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Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Renewal Requirements, Process, Fees and Continuing Education (CE) for a Respiratory Therapist.
Florida passed House Bill 975 following the 2024 legislative session, which requires this profession to complete electronic fingerprinting. Your application cannot be approved until this requirement, along with all other licensure criteria, has been met. For more information on background screening, visit MQA's Background Screening website.
Current licenses expires at midnight, Eastern Time, on May 31, 2025.
The department will renew your license upon receipt of:
*Required section 456.0135(6)(1), Florida Statutes, a $43.25 fee is required for FDLE to retain your fingerprint for background screening during this licensure cycle. This fee is collected at the time of licensure renewal if your fingerprint retention is expiring this licensure period. If your fingerprint retention expires in the next 60 days, you will need to pay separately through the Clearinghouse Applicant Initiated (CHAI) System.
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.
Applicants for initial licensure must use a Livescan service provider to submit a set of fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for the purpose of conducting a search for any Florida and national criminal history records that may pertain to applicant. The results of the search will be returned to the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse and made available to the Department for consideration during the licensure process. The fingerprints submitted by the applicant will be retained by FDLE and the Clearinghouse. All costs for conducting a criminal history background screening are borne by the applicant.
It is important to use the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) when submitting fingerprints. If you do not provide an ORI number or if you provide an incorrect ORI number to the service provider, the board office will not receive your fingerprint results, so it is extremely important to use the correct ORI when having your fingerprints scanned.
Applicants can use any FDLE approved Livescan service provider to submit their fingerprints. The applicant is fully responsible for selecting the service provider and ensuring the results are reported to the Department. If you are applying for initial licensure after December 15, 2012, You must print this form and take it with you to a Livescan service provider. To find more information, FAQ, and approved Livescan service providers please visit the Department’s website at Background Screening page.
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.
Options:
Renewal Instructions:
*** 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:
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 .
*Required section 456.0135(6)(1), Florida Statutes, a $43.25 fee is required for FDLE to retain your fingerprint for background screening during this licensure cycle. This fee is collected at the time of licensure renewal if your fingerprint retention is expiring this licensure period. If your fingerprint retention expires in the next 60 days, you will need to pay separately through the Clearinghouse Applicant Initiated (CHAI) System.
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:
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
Other Methods of Obtaining Continuing Education per Biennium
Helpful Information
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
To renew online visit the MQA Services Portal by clicking the button below.
Florida passed House Bill 975 following the 2024 legislative session, which requires this profession to complete electronic fingerprinting. Your application cannot be approved until this requirement, along with all other licensure criteria, has been met. For more information on background screening, visit MQA's Background Screening website.
