Respiratory Therapy
License Requirements

Virginia Respiratory Therapy CE Requirements

20 Hours every 2 years - Total CE requirement for license renewal

• Total Requirement: 20 contact hours of continuing education are required every renewal period (biennium).
• Online/Self-Study: Virginia does not limit the number of hours taken through online or home-study courses. You may complete all 20 hours via approved online methods (e.g., AARC approved webcasts or self-paced courses).
• Mandatory Topic (Human Trafficking): Effective for the 2024/2025 renewal cycles, all licensees must complete 1 hour of training in Human Trafficking. This is a specific requirement that must be met to renew.
• Approved Sponsors: Courses must be approved by the AARC (American Association for Respiratory Care), the AMA (Category 1), or the Virginia Society for Respiratory Care.
• New Licensees: If you were initially licensed in the current renewal cycle, you are generally exempt from the continuing education requirements for that first renewal period.

Virginia License Renewal Process

1. Expiration Date: Licenses expire biennially (every 2 years) on the last day of your birth month in odd-numbered years (e.g., May 31, 2025, if born in May).
2. Renewal Window: Renewal notices are typically sent 60 days prior to the expiration date. You must renew online or by mail.
3. Online Portal: Renewal is completed through the Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP) online licensing website.
4. Fees: The standard renewal fee is $135.00.
5. Late Renewal: If you renew after your expiration date, a Late Fee of $50.00 is added (Total: $185.00).
6. Reinstatement: If your license remains lapsed for more than one renewal cycle (2 years), you must apply for reinstatement, which costs $180.00 and requires proof of competency.
7. Audit: The Board conducts random audits. You are not required to submit certificates with your renewal, but you must retain them for at least 4 years (two full cycles) in case of an audit.