Apply for a License

Application Requirements

All applicants must provide the following. Expand any item below for additional instructions and details.

• Completed Application for Licensure
  Submit a completed application through your BreEZe account.

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     Applicants must submit a completed application for licensure through their BreEZe account.

     During the application process, you will be asked to provide personal information and answer questions related to your education, professional history, background, and any documents you will be attaching to the application.

     For assistance completing the online application, please review the Online Initial Application for Licensure Step-by-Step Instructions.

• Passport Style Photo
  Upload a 2" x 2" passport-style photo taken within the last 60 days.

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     Applicants must obtain a 2" x 2" passport-style photo. The photo must have been taken within the last 60 days prior to filing the application.

     The photo must be attached to the online application. Group or cropped photos will not be accepted.

• Initial Application Fee
  Pay the $300 application fee through BreEZe when submitting the application.

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     The application fee is $300.

     If you are applying from outside California and submitting fingerprint cards instead of Live Scan, you must also submit an additional $49 for fingerprint processing.

     Payment is completed at the end of the online application process.

     If a third party, such as your respiratory care program, will pay your application fee, you may add an Authorized Representative to your BreEZe account. The Authorized Representative may make payments and assist with account-related activities.

     For assistance, review the Creating an Account as an Authorized Representative Step-by-Step Instructions.

     If you add an Authorized Representative only for payment purposes, it is recommended that you remove that access once your initial license is issued.

• Official Transcripts
  Official transcripts must verify completion of your respiratory care program and awarding of at least an associate degree.

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     Applicants must submit official transcripts verifying that the minimum education requirements for licensure have been met.

     Minimum education requirements:

     1. Graduation from a respiratory care program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC); and
     2. A minimum of an associate degree.

     Some applicants may have two separate transcripts — one showing completion of the respiratory care program and another showing the associate degree. If applicable, official transcripts from each institution must be submitted.

     Your transcript(s) must clearly show that the associate degree was awarded.

     How transcripts may be submitted:

     • Sent directly to the RCB by the educational institution by mail;
     • Submitted electronically by the college; or
     • Submitted electronically through a recognized third-party vendor such as Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse.

     Electronic transcripts may be sent to: rcbtranscripts@dca.ca.gov.

• Registration / Certification / License Verifications (if applicable)
  Report any health-related credential you currently hold or have held in the past and request verification from the issuing agency.

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     If you currently hold, or have ever held, a registration, certification, or license in any health-related profession, you must report that credential on your application and request verification from the issuing agency.

     This requirement applies to any health-related credential, including licenses or certifications issued in California or another state.

     Examples include, but are not limited to:

     • Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) licenses issued by another state
     • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
     • Medical Assistant (MA)
     • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic
     • Nursing licenses (LVN or RN)
     • Any other health-related license, certification, or registration

     During the application process, you will be asked to provide information about each credential you have held, including the licensing agency and license number. Applicants are encouraged to have this information available when completing the application.

     The issuing agency must send verification of the credential directly to the RCB.

• Law and Professional Ethics Course Certificate
  Complete an RCB-approved Law and Professional Ethics course and upload the certificate with your application.

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     All applicants must complete an RCB-approved Law and Professional Ethics course prior to licensure.

     The course covers topics such as the Respiratory Care Practice Act, professional responsibilities of respiratory care practitioners, patient protection, reporting obligations, and conduct that may lead to disciplinary action.

     The course may be completed through either of the following approved providers:

     • American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
     • California Society for Respiratory Care (CSRC)

     Applicants must upload a copy of the certificate of completion as part of the online application through their BreEZe account.

     For additional information about this requirement and other application materials, please visit the Licensure Requirements page.

• Program Director Certification (if applicable)
  Applicants applying within 90 days of graduation must submit a completed Program Director Certification.

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     If you will complete your respiratory care program within the next 90 days, your respiratory care program director must complete the Program Director Certification.

     You must upload the completed certification with your online application.

Examination Requirement

To qualify for licensure in California, applicants must obtain the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), unless they earned a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential prior to January 1, 2015.

The RCB must receive verification of your NBRC credential before a license can be issued.

How the RCB receives your examination results depends on your situation:

• California New Graduates: In most cases, the RCB will receive your examination results directly from the NBRC after you complete the required examination(s).
• Applicants Who Took the Examination Outside California or Already Hold a Credential: If you previously obtained your credential, or if you did not take your examination as a California new graduate, you must request an official credential verification from the NBRC.

Credential verifications may be requested through the NBRC Practitioner Portal:

NBRC Credential Verification Portal

For additional information about examination eligibility and scheduling, please visit the NBRC website.

Fingerprinting

California Residents

Applicants who reside in California must complete fingerprinting using the Live Scan process. Live Scan electronically transmits your fingerprints to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for background check processing.

Applicants are encouraged to complete the Live Scan process before submitting their online application to help avoid delays in processing; however, Live Scan may also be completed after the application is submitted.

You must bring the RCB Live Scan form with you when completing fingerprinting:

RCB Live Scan Form

A list of Live Scan locations is available at: https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the Live Scan provider directly to confirm whether an appointment is required and what payment methods are accepted.

Applicants Outside California

Applicants who reside outside California must submit two sets of fingerprints rolled in ink on fingerprint cards.

Fingerprint cards are typically available through local law enforcement agencies or fingerprinting service providers. If needed, applicants may contact the RCB to request fingerprint cards.

After completing your online application, the completed fingerprint cards must be mailed to the RCB along with the required fingerprint processing fee.

After You Submit Your Application

Once your application is submitted through BreEZe, it will be reviewed by the RCB. Initial review of the application generally occurs within 10 business days.

Applicants may monitor the status of their application by logging into their BreEZe account.

To check your application status:

• Log in to your BreEZe account.
• Locate your pending application.
• Select “Details” next to the application.

If additional information or documents are required, they will appear under the Deficiencies section of your application details.

Applicants may submit deficiency responses through BreEZe. You must use a separate “Attachment” application. You cannot upload documents to your original application after submission.

For assistance submitting attachments electronically, you may utilize the Online Attachments Step-by-Step Instructions.

Once all application requirements have been received and verified, the RCB will issue your Respiratory Care Practitioner license.

Expedited Licensure

Certain applicants may qualify for expedited processing of their licensure application. The RCB expedites applications for:

• Active duty members of the United States Armed Forces
• Honorably discharged veterans
• Spouses or domestic partners of active duty military personnel
• Refugees
• Individuals granted asylum
• Individuals with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)

Applicants requesting expedited processing must provide documentation supporting their eligibility when submitting their application.

For more information, please visit the following pages:

• Military Personnel and Military Spouses/Domestic Partners
• Expedited Licensure for Refugees, Asylees, and Special Immigrant Visa Holders

Questions About the Application Process

Many common questions about licensure requirements, examinations, work permits, and application processing are answered on the Frequently Asked Questions page.

If you are unable to find the information you need, you may contact the RCB using the form below.