What are the best online resources for a respiratory therapist to earn their continuing education credits?

Finding reliable, AARC-approved (American Association for Respiratory Care) CRCE credits is essential for maintaining your respiratory therapist license . Here are the top online resources broken down by subscription, membership perks, and free options:

• AARC Education (AARC-University) : The gold standard managed directly by the national association. It features comprehensive categories like adult critical care, neonatal-pediatrics, credential test prep, and ethics. Courses are often free or discounted for active AARC members.
• Continued Respiratory Therapy : A massive, highly-rated subscription library offering unlimited AARC-approved CEUs for a flat annual fee (around $99). It provides evidence-based courses covering mechanical ventilation, COVID-19 updates, and pediatrics.
• Respiratory Associates : Another popular flat-rate subscription option ($99/year) featuring live recorded sessions, real-time interactive webinars, and self-directed CE with instant certificate generation and no tests required.
• Sentec CEUs : Offers a great selection of free live webinars and on-demand, AARC-accredited continuing education sessions.
• ACHL CME Respiratory Therapy : Provides a specialized catalog of free accredited courses focused on chronic and rare lung diseases, cardiopulmonary disorders, and evidence-based treatments.

If you want to narrow this down, let me know:

• Do you prefer free options or an annual subscription?
• Are you looking for credits in a specific specialty (like neonatal, PFT, or critical care)?

Absolutely. For a respiratory therapist, I’d prioritize CRCE-approved courses because they’re specifically designed for respiratory care and are generally straightforward to apply toward NBRC and state-license requirements.

Best online CE resources for respiratory therapists

1. American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) — Best overall

• Probably my #1 recommendation for RTs.
• Offers a large catalog covering adult critical care, neonatal/pediatrics, asthma, PFT/diagnostics, sleep medicine, ethics, patient safety, leadership, and more.
• AARC also has live online webinars, with members receiving two free CRCE credits per month.
• Particularly useful because the AARC's CRCE program is specifically designed around continuing education for respiratory therapists.

2. Medbridge — Best for a huge, convenient library

• Excellent if you want on-demand courses you can complete whenever your schedule allows.
• Has thousands of courses, plus live webinars and mobile access.
• One caveat: because Medbridge serves many healthcare professions, check that the individual course meets your RT/state requirements before taking it.

3. Your state respiratory-care licensing board — Best for avoiding surprises

• This isn't a CE provider itself, but it's one of the most important resources.
• Requirements can differ substantially by state, including required subjects such as ethics, laws/rules, infection control, or specific clinical topics.
• The NBRC specifically says that CE accepted by your state licensing board can generally be used toward its Credential Maintenance Program.

4. NBRC — Best for understanding exactly what counts

• The NBRC isn't primarily a place to collect CE, but you should use it to verify your credential-maintenance requirements.
• Its current guidance says online education can qualify when it includes an independently scored test, and AARC-CRCE courses are accepted when the state doesn't have its own specific course requirements.
• This is especially important because maintaining your NBRC credential and maintaining your state license are separate requirements.

5. Respiratory Therapy Zone — Best for free RT education/study material

• Has a substantial amount of free respiratory-care educational material, quizzes, and mini-courses.
• I'd use it heavily for review and professional learning, but I'd verify that a particular activity provides the CE credit you need before counting it toward licensure.

What I'd choose

If you're an RRT trying to knock out your CE requirements efficiently, I'd use:

AARC → first choice Medbridge → second choice for convenience/volume State board → verify mandatory topics NBRC → verify credential-maintenance requirements

One important point: don't assume that every "CEU" you find online counts for your RT license. The NBRC states that state licensing requirements determine what can be used for state licensure, and AARC-CRCE is a particularly safe route for respiratory-care education.

If you tell me what state you're licensed in (e.g., Texas) and whether you're maintaining