Committee hears bill to require RRT credential for new respiratory therapists; industry supports raising standards

Representative David Castile (97th District) introduced House Bill 29 57 to require new respiratory therapist license applicants to hold the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential and to grandfather existing Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRT). Castile said the change was requested by the industry and aims to raise the entry-level standard while protecting current workers.

Brandon Burke of the Missouri Society for Respiratory Care testified that accredited schools have taught to the RRT standard for more than two decades and that the RRT includes a clinical simulation exam in addition to multiple-choice testing. He told the committee that states which adopted similar requirements did not see a statistically significant drop in workforce numbers and that many facilities already prefer hiring RRTs.

Kristen Anderson, state society president, supported the bill and said the measure includes a grandfather clause and a random audit at renewal to ensure licensees maintain active national credentials. The committee asked technical questions about differences between CRT and RRT training and potential workforce impacts; witnesses said the change aligns licensing with existing education standards and that pay differentials and facility hiring preferences already favor RRTs in many markets.

The committee concluded the hearing after receiving industry testimony; no vote on HB 2957 was recorded at this meeting.