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United States · Credentialing exam

NBRC credential verification and state license checks

Anyone can check a person’s credentials free in the online directory of the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), or by calling NBRC. For an official record, an NBRC credential verification letter costs $5. A license is a different thing: NBRC verifies the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and specialty credentials it awards, and your state’s licensing agency verifies licenses.

  • $5For an emailed verification letter
  • FreeOnline lookup or a check by phone
  • 7 to 10 daysTo process a mailed request
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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

How do you get NBRC credential verification?

ItemFee
Online directory lookup, printableFree
Check by phoneFree
Emailed letter, ordered by anyone$5
Official letter, ordered by the holder$5

The online lookup doesn’t show the date a credential was earned; the letter confirms the details of each credential held. Online orders take about two days. A mailed request, on NBRC’s form with payment, takes 7 to 10 days to process, plus 5 to 7 business days in the mail. The phone number is on the login and contacts page.

NBRC: Directory of Credentialed Practitioners ↗NBRC: Request for Credential Verification form (PDF) ↗NBRC phone numbers →

Is NBRC license verification the same as a state check?

No. NBRC doesn’t issue licenses. Your state’s respiratory care licensing agency issues the license and is where you verify it. NBRC keeps a list of every state licensure agency with its contact details.

The two systems don’t share data. NBRC and state agencies don’t transfer database information, so a change of address or a continuing education (CE) record has to go to each one. NBRC can, though, release a candidate’s results and credential status to state licensure agencies, to accredited respiratory care programs and to the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

NBRC: State licensure agencies ↗NBRC: Credential vs State License Renewal, February 15, 2021 ↗

Reading what the lookup shows

Credential status is public through NBRC’s online search. NBRC credentials are written without periods, and a specialty sits after the main credential, so you’ll see forms such as Chris Smith, RRT, RRT-NPS for a holder of the Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty (NPS) credential. An expired credential can’t be used, and using one counts as a violation of NBRC’s Judicial and Ethics Policies.

Keeping a credential from expiring →

Using your digital badge as proof

NBRC also gives credential holders a digital badge that lists every credential they’ve earned, specialties included, to put in an email signature, a resume or a social media profile. It comes with the annual payment and is valid through December 31 of that year, so it has to be reactivated each year. A badge won’t display if the payment isn’t up to date, a credential has expired or the link was copied wrong.

NBRC: General FAQs, digital badge ↗Your NBRC login →
Sources: NBRC and 3 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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Everything else, in one place

OverviewPractice and studyContent outlineCut scoresRRT and CSELogin

Credential holders

VerificationRenewal and CE

Specialty exams

NPS examACCS exam