Respiratory Therapist in Illinois
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for IL
How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Illinois
To become a licensed Respiratory Therapist in Illinois, individuals must graduate from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)-accredited program and pass the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam. The licensing body is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. A fingerprint-based criminal background check is required, and licenses are renewed every two years with continuing education requirements, including specific training in implicit bias, sexual harassment prevention, and Alzheimer's disease.
Respiratory Therapist Requirements in Illinois
| Detail | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | Associate degree from a CoARC-accredited program |
| Exam | NBRC CRT or RRT exam |
| Application Fee | $120 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing Education | 24.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | A fingerprint-based criminal background check is required. First-time renewals are exempt from continuing education requirements. Requires 1 hour of implicit bias awareness training per renewal period (effective Jan 1, 2023), 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training, and 1 hour of Alzheimer's disease and dementia care training. Effective January 1, 2025, a one-hour course in cultural competency training is required every 6 years. |
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Respiratory Therapist Salary in Illinois
The median respiratory therapist salary in Illinois is $81,310 per year, which is 1.1% above the national median of $80,450.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $63,430 |
| 25th | $74,480 |
| 50th (median) | $81,310 |
| 75th | $92,260 |
| 90th (experienced) | $97,310 |
Illinois employs approximately 5,450 respiratory therapists.
Respiratory Therapist Job Outlook
AI Impact on Respiratory Therapists
Low AI Exposure (Score: -0.19/1.00)
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
Is Becoming a Respiratory Therapist in Illinois Worth It?
Factors to consider: Illinois's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, strong job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.