The Respiratory Therapy Prerequisite Checklist- A printable planning resource for advisors and prospective respiratory care students. Respiratory therapy is one of the fastest-growing allied health careers in the country, and the students who reach a clinical program on schedule almost always have one thing in common: they planned their prerequisites early. Before anyone sets foot in a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) program, they must clear a stack of foundational science and general-education courses—and the exact list, the minimum grades, and how recently the coursework was completed all matter.
This guide pulls those requirements together into a single advisor-friendly checklist, explains the credentialing path behind them, and flags an important 2027 examination change that every prospective student should understand before they apply. A printable checklist is included on the last page.
Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary disorders—from asthma and COPD to patients on mechanical ventilation in the ICU. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is projected to grow 12% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, with roughly 8,800 openings each year and a 2024 median wage of about $80,450. The typical entry point is an associate degree, and respiratory therapists are licensed in every state except Alaska.
Because demand is strong and entry-level seats are competitive, the prerequisite stage is where many applicants either accelerate or stall. Clearing it efficiently—online and self-paced where possible—keeps a candidate on track for the next admissions cycle. See the full BLS Occupational Outlook for respiratory therapists.
Prerequisites exist to prepare students for a regulated pathway. Understanding that pathway helps advisors explain why each course is required:
| ⚠ Important: the 2027 examination changeBeginning January 1, 2027, the NBRC replaces the current TMC plus Clinical Simulation Examination sequence with a single Respiratory Therapy (RT) Examination: a lower cut score earns the CRT, a higher cut score earns the RRT. The older “CRT-to-Registry” admission route is being eliminated on December 31, 2026. The practical takeaway for applicants is unchanged and even more important—plan to graduate from a CoARC-accredited program, which means clearing prerequisites first. |
Requirements vary by program, but the courses below appear on the overwhelming majority of CoARC program prerequisite lists. Use this as a master planning grid, then confirm the specifics with each target program’s admissions page. Most programs require a grade of C or better in each course and a prerequisite GPA in the 2.5–3.0 range.
| Course | Why it matters / notes | Typical status |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology I | With lab. Foundation for cardiopulmonary anatomy. | Required |
| Anatomy & Physiology II | With lab. Respiratory, cardiovascular & renal systems. | Required |
| Microbiology | Often with lab. Infection control & pathogens. | Required |
| General/Intro Chemistry | With lab. Gas laws, acid-base balance. | Required |
| College Algebra (or higher) | Math foundation for dosing & calculations. | Required |
| English Composition | Written communication; often two courses. | Required |
| Speech / Communication | Verbal communication for patient care. | Common |
| General Psychology | Some programs accept developmental/lifespan. | Common |
| Medical Terminology | Frequently required or strongly preferred. | Common |
| Statistics | Required by many bachelor’s-entry programs. | Program-specific |
| Physics | Required by select bachelor’s-entry programs. | Program-specific |
| CPR / BLS certification | Healthcare-provider level, before enrollment. | Program-specific |
Associate-entry programs tend to keep the list focused on the core sciences plus English and math. Bachelor’s-entry programs frequently add statistics, physics, a second composition or technical-writing course, and broader general-education credits—often 60 credits of general education and prerequisites before clinical coursework begins. Because some states and employers increasingly prefer the RRT and bachelor’s preparation, mapping the longer list early gives students the option to step up without backtracking.
The biggest schedule risk is waiting for a fall or spring section of a single missing course. Self-paced, online, accredited prerequisites let students close gaps on their own timeline and start (or finish) outside the traditional semester calendar. PrereqCourses.com offers individual, transferable courses built for exactly this purpose. The links below point to the most common respiratory therapy prerequisites:
For the complete vertical, see the Respiratory Therapy prerequisites hub, or browse all allied health prerequisite courses.
Do prerequisites need a lab?
Yes for the sciences—A&P I and II, chemistry, and usually microbiology should include a lab component to transfer into a clinical program.
Associate or bachelor’s first?
Either can lead to licensure, but bachelor’s-entry programs add statistics, physics, and more general education. Map the longer list if a student may pursue the BS.
How long does the prerequisite stage take?
Full-time students often clear the core in two to three terms; self-paced online courses can compress that timeline considerably.
Does the 2027 exam change affect prerequisites?
Not the course list itself—but it reinforces that graduating from a CoARC-accredited program (which requires the prerequisites) is the only reliable route to the RRT.
PRINTABLE CHECKLIST
Respiratory Therapy Prerequisite Tracker
Student name: _____________________________________ Target program: _____________________________
☐ Anatomy & Physiology I (with lab)
☐ Anatomy & Physiology II (with lab)
☐ Microbiology (with lab)
☐ General / Introductory Chemistry (with lab)
☐ College Algebra or higher
☐ English Composition
☐ Speech / Communication
☐ General Psychology (or developmental/lifespan)
☐ Medical Terminology
☐ Statistics (bachelor’s-entry programs)
☐ Physics (select bachelor’s-entry programs)
☐ CPR / BLS for Healthcare Providers
Verify before applying:
☐ Grade of C or better in every prerequisite
☐ Prerequisite/science GPA meets program minimum (2.5–3.0)
☐ Science courses completed within program recency window (often 5–7 yrs)
☐ Coursework from a regionally accredited institution
☐ Confirmed target program is CoARC-accredited
Need to close a gap on your own schedule? Explore self-paced, transferable prerequisite courses at
