New Jersey Respiratory Care Practitioner License Renewal
Editorial Note: This page is editorially reviewed by an ARDMS-credentialed sonographer as part of AlliedLicenseGuide.com’s allied health licensing database. Primary source: New Jersey State Board of Respiratory Care — Division of Consumer Affairs.
Who This Guide Is For
- Licensed NJ Respiratory Care Practitioners tracking their biennial renewal deadline and planning their 30 CE credits before the March 31 statewide expiration date.
- Licensees renewing for the first time after initial licensure, who are exempt from CE requirements for that first biennial period.
- Licensees whose license has lapsed and need to understand the reinstatement process, including the 5-year threshold at which a full re-examination is required.
NJ Respiratory Care Practitioner Renewal — At a Glance
| Renewal Cycle | 2 years (biennial) |
| License Expiration | Fixed statewide date: March 31 of odd-numbered years (per renewal materials; verify expiration date on your license) |
| Renewal Fee | $160.00 |
| Late Renewal Fee | Additional $100.00 within 30-day grace period; $175.00 reinstatement fee after 30 days (license suspended) |
| Grace Period | 30 days — license remains valid; may continue to practice; suspended without hearing if not renewed within 30 days |
| CE Credits Required | 30 credits per biennial period (first renewal after initial licensure is exempt) |
| Mandatory CE Topics | 1 infection control; 1 patient safety/medical errors; 1 ethics; 20 respiratory care clinical practices; remaining in any health care field |
| Approved CE Providers | NJSRC- or AARC-approved programs (per N.J.A.C. 13:44F-10.2) |
| CE Limits | No online/distance cap; up to 5 carryover credits from within 1 year of period end |
| Renewal Method | Online via MyLicense portal (primary); paper packet also available |
| Lapsed License | Within 5 years: reinstate via application + $175 fee + CE documentation. After 5 years: must retake NBRC exam |
| Compact Renewal | Not applicable — NJ not currently a member of the RCIC |
| Renewal Contact | (973) 504-6485; ClarkR@dca.njoag.gov; MyLicense portal |
New Jersey respiratory care practitioner licenses renew every two years. Renewal materials and CE provider sources consistently identify March 31 of odd-numbered years as the statewide expiration date for NJ respiratory care licenses (e.g., March 31, 2025; March 31, 2027), though the underlying regulation at N.J.A.C. 13:44F-7.1 describes a two-year renewal period without specifying a fixed calendar date — confirm your exact expiration date on your license or with the Board. The Board sends a renewal notice at least 60 days before that date, but renewing on time is your responsibility regardless of whether the notice arrives.
CE Requirements
Every biennial renewal requires 30 continuing education credits. The regulation at N.J.A.C. 13:44F-10.1 sets both a total and a structured topic breakdown: within those 30 credits, licensees must complete at least 1 credit in infection control, at least 1 in patient safety/medical errors, at least 1 in ethics, and at least 20 credits directly related to respiratory care clinical practices. Any remaining credits may come from any health care related field.
Per N.J.A.C. 13:44F-10.2 and confirmed in the Board’s FAQ, acceptable programs are those offered or approved by the New Jersey Society for Respiratory Care (NJSRC) or the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). AARC-approved coursework satisfies New Jersey’s CE requirement. Licensees practicing in NJ healthcare facilities may also earn CE credit through performance-based competency assessments (PBCA) approved by the Board under N.J.A.C. 13:44F-10.2A.
New Jersey does not cap the number of CE credits that can come from online or distance-learning courses — all 30 credits may come from approved online courses if you choose. Up to 5 excess credits may carry over to the next biennial period, but only if they were completed within the final year of the current period. Remedial CE ordered by the Board following a disciplinary action does not count toward the 30-credit requirement. CE records must be kept for two full biennial periods after completion — the Board audits a representative sample of licensees.
First renewal exemption: Licensees renewing for the first time after their initial New Jersey licensure are exempt from the CE requirement for that first biennial period. The 30-credit requirement begins at the second renewal.
Grace Period, Late Fees, and Suspension
If you miss the March 31 deadline, New Jersey provides a 30-day grace period. During those 30 days, your license remains valid under N.J.A.C. 13:44F-7.1(d) and you are not considered to be practicing without a license. Renewing during the grace period requires the standard $160 renewal fee plus an additional $100 late fee.
If you don’t renew within the 30-day grace period, your license is suspended automatically without a hearing under N.J.A.C. 13:44F-7.1(e). Earlier Board adoption records indicate that applicants whose licenses have been suspended for five years or less may be able to reinstate by submitting a reinstatement application, the $175 reinstatement fee, and documentation of CE credits, while those suspended for more than five years may be required to retake and pass the NBRC licensing examination to restore practice rights. These reinstatement parameters are drawn from older Board adoption records and may have been amended — contact the Board directly to confirm current reinstatement requirements if your license has lapsed beyond the 30-day grace period.
Inactive License Option
At renewal, licensees may choose to renew to inactive status. A licensee on inactive status may not practice respiratory care in New Jersey or hold themselves out as eligible to practice until the license is returned to active status. This option is available through the MyLicense renewal process.
How to Renew
- Track your March 31 expiration date. The Board sends a notice at least 60 days before expiration, but don’t rely on that notice arriving.
- Complete your 30 CE credits before the period closes, including the required topic minimums (1 infection control, 1 patient safety/medical errors, 1 ethics, 20 respiratory care clinical practices). AARC-approved or NJSRC-approved courses satisfy the requirement. First-time renewers are exempt.
- Renew online via the MyLicense portal at njconsumeraffairs.gov/resp (primary), or request a paper packet from the Board.
- Pay the $160.00 renewal fee by credit/debit online, or by check/money order for paper.
- Report any changes to your business or employment address as part of the renewal.
- If renewing during the 30-day grace period, include the additional $100.00 late fee.
Practical Notes
- March 31 is everyone’s deadline. Unlike states where your expiration tracks from your personal issue date, NJ uses a single statewide date. CE providers see volume spikes near March 31 — don’t leave your credits to the final days before expiration.
- First renewal? No CE required. Initial NJ licensees are exempt from the 30-credit CE requirement at their very first biennial renewal. The mandate begins at renewal number two.
- AARC approval is sufficient. The regulation names AARC- and NJSRC-approved programs as the accepted sources. You don’t submit CE proof at renewal unless audited, but keep certificates for two full biennial periods.
- If your license lapses, contact the Board promptly. Suspension is automatic after the 30-day grace period. Earlier Board adoption records reference different reinstatement paths depending on how long a license has been suspended, including a potential re-examination requirement after an extended lapse — but confirm current requirements directly with the Board before acting.
Related Pages
- New Jersey Respiratory Care Practitioner Initial License Requirements
- Michigan Respiratory Therapist License Renewal
- Respiratory Care Licensing Hub
Frequently Asked Questions
When do New Jersey respiratory care licenses expire?
All New Jersey respiratory care practitioner licenses expire on March 31 of odd-numbered years (per renewal materials; verify expiration date on your license) — a fixed statewide date, not individual to each licensee’s issue date. The Board sends a renewal notice at least 60 days before March 31, but you’re responsible for renewing on time. Source: N.J.A.C. 13:44F-7.1; NJ Board of Respiratory Care application materials.
How many CE credits does New Jersey require for respiratory care renewal?
30 CE credits per biennial period, with specific topic minimums: at least 1 in infection control, 1 in patient safety/medical errors, 1 in ethics, and 20 in respiratory care clinical practices. Remaining credits may come from any health care related field. Initial licensees are exempt for their first biennial period. Source: N.J.A.C. 13:44F-10.1.
Do AARC CE hours count toward New Jersey respiratory care renewal?
Yes. Per N.J.A.C. 13:44F-10.2(a)1, programs offered or approved by the AARC or the New Jersey Society for Respiratory Care (NJSRC) are accepted. There is no cap on online or distance-learning hours — all 30 credits can come from approved online courses. Source: N.J.A.C. 13:44F-10.2; NJ Board of Respiratory Care FAQ.
What happens if my New Jersey respiratory care license lapses?
After the 30-day grace period, the license is suspended automatically without a hearing. Earlier Board adoption records indicate different reinstatement paths depending on how long the suspension has been in place, including a potential requirement to retake and pass the NBRC exam after an extended lapse. However, these provisions are drawn from older Board records — contact the Board directly to confirm current reinstatement requirements before acting. Source: N.J.A.C. 13:44F-7.1; NJ Board of Respiratory Care adoption records.
How much does it cost to renew a New Jersey respiratory care license?
The standard biennial renewal fee is $160.00. If you renew during the 30-day grace period after March 31, an additional $100.00 late fee applies, making the total $260. If your license has been suspended past the grace period and you need to reinstate, the reinstatement fee is $175.00. Source: N.J.A.C. 13:44F-8.1.
Is New Jersey part of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact?
No, not as of this page’s verification date. New Jersey is not currently a member of the RCIC, so there are no compact-related renewal implications. Verify current status at respiratorycarecompact.org.
Fees and requirements listed on this page are based on the NJ State Board of Respiratory Care’s regulations (N.J.A.C. 13:44F), verified on the date shown in the change log below. Requirements are subject to change — confirm current details with the NJ State Board of Respiratory Care before your renewal deadline.
Change Log
2026-06-15 — Editorial corrections applied per ChatGPT Projects review: (1) downgraded 5-year reinstatement / NBRC re-exam threshold from settled current law to “earlier Board adoption records indicate” framing with explicit instruction to verify with Board — the source is a 2007 adoption document and this provision may have been amended; (2) updated March 31 expiration date language from “every alternate year” to “odd-numbered years” with caveat that regulation text doesn’t specify a calendar date; (3) removed RCIC Commission creation date — replaced with evergreen “not currently a member” language only; (4) downgraded practical note on lapsed license to match body text uncertainty.