The Board has made every effort to include the information you need to apply for licensure on this website. You can visit our Help Center, FAQs and Resources page for frequently asked questions, links, forms, applications and other helpful information. If you have additional questions about your renewal process, please contact a renewal specialist.
Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Renewal Requirements, Process, Fees and Continuing Education (CE) for a Respiratory Therapist.
Current licenses expires at midnight, Eastern Time, on May 31, 2025.
The department will renew your license upon receipt of:
- Completed CE requirements- reported to CEBroker.com (see CEU tab regarding CE exemption)
- Completed renewal application
- Required fees (see fees tab)
Licensees requesting to reactivate their license from inactive or retired status are required to pay additional fees and comply with specific continuing education requirements. Please contact the board office at MQA.RespiratoryTherapy@flhealth.gov to request your reactivation requirements.
To ensure you receive your renewal notification from the department, your current mailing address must be on file. Failure to renew an active or inactive license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to renew before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license Null and Void without any further action by the board or the department.
Licensees who fail to meet these requirements must reapply for licensure and comply with current laws and rules. Licensees who have become Null and Void or elected to Voluntarily Relinquish their RT/ CRT license must reapply for licensure and meet current requirements.
Military Exemption
To receive an exemption from the renewal requirements, please provide a copy of your orders which provides the beginning and end date of your current enlistment or a copy of your spouse’s orders. If you are a Commissioned Officer, you may provide a letter from your commanding officer that reflects the length of your contract with a beginning and end date to fulfill this requirement.
Option for Non- Renewal
Options:
- Retire – Pay a one-time $55 fee. The license remains in a dormant state and can be reactivated by the licensee if needed.
- Voluntarily Relinquish – Submit a formal request in writing to the Board. Relinquishment of the license, the license number is discontinued and cannot be reactivated.
- Delinquent & Null/Void – Take no action. The license will go delinquent after the expiration date and Null/Void 2 years after the expiration date. Once Null/Void, the license cannot be reactivated
Renewal Instructions:
- Go to www.flhealthsource.gov and click the “Renew A License” button.
- Enter your Personal Identifying Information (PII), then click the Login button.
- Confirm or update your MQA Services Account email address, then click the “Continue” button.
- You are now in the Dashboard. During renewals, a “Renew My License” option will populate no later than 90 days prior to your license expiration date. (Note: If you do not see the “Renew My License” option, please check back at a later time.)
*** If the “PII Failed” screen displays, click the “Other Login Option” button and enter your existing User ID and password to access your account.***
Additional Information:
- You may renew online if you have a credit or debit card to complete the transaction. Please note that you can now renew online, print a copy of your application summary and mail it with your cashier’s check or money order to:Division of Medical Quality Assurance
P.O. Box 6320
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6320 - If you are renewing your license after the expiration date and your status still indicates Clear/Active, you will be assessed a delinquency fee. The delinquency fee will be in addition to your renewal fees.
- If your license was Delinquent/Active before the renewal deadline, it will be moved to Null and Void status after the renewal deadline. You should contact your board office for further instruction.
- The process of renewing a license may take 7-10 business days. Initiating contact to confirm the receipt of fees or the status of your license prior to this time will not expedite the renewal process.
NOTE: Please allow 5-7 business days for your request to be processed. If you are requesting a name change outside of renewal and wish to receive a new license reflecting the name change, you must request a duplicate license.
Name Change
If you are renewing online and need to change your name, please follow these instructions prior to renewing your license:
Name changes require legal documentation showing the name change. Please log into your MQA Online Services Portal account to submit your request and enter your full name as it appears on your legal documentation. If you are submitting your request online, please attach/upload supporting documents, which must be one of the following:
- A copy of a state issued marriage license that includes the original signature and seal from the clerk of the court
- A divorce decree showing the name change
- A court order showing the name change (Adoption, legal name change, federal identity change)
- A copy of a certificate of naturalization or H1B Employment Visa (Note: Foreign applicants and/or licensees may not have state issued documents)
Any one of these will be accepted unless the department has a question about the authenticity of the document.
NOTE: Please allow 5-7 business days for your request to be processed. If you are requesting a name change outside of renewal and wish to receive a new license reflecting the name change, you must request a duplicate license and pay the $25.00 fee.
Certified check or money order should be made payable to the Florida Department of Health.
If renewing BEFORE your license expires, your fees will be:
| Renewals | Fees |
| Active to Active | $95.00 |
| Inactive to Inactive | $55.00 |
| Active to Inactive | $55.00 |
| Inactive to Active | $145.00 |
| Active to Retired | $55.00 |
| Inactive to Retired | $55.00 |
If renewing AFTER your license expires, your fees will be:
| Renewals | Fees |
| Active to Active | $185.00 |
| Inactive to Inactive | $145.00 |
| Active to Inactive | $180.00 |
| Inactive to Active | $270.00 |
| Active to Retired | $180.00 |
| Inactive to Retired | $180.00 |
If renewing 120 day Notified Delinquent, your fees will be:
| Renewals | Fees |
| Active to Active | $310.00 |
| Inactive to Inactive | $200.00 |
| Active to Inactive | $200.00 |
| Inactive to Active | $360.00 |
| Active to Retired | $270.00 |
| Inactive to Retired | $200.00 |
Licenses become Null & Void1 on June 1, 2025.
