How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Texas
Respiratory therapists treat patients with breathing and heart-lung problems, from premature babies to ICU patients on ventilators. Texas programs are mostly two-year associate degrees, plus some bachelor's degrees, and lead to the NBRC credentialing exams and a Texas license.
Step 1: Finish an Accredited Program
Texas has 33 accredited respiratory therapy programs: 27 associate degrees, 4 bachelor's degrees, 2 master's degrees. 29 are at public colleges. The median program runs about 24 months. Of the 15 that publish a total cost, prices run from $5,940 (Dallas College, El Centro) to $54,358 (Pima Medical Institute, Houston). 2
Highest reported RRT credential rates among larger programs: Temple College (97.1%), Weatherford College (96.8%) and Victoria College (96.6%).
Compare every Texas respiratory therapy program, or by area: Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Rio Grande Valley, Midland-Odessa.
Step 2: Pass the RRT Credential
The median Texas program reports a 77.1% rate (32 programs reporting), but results range from 35.0% to 97.1%. Graduates who earned the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential, divided by all graduates, as reported to CoARC for a three-year period.
Step 3: Get Credentialed
Texas requires a Respiratory Care Practitioner certificate from the Texas Medical Board. Graduates usually qualify through the NBRC: the TMC exam at the high cut score, then the Clinical Simulation Exam for the RRT credential.
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Pass the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) exam; the high cut score earns the CRT and CSE eligibility.3 | $190 |
| Pass the NBRC Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) to earn the RRT; requires at least an associate degree from a CoARC-accredited program.4 | $200 |
| Note: starting January 2027 NBRC replaces the TMC and CSE with a single Respiratory Therapy (RT) Examination; the CSE stays open through Dec 31, 2027 only for those who pass the TMC at the high cut score by Dec 31, 2026.5 | $360not counted |
| Apply online to the TMB for the RCP certificate and pass the Texas jurisprudence exam.6 | $175 |
| Have the program send the transcript directly to the TMB, send a copy of the NBRC certificate, and submit fingerprints.7 | Not published |
| Optional: request a temporary RCP certificate (one year).8 | $105not counted |
Typical fees to start working: $565. Counts the NBRC TMC ($190) and CSE ($200) exams and the Texas Medical Board application ($175). From January 2027 a single $360 NBRC exam replaces the TMC and CSE. Fingerprinting and small board surcharges are extra. The Texas RCP certificate renews every 24 months for $134 online and requires at least 24 hours of CE per renewal period.
Jobs and Pay Across Texas
About 12,130 respiratory therapists work in Texas. The middle half earn between $69,670 and $93,680 a year; new graduates usually start toward the lower end. Texas expects about 930 openings a year statewide through 2034, from new positions, retirements and people changing jobs, with the number of jobs growing 23.9% (from 11,930 to 14,780).
What Respiratory Therapists Earn by Area
The Texas median is $79,540 a year. 1 Pay is highest around Dallas ($84,080), Austin ($82,760), Amarillo ($80,470) and lowest around Abilene ($71,260) and Rio Grande Valley ($65,390). At the median program cost, setting aside 10% of the Texas median wage pays the program back in about 1.3 years.
Sources and Dates
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Respiratory Therapists (29-1126), May 2025 estimates.
- Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), checked Nov. 2026.
- NBRC Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), checked Nov 2026.
- NBRC Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE), checked Nov 2026.
- NBRC Examination Changes Coming in 2027, Page published 2026; effective January 2027.
- TMB Respiratory Care Practitioner Certificate Application, checked Nov 2026.
- TMB RCP Documentation Checklist and Eligibility Requirements, No date on document; checked Nov 2026.
- TMB Respiratory Care Practitioner Certificate Application, checked Nov 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Texas and metro areas (employment and wage percentiles), May 2025 estimates.
- Texas Workforce Commission, long-term occupational projections, 2024 to 2034.
Every number was checked against its source on Nov. 4, 2026. Spot an error? Report it. Program Outcomes is independent and not affiliated with any school or CoARC. Our independence policy