Maryland Respiratory Care Practitioner License Requirements

Maryland licenses respiratory therapists under the title Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), regulated by the Maryland Board of Physicians. The Board requires documentation of NBRC certification — both the CRT and RRT credentials satisfy this requirement — along with graduation from a CoARC/CAAHEP-accredited respiratory care program. As of December 16, 2024, all initial applications must be submitted online; the Board no longer accepts paper applications.

Maryland’s application process is relatively streamlined compared to some states in this series. There is no jurisprudence exam, no fingerprint-based background check mentioned on the Board’s licensing page, and no state-specific exam requirement — NBRC certification alone satisfies the examination component. The $200 initial license fee is a flat amount with no separate credential or background check fees.

What Makes Maryland Different

Maryland uses the credential name “Respiratory Care Practitioner” rather than the more common “Respiratory Therapist” — and the abbreviation is RCP, not RT. This distinction matters practically: individuals may not use the abbreviation R.C.P. or any words or symbols implying RCP status without a current Maryland license. Travelers and out-of-state practitioners should be aware that their home-state title (“Respiratory Therapist”) is not the Maryland credential name.

Maryland also has a specific polysomnography rule that is worth understanding if sleep studies are part of your practice. RCPs who were licensed by the Board on or before December 31, 2012, and whose duties included practicing polysomnography, may continue to practice polysomnography without a separate license. RCPs licensed after December 31, 2012, must obtain a separate Polysomnographic Technologist license from the Board to practice polysomnography. This is a binary rule with a hard cutoff date.

Maryland is not a member of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact (RCIC). A full Maryland RCP license is required to practice here; compact privileges from other states do not extend to Maryland.

Maryland RCP Licensure Requirements

NBRC Certification

Maryland requires documentation of certification by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). COMAR 10.32.11.11 specifically names both the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) as qualifying credentials — either satisfies the requirement. NBRC must send credential verification directly to the Board. No separate Maryland respiratory care examination is required. Source: Maryland Board of Physicians — Respiratory Care Practitioners

Education

Applicants must document graduation from a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP) or its successors. CoARC-accredited programs satisfy this requirement, as CoARC operates as the successor accrediting body. Documentation of graduation must be submitted with the application. Source: Maryland Board of Physicians — Respiratory Care Practitioners

Criminal History Disclosure

The Board requires applicants to be of good moral character and to disclose criminal history information including arrests, convictions, probation before judgment, disciplinary actions by other professional boards, and malpractice claims. Disclosure is required as part of the online application. Applicants with disclosures should submit supporting documentation and a personal statement. Source: Maryland Board of Physicians

English Proficiency

The Board requires applicants to demonstrate oral and written competency in English. However, an applicant may not be required to provide additional evidence of English proficiency if they hold a valid, unrestricted license, certification, or registration from another state that itself required evidence of English proficiency for licensure. Source: Maryland Board of Physicians — Respiratory Care Practitioners

Polysomnography Endorsement

Maryland has a specific rule governing polysomnography practice by RCPs. Practitioners who were licensed by the Maryland Board of Physicians to practice respiratory care on or before December 31, 2012, and whose duties included practicing polysomnography, may continue to do so without a separate license. RCPs licensed after December 31, 2012 who wish to practice polysomnography must obtain a separate Polysomnographic Technologist license from the Board. If polysomnography is part of your current or anticipated practice in Maryland, verify your licensure date relative to the December 31, 2012 cutoff before beginning sleep study work. Source: Maryland Board of Physicians — Respiratory Care Practitioners

How to Apply for a Maryland RCP License

1. Visit the Maryland Board of Physicians Allied Health Initial Online Application to begin; paper applications are no longer accepted for initial RCP licensure
2. Complete all application questions, including criminal history disclosure
3. Pay the $200 application fee
4. Arrange for NBRC to send credential verification directly to the Board
5. Submit documentation of graduation from your CoARC/CAAHEP-accredited program
6. Demonstrate English proficiency as required (or provide evidence that your home state required English proficiency for your existing license)
7. Allow 3–6 weeks for processing; the timeline may extend if documentation is delayed

Practical Notes

• The credential is RCP, not RT. Maryland licenses Respiratory Care Practitioners. The abbreviation RT is not the Maryland credential; using R.C.P. without a Maryland license is prohibited. On assignment paperwork and employment documentation in Maryland, use RCP and your Maryland license number.
• Online only — no paper. Since December 2024, there is no paper option for initial licensure. If you were planning to mail in a paper application, you cannot. All submissions go through the Board’s online portal.
• The polysomnography cutoff matters if you do sleep studies. The December 31, 2012 date is a hard line. RCPs licensed after that date need a separate Polysomnographic Technologist license to practice polysomnography in Maryland. This affects travel RTs who commonly cross over into sleep study work. Confirm your position with the Board before accepting any Maryland assignment that involves polysomnography.
• No compact means a full application every time. Maryland is not in the RCIC. Every Maryland assignment requires a full Maryland RCP license regardless of what other states you hold.
• The 3–6 week estimate starts when your file is complete. NBRC documentation must come from NBRC directly. If NBRC is slow, or if your education institution takes time to provide graduation documentation, the processing clock waits. Start gathering documents before you apply.

Relevant Statutes and Regulations

• COMAR 10.32.11 — Licensing of Respiratory Care Practitioners
• Maryland Board of Physicians — Laws and Regulations
• Maryland Board of Physicians — Respiratory Care Practitioners

Related Pages

• Maryland Respiratory Care Practitioner License Renewal Guide
• Respiratory Care Practitioner Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Maryland license to practice respiratory care in Maryland?

Yes. Maryland requires a license to practice respiratory care or to represent yourself as a Respiratory Care Practitioner. Individuals may not use the abbreviation R.C.P. or any words, letters, or symbols implying RCP status without a current Maryland license from the Board of Physicians. Source: Maryland Board of Physicians — Respiratory Care Practitioners

What is the application fee for a Maryland RCP license?

The initial license fee is $200. The reinstatement fee is also $200. Renewals are $176, which includes a $26 Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) assessment fee required by state law. Source: Maryland Board of Physicians — Fees

Does Maryland require CRT or RRT for licensure?

Maryland requires documentation of NBRC certification. Both the CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) and RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) satisfy this requirement. No separate Maryland state examination is required. Source: Maryland Board of Physicians — Respiratory Care Practitioners

How long does Maryland RCP license processing take?

The Board states the application process may take 3–6 weeks on average, though processing may take longer depending on the applicant’s individual circumstances or whether required documentation is submitted in a timely manner. Source: Maryland Board of Physicians — Respiratory Care Practitioners

Does Maryland participate in the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact?

No respiratory care compact authority was identified in Maryland Health Occupations Article Title 14, Subtitle 5A or COMAR 10.32.11 as of June 2026. Compact privileges from other RCIC member states do not apply in Maryland. Verify current RCIC membership status at respiratorycarecompact.org.

Do I need a separate license to practice polysomnography in Maryland as an RCP?

It depends on when you were licensed in Maryland. RCPs who were licensed by the Board on or before December 31, 2012, and whose duties included practicing polysomnography, may continue without a separate license. RCPs licensed after December 31, 2012 must obtain a separate Polysomnographic Technologist license from the Board to practice polysomnography. Contact the Board at 410-764-4777 to confirm your specific situation. Source: Maryland Board of Physicians — Respiratory Care Practitioners