By submitting the appropriate renewal fees to the department, a licensee acknowledges compliance with all requirements for renewal, including continuing education.
A licensee who remains on inactive status for more than two consecutive biennial licensure cycles and who wishes to reactivate the license may be required to demonstrate competency to resume active practice by sitting for a special purpose examination or by completing other reactivation requirements.
1Null & Void -The licensed practitioner failed to renew their licensure status for two renewal cycles, resulting in their license expiring.
The information provided is an overview only and licensees are encouraged to become familiar with the profession’s continuing education rules, Chapter 64B32-6.001 & 64B32-6.006, Florida Administrative Code, to ensure that they meet the Board’s specific requirements for renewal.
Continuing Education (CE/CEU) Requirements
To locate board approved CE Courses for Certified Respiratory Therapist, please visit courses.cebroker.com/search/fl/certified-respiratory-therapist.
To locate board approved CE Courses for Registered Respiratory Therapist, please visit courses.cebroker.com/search/fl/registered-respiratory-therapist.
To locate board approved CE Courses for Respiratory Care Practitioner Critical Care, please visit courses.cebroker.com/search/fl/respiratory-care-practitioner-critical-care.
To locate board approved CE Courses for Respiratory Care Practitioner Non-Critical Care, please visit courses.cebroker.com/search/fl/respiratory-care-practitioner-non-critical-care.
| REQUIRED SUBJECT AREA | REQUIRED NUMBER OF HOURS | IMPORTANT INFORMATION |
|---|---|---|
| General Hours | 20 | |
| Medical Error | 2 | Mandatory for all licensees: 2 hours in a board-approved continuing education course pursuant to Rule 64B32-6.006, F.A.C. |
| Laws and Rules | 2 | Mandatory for all licensees: 2 credit hours pursuant to subsection 64B32-6.001(5), F.A.C. Licensees may earn up to 8 continuing education hours per biennium by attending meetings of the Board of Respiratory Care, but no more than 2 of those hours will be credited to satisfying the Florida laws and rules requirement. |
As of August 3, 2016, home study/online courses are no longer limited to 12 hours starting the 2017 renewal biennium. All courses, including home study/online courses must be completed by an approved respiratory care provider. Live courses are still acceptable, available and are not limited, but are not mandatory starting 2017 renewal biennium.
Please note: If you are delinquent or reactivating your license, you will be required to meet the prior biennium requirements for previous cycles before reactivating or renewal of your license.
Current licenses expire at midnight, Eastern Standard Time, on May 31, 2025.
First Renewal: Respiratory Therapists renewing a license for the first time and were licensed in the second half of the biennium (on or after 06/01/2024) are exempt from the 24 hours of general continuing education. However, you are required to complete 7 hours which should consist of:
- 2 hours in prevention of medical errors,
- 2 hours on Florida Respiratory laws and rules,
- 3 hours on HIV/AIDS course. (For the 3-hour HIV/AIDS course, this is a first renewal only
requirement). Any HIV/AIDS course approved by any of the professions regulated within the
Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance is acceptable.
Continuing education hours can only be credited after one is licensed and within the current biennium dates in which they are taken.
Respiratory Therapists renewing a license for the first time and were licensed in the first half of the biennium (6/1/2023-5/31/2024) are required to complete all 24 hours as state above, including the 3 hours on HIV/AIDS, for the first only requirement.
If you are changing your status from CRT to RRT, regardless of when the license is issued, you are not exempt from the continuing education requirements.
Board Rule Approved Providers
- The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
- The Florida Society for Respiratory Care
- The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
- The American Florida Thoracic Societies
- The American College of Cardiology
- The American College of Chest Physicians
- The American and Florida Societies of Anesthesiologists
- The American and Florida Lung Association
- The National Society of Cardiopulmonary Technologists
- The American Heart Association
- The American Nurses Association and the Florida Nurses Association
- The Florida Board of Nursing
- Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Other Methods of Obtaining Continuing Education per Biennium
- Licensees may earn up to 8 hours of continuing education for attending a public meeting of the Board – but no more than 2 hours can be credited for laws and rules
- College or university courses in respiratory care program
- ACLS, PALS and Neonatal resuscitation certification or any course offered/credential by the NBRC during the biennium (maximum of 16 hours)
- ACLS, PALS and Neonatal resuscitation recertification classes (maximum of 8 hours)
- Successful completion of the National Board of Respiratory Care re-credentialing exam
- Continuing education may be awarded to a lecturer or an author presenting an initial course approved by the Board (maximum of 12 hours)
- Members of the Board’s Probable Cause Panel (may earn medical errors and 3 general hours for serving on the panel)
Helpful Information
- Home study/online self-study courses are no longer limited per renewal
- BLS training does not count as CE credit for any of the 24 hours
Respiratory rules are available at: https://floridasrespiratorycare.gov/resources/
Click on Chapter or Section Number to View
Florida Statute
Chapter 468, Part V: Respiratory Therapy
Chapter 456: Health Professions and Occupations: General Provisions
Chapter 120: Administrative Procedure Act
Florida Administrative Code
Rules: Chapter 64B32: Board of Respiratory Care, Florida Administrative Code
Rules: Chapter 64B: Division of Medical Quality Assurance, Florida Administrative Code
