Maryland Respiratory Care Practitioner License Renewal

Maryland Respiratory Care Practitioner licenses renew every two years, on a date assigned by the Board at the time of initial licensure. The renewal fee is $176 — which includes a mandatory $26 assessment to fund the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC), required by state law. Maryland requires 16 hours of approved continuing respiratory care education per two-year period, with no mandatory topic requirements. CE attestation is made on the renewal application; documentation must be retained in case of an audit.

Maryland’s renewal framework has three provisions that practitioners should know. First, the CE requirement is waived for the first renewal cycle — it begins with all renewal applications after the first renewal. Second, there is no grace period for renewal: the online renewal system closes at 11:59 p.m. EST on your expiration date, and failure to renew means your license expires immediately. An expired Maryland RCP license requires reinstatement at $200. Third, Maryland has an unusual state-level requirement: the Board cannot renew a license until the Comptroller of Maryland has verified that the practitioner has paid all undisputed Maryland taxes and unemployment insurance contributions, or has arranged for repayment.

Maryland RCP Continuing Education Requirements

COMAR 10.32.11.11 requires attestation to the completion of at least 16 hours of approved continuing respiratory care education earned during the 2-year period preceding the expiration of the license. CE hours must be retained as documentation in case the Board requests evidence.

Approved CE Providers

Maryland approves CE from the following sources per COMAR 10.32.11.11 §C(1):

• Maryland/District of Columbia Society for Respiratory Care — programs accredited by or sponsored by this organization
• AARC’s Continuing Respiratory Care Education System — programs accredited by or sponsored by AARC through its CE system
• MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society — programs accredited by or sponsored by MedChi
• Equivalent programs — programs meeting requirements equivalent to the above organizations

Source: COMAR 10.32.11.11 §C

NBRC Exam as CE Substitute

COMAR 10.32.11.11 states verbatim: “Instead of completing the required continuing education, an applicant for renewal or reinstatement may substitute passing the examination for either certified respiratory therapist or registered respiratory therapist conducted by the National Board for Respiratory Care during the 2-year period preceding the expiration of the license for respiratory care.” This means passing either the CRT or RRT exam during the two-year renewal period substitutes for the entire 16-hour CE requirement for that cycle, as explicitly stated in the regulation. Source: COMAR 10.32.11.11 §C(2)

First Renewal CE Exemption

The continuing education requirement applies to all renewal applications after the first renewal. Practitioners renewing for the first time after initial licensure are exempt from the 16-hour CE requirement. Source: COMAR 10.32.11.11

How to Renew Your Maryland RCP License

1. Confirm you have completed 16 hours of approved continuing respiratory care education during the 2-year period preceding your license expiration date (or that you have passed the NBRC CRT or RRT exam during that period, or that this is your first renewal)
2. Ensure Maryland tax and unemployment insurance obligations are current — the Board cannot renew your license until the Comptroller of Maryland verifies compliance
3. Complete the online renewal application on the form supplied by the Board at mbp.state.md.us/mbp_ah/index.aspx
4. Attest to CE completion on the renewal form
5. Pay the $176 renewal fee
6. Retain your CE documentation in case the Board requests evidence

Practical Notes for Maryland RCP Renewal

• No grace period — the system closes at expiration. Maryland’s renewal system closes at 11:59 p.m. EST on your license expiration date. There is no grace period, no late renewal window. If you miss the deadline, your license expires and you must apply for reinstatement at $200. Put your renewal date in your calendar with a 30-day advance reminder.
• Your expiration date is Board-assigned — look at your license. Maryland doesn’t use a birthday-based or fixed statewide date. Your specific expiration date was assigned when you were first licensed. If you don’t know your expiration date, check your license certificate, log into the renewal portal, or contact the Board at 410-764-4777.
• 16 CE hours is among the lower requirements in this series. By comparison, Virginia requires 20, Massachusetts 20, Tennessee 24 annually, and Minnesota 24 biennially. Maryland’s 16-hour biennial requirement is manageable, especially given the NBRC exam substitution option.
• Passing either NBRC exam covers your entire CE requirement. If you’re recredentialing and pass the CRT or RRT exam in your two-year renewal window, you don’t need any additional CE. This is a meaningful benefit for practitioners who are already doing the work of recredentialing.
• The Maryland tax compliance check is real. The Board is legally required to verify tax compliance with the Comptroller before renewing your license. If you have any outstanding Maryland state tax or unemployment insurance contributions, resolve them before your renewal window — a tax hold can delay or block your renewal even if all other requirements are met.
• First renewal is CE-free. You won’t need CE for your first biennial renewal after initial licensure. Use that first cycle to establish your CE tracking approach before the requirement begins.
• Travel RTs: no compact means no shortcut. Maryland is not in the RCIC. Every Maryland assignment requires a full Maryland RCP license. Factor the $200 initial fee and 3–6 week processing window into your planning.

Related Pages

• Maryland Respiratory Care Practitioner Initial Licensing — Requirements and Application
• Respiratory Care Practitioner Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need to renew my Maryland RCP license?

Maryland RCP licenses renew every two years, on the date specified by the Board at the time of initial licensure. The expiration date is individual per license — not a fixed statewide date and not birthday-based. Check your license certificate for your specific renewal date. Source: COMAR 10.32.11.11

What is the renewal fee for a Maryland RCP license?

The biennial renewal fee is $176, which includes a $26 Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) assessment fee required by state law. Source: Maryland Board of Physicians — Fees

How many CE hours are required for Maryland RCP renewal?

Maryland requires 16 hours of approved continuing respiratory care education per two-year renewal period. CE must be earned during the 2-year period preceding the license expiration date. The first renewal after initial licensure is exempt from the CE requirement. Source: COMAR 10.32.11.11

Can I use NBRC exam credit to satisfy Maryland CE requirements?

Yes. Per COMAR 10.32.11.11, passing the NBRC examination for either the CRT or RRT credential during the 2-year period preceding your license expiration date may substitute for the entire 16-hour CE requirement for that renewal cycle. Source: COMAR 10.32.11.11 §C(2)

What is the Maryland tax compliance requirement for license renewal?

COMAR 10.32.11.11 states: “The Board may not renew a license until the Comptroller of Maryland has verified that the individual has paid all undisputed taxes and unemployment insurance contributions, or arranged for repayment, as required by COMAR 10.31.02.” This requirement is codified in the RCP-specific renewal regulation. If you have outstanding Maryland state tax or unemployment insurance obligations, resolve them before your renewal window — a compliance hold will block renewal. Contact the Maryland Comptroller’s Office at 410-974-2432 or 1-888-674-0016 to resolve tax issues; the Board cannot assist. Source: COMAR 10.32.11.11

Does Maryland participate in the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact?

No. Maryland has not enacted the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact (RCIC) as of June 2026. Compact privileges from other RCIC member states do not apply in Maryland. Verify current RCIC membership status at respiratorycarecompact.org.