Do respiratory therapists need a license in Ohio?

Yes. Ohio requires state-level licensing or registration for respiratory therapists, administered by the State Medical Board of Ohio. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Ohio (2026)

Q: How long does respiratory therapist training take in Ohio?

Most people become a Respiratory Therapist in Ohio through a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program, the NBRC RRT exams, and state respiratory care licensure.

Q: How much do respiratory therapists earn in Ohio?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), respiratory therapists in Ohio earned a median annual wage of approximately $79,920. Employment concentration in Ohio is about 1.33 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for respiratory therapists in Ohio?

Ohio currently employs approximately 6,640 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Ohio respiratory therapists earn a median annual wage of $79,920 ($38.42/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 6,640 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.9% below the national median of $82,280 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $79,920 ($38.42/hr)
25th percentile: $75,280 per year
75th percentile: $90,380 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $97,030 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $65,580 per year
Workers employed in Ohio: 6,640
Versus national median: -2.9% below the U.S. median of $82,280
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.33 - this occupation is more concentrated in Ohio than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Ohio employs about 6,640 respiratory therapists earning a median $79,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Respiratory Therapist here means completing a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program, the NBRC RRT exams, and state respiratory care licensure, then applying through State Medical Board of Ohio.

Ohio employs approximately 6,640 respiratory therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $79,920 ¹. The state’s concentration of respiratory therapist jobs is 1.33x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, respiratory therapist employment is projected to grow 12.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 8,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Respiratory Therapist in Ohio, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program, the NBRC RRT exams, and state respiratory care licensure
Licensing authority: State Medical Board of Ohio
Exam: NBRC RRT (TMC and CSE)
Median wage (Ohio): $79,920 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Ohio

How to become a Respiratory Therapist in Ohio? Complete a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program, the NBRC RRT exams, and state respiratory care licensure. Apply through State Medical Board of Ohio.

How long does it take? Most people finish a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program, the NBRC RRT exams, and state respiratory care licensure. Confirm current hour totals with the program and State Medical Board of Ohio.

Do I need a license in Ohio? Yes. Ohio credentials this role through State Medical Board of Ohio ³. See the licensing section below.

What do respiratory therapists earn in Ohio? The median annual wage for respiratory therapists in Ohio is $79,920 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $65,580 and experienced professionals can earn $97,030 or more ¹.

How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Ohio

Meet program entry rules. Respiratory therapy programs in Ohio typically require a high school diploma or GED and science prerequisites. Confirm current rules with the program.
Complete a CoARC-accredited program. Enroll in a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program in Ohio, usually an associate degree. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Pass the NBRC RRT exams. Pass the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice exam and Clinical Simulation Exam for the RRT credential. CRT-only practice is limited; confirm with State Medical Board of Ohio.
Apply for state respiratory care licensure. Apply through State Medical Board of Ohio before you practice. Confirm any jurisprudence or ethics exam with the board.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Respiratory Therapist License Requirements in Ohio

Respiratory therapists in Ohio complete a CoARC-accredited program, earn NBRC RRT, and apply to State Medical Board of Ohio for an RCP or equivalent license. See State Medical Board of Ohio ³.

Typical path

Meet program entry rules.
Complete a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program.
Pass the NBRC RRT exams.
Apply to State Medical Board of Ohio for state licensure.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with State Medical Board of Ohio before you enroll.

Respiratory Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Ohio

Respiratory Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Ohio

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), respiratory therapists wages in Ohio vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Cleveland	1,380	$80,360	$82,130	$66,840	$96,970
Cincinnati	1,300	$81,600	$83,210	$66,160	$99,020
Columbus	1,220	$81,860	$85,070	$68,300	$98,700
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek	610	$81,420	$81,370	$64,850	$97,000
Akron	350	$78,940	$80,800	$66,590	$95,530
Toledo	350	$82,280	$85,010	$66,150	$98,750
Huntington-Ashland	270	$66,040	$71,260	$61,690	$94,280
Canton-Massillon	180	$82,200	$79,010	$63,820	$91,840
Youngstown-Warren	160	$75,650	$75,600	$65,700	$79,660
Lima	90	$77,570	$77,830	$65,210	$92,730
Weirton-Steubenville	60	$73,840	$70,190	$58,100	$78,450
Mansfield	50	$72,860	$71,210	$56,390	$90,070
Sandusky	40	$69,360	$69,970	$58,400	$80,170
Springfield	N/A	$78,020	$78,470	$67,780	$89,250

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for respiratory therapists in Ohio? Ohio currently employs approximately 6,640 respiratory therapists ¹. Nationally, respiratory therapist employment is projected to grow 12.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a respiratory therapist in Ohio with an out-of-state license? Contact the State Medical Board of Ohio for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Ohio? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Ohio.

How much do respiratory therapists earn in Ohio compared to the national average? The median annual wage for respiratory therapists in Ohio is $79,920, which is $530 below the national median of $80,450 according to BLS data ¹.

In Ohio

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
State Medical Board of Ohio - Licensing Information: https://www.med.ohio.gov ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)