Texas Respiratory Care Practitioner Renewal | CE Requirements & Deadlines

Texas RCP certificates expire on either May 31 or November 30, depending on which cohort the practitioner was assigned to at initial licensure — not the individual issuance date. That means practitioners in the same cohort share the same expiration date. See the table above for the current renewal fee, CE requirements, and delinquent fee structure.

Two Texas-specific features shape every renewal: CE Broker is the mandatory tracking system for CE documentation, and proof of lawful U.S. presence is required before online renewal can proceed. Building the lawful presence verification step into renewal planning — ideally 15 or more business days before the deadline — prevents last-minute delays.

Continuing Education Requirements for Texas RCP Renewal

Texas RCP CE requirements are governed by Board Rule 187.16 and summarized on the TMB CE page. The total hours per 24-month period are in the table above. The breakdown:

• At least 12 hours traditional CE — provider-directed activities requiring real-time interaction between learner and provider, including live lectures, courses, seminars, workshops, webcasts, videoconferences, and audio conferences.
• At least 2 hours ethics or professional responsibility — may be earned through traditional or non-traditional activities.
• 1 human trafficking prevention course — must be approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC); the free HHSC course satisfies this requirement. This course counts toward the ethics requirement.
• Remaining hours may be non-traditional — self-directed study with a test at conclusion; maximum 12 hours non-traditional per period.

Approved CE Providers

CE must be approved, recognized, or accepted by a professional organization such as AARC, TSRC, or NBRC, or offered by a federal, state, or local government entity. Passing an NBRC credentialing or specialty examination also earns non-traditional CE credit — 10 hours for most NBRC exams (TMC, CSE, NPS, ACCS, SDS, CPFT/RPFT, BRPT, AE-C); 8 hours for ACLS, PALS, NALS, and NRP. NBRC exam credit can be applied only once per exam type per period (and only once every three renewal periods for re-credentialing of the same exam). Source: TMB CE Requirements.

CE Broker

Texas uses CE Broker as its official continuing education tracking system for RCP licensees. Licensees should ensure their CE hours are logged in CE Broker before attempting online renewal, and should verify current CE tracking requirements with the Texas Medical Board. Licensees may be selected for random CE audits after each registration period and must retain CE documentation. Source: TMB CE Requirements.

No Carryover

Texas does not allow CE hours earned in excess of the 24-hour requirement to carry over into the next renewal period. Plan CE for the current period only. Source: TMB CE Requirements.

How to Renew a Texas RCP Certificate

Online renewal opens 60–90 days before the May 31 or November 30 expiration date at renewals.tmb.state.tx.us. The steps:

1. Ensure your lawful presence documentation is current and on file — renewals will not process without it; allow at least 15 business days for verification if documentation needs to be updated
2. Complete all 24 CE hours including the mandatory ethics and human trafficking requirements; ensure hours are logged in CE Broker
3. Go to the online renewal system and log in with your license number and SSN
4. Review and confirm your information; certify CE completion
5. Pay the renewal fee shown in the table above (Electronic Check avoids the Texas.gov credit card processing fee)
6. View and print your receipt; your e-permit will be available in MyTMB within 2 business days

Delinquent Certificates and Cancellation

Texas imposes escalating penalty fees for late renewal. A penalty equal to half the registration fee is added immediately after the expiration date. After 90 days, the penalty increases to equal the full registration fee. Source: Texas Medical Board Renewal Page.

A certificate expired for one year or longer is automatically cancelled. Once cancelled, the practitioner would need to reapply for initial certification rather than renewing. Practicing on an expired certificate is prohibited. Contact the Registration Department before taking any action on a cancelled certificate: Registrations@tmb.state.tx.us or (512) 305-7030. Source: Texas Medical Board Renewal Page.

Compact Renewal Implications

Texas has not enacted the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact and no compact renewal implications apply to Texas RCP holders. Verify current compact status with the Texas Medical Board and the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact commission.

Practical Notes for Texas RCP Renewal

• Your expiration is May 31 or November 30 — not your issuance anniversary. Texas uses cohort-based expiration dates, so all practitioners in your cohort expire on the same date. Confirm your specific expiration date from your certificate or MyTMB, not by counting from when you were originally licensed.
• Lawful presence documentation can delay renewal. Texas requires verification at every renewal. If your documents need updating, the process can take 15 or more business days. Start this early — waiting until the renewal window opens can put you past your expiration date.
• CE Broker is mandatory. Texas requires CE tracking through CE Broker, not just self-certification. Make sure your CE hours are logged in CE Broker before you attempt online renewal.
• No grace period, hard cancellation at 1 year. Unlike some states that allow reinstatement, Texas automatically cancels certificates at 1 year expired. Renew before expiration — if you miss it, address it immediately to avoid cancellation.
• Travel respiratory therapists: know your cohort expiration date. May 31 or November 30 is a fixed date that applies regardless of when you started an assignment. If your expiration falls mid-assignment, build the renewal into your assignment planning calendar.

Related Pages

• Texas Respiratory Care Practitioner Licensing — Initial Requirements
• Pennsylvania Respiratory Therapist License Renewal — CE Requirements
• Respiratory Care Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

When does a Texas RCP certificate expire?

Texas RCP certificates expire on either May 31 or November 30, depending on which cohort the practitioner was assigned to at initial licensure. Check your certificate or MyTMB account to confirm your specific date. Source: Texas Medical Board.

How many CE hours are required for Texas RCP renewal?

Texas requires 24 hours of continuing education per 24-month biennial registration period. At least 12 hours must be traditional (live/interactive), at least 2 hours must cover ethics or professional responsibility, and 1 HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention course is required and may count toward ethics. Source: TMB CE Requirements.

Does AARC-approved CE count for Texas RCP renewal?

Yes. Texas accepts CE approved, recognized, or assigned credit by AARC (as well as TSRC, NBRC, and federal/state/local government entities). Confirm that the specific activity carries the required approval before counting it. Source: TMB CE Requirements.

What happens if my Texas RCP certificate expires?

There is no grace period. Once expired, a penalty fee equal to half the registration fee is added immediately. After 90 days the penalty increases to a full registration fee. After one year expired the certificate is automatically cancelled. Practicing on an expired certificate is prohibited. Source: Texas Medical Board.

Is CE Broker required for Texas RCP licensees?

Yes. Texas requires RCP licensees to use CE Broker to track and document continuing education. This is a statutory requirement, not optional. Ensure your CE hours are logged in CE Broker before attempting online renewal. Source: TMB CE Requirements.