential serves as evidence of both examination passage and education completion. For the endorsement pathway, applicants must also submit certification of licensure from their first-licensed jurisdiction and any current jurisdictions.

Criminal history disclosure is required on the IDFPR application. A fingerprint-based background check requirement could not be confirmed from the respiratory care statute, rules, or Form 194 as of the verification date — applicants should confirm current background check procedures with IDFPR at the time of application.

How to Apply

  1. Ensure NBRC credential is active. Illinois accepts the CRT as the primary qualifying exam. The RRT is accepted in place of the CRT. Both are sufficient — no additional NBRC credential is required.
  2. Log in to the IDFPR CORE system to begin your application. New applicants must create an account. Applications are processed and fees paid through CORE.
  3. Submit your NBRC credential copy as evidence of examination and education requirements (for CoARC/CAAHEP graduates).
  4. For endorsement applicants: also submit certification of licensure from your current and first-licensed jurisdiction(s). Acceptable documentation includes a certified copy from a public licensing portal or verification of a requested certification.
  5. Pay the application fee (see table above) through CORE by credit card, debit card, or e-check.
  6. Update your contact information with IDFPR — especially your email address — so you receive renewal notices and other Department communications.

Practical Notes

  • CRT holders: Illinois is straightforward. Unlike some states that require the RRT, Illinois lists the CRT as the primary exam and accepts the RRT as an alternative. A current CRT is all you need on the NBRC side.
  • Your license expires October 31 of odd years — regardless of when you got it. A license issued in March 2026 and one issued in September 2026 both expire October 31, 2027. Build your renewal calendar around this fixed date, not your issue date.
  • First renewal is CE-exempt. If your first expiration date is October 31, 2027, you do not need CE for that renewal. CE kicks in for the following renewal cycle. Keep this timeline in mind before investing in CE credits right after getting licensed.
  • IDFPR contact: General assistance at 1-888-473-4858; Professional licensing at 1-800-560-6420. For written inquiries, visit the IDFPR FAQ at idfpr.illinois.gov/faq.html.

Relevant Statutes and Rules

Related Pages

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Illinois require the RRT, or is the CRT sufficient for licensure?

The CRT is sufficient. Illinois’s Qualifications for Licensure document (Form 194, effective June 2025) states that the CRT is the examination required for licensed respiratory care practitioners, and that the RRT is accepted in its place. An applicant holding either credential meets the NBRC examination requirement. Source: IDFPR Form 194 — Qualifications for Licensure.

What education program does Illinois require?

Illinois requires completion of a respiratory care program accredited by CoARC or CAAHEP. For graduates of these accredited programs, a copy of the NBRC CRT or RRT credential serves as evidence of meeting the education requirement — no separate education form is required. Graduates of non-accredited programs must follow a separate education review process under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1456.40. Source: IDFPR Form 194 — Qualifications for Licensure.

When does an Illinois respiratory care practitioner license expire?

All Illinois respiratory care practitioner licenses expire on October 31 of each odd-numbered year, regardless of when the license was issued. This fixed biennial date applies to every LRCP in the state. Source: IDFPR Form 194 — Qualifications for Licensure and 68 Ill. Adm. Code § 1456.110.

Is Illinois part of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact?

Not as of this page’s last verification. Illinois has not enacted the RCIC, and no active Illinois legislation to join was found at the time of last review. Travel RTs working in Illinois must hold a standard Illinois LRCP license. Verify current status at respiratorycarecompact.org.

Can I apply for an Illinois license by endorsement if I’m already licensed in another state?

Yes. Illinois offers a licensure by endorsement pathway under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1456.60 for applicants who hold a respiratory care practitioner license in another jurisdiction. In addition to the standard examination and application materials, endorsement applicants must provide certification of licensure from the first jurisdiction in which they were licensed and from any current jurisdictions. Acceptable documentation includes a certified copy from a public licensing portal or verification of a requested certification. Source: IDFPR Form 194 — Qualifications for Licensure.

Fees and requirements listed on this page are based on information published by IDFPR and verified on the date shown in the change log below. Fees and requirements are subject to change — confirm current details with IDFPR Respiratory Care before submitting an application.

Change Log
2026-06-12 — Page created. Data verified from IDFPR Form 194 (Qualifications for Licensure, effective 06/2025), 68 Ill. Adm. Code § 1456.110, and IDFPR CE sponsor questionnaire. Key findings: CRT is the primary qualifying exam (RRT accepted as alternative); fixed October 31 odd-year expiration; AARC and other sponsors codified in regulation. Compact status: Illinois not an RCIC member as of verification date.

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