How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Delaware – DE

By Mat Lindenberg, allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 7 2010

How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Delaware

Delaware Respiratory Therapist careers begin when you earn your Certified Respiratory Therapist Credentials from the National Board of Respiratory Care, or NBRC. The Delaware Board of Medical Practice requires, among other things, all practicing Respiratory Therapists to be credentialed members of the NBRC.

In order to take the NBRC's CRT exam, and become a Certified Respiratory Therapist, you'll need to earn an associate’s degree from a school or degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, CoARC. In Delaware, community and technical colleges are the main source of these CoARC approved programs.

Once enrolled, most programs will take around two years to finish. This is typically the amount of time it takes one to earn an associate’s degree.

Upon graduation, you are eligible to take the NBRC's first level exam, the CRT. The NBRC offers a higher level of certification as well, as well as more specialized exams for those intending to move into neonatal care or another more focused field, but the CRT credentials allow you to perform the basic duties of a Respiratory Therapist in Delaware and most states.

After passing the test, you can register with the State of Delaware. They require very thorough documentation and proof of any certificate and diplomas you've received, as well as a verification transcript sent directly from the school/program you attended, and a letter proving you've passed the CRT from the NBRC itself. There is also an $85 dollar processing fee.

Once accepted, you need to stay in good standing with the State of Delaware by renewing your license every two years (the date for renewal is always the November 30th of an even numbered year, regardless of when you became licensed) and you will need to complete, and provide proof of, 20 contact hours of continued education to be eligible to renew.

Once your license has been approved, you can begin working in Delaware as a Respiratory Therapist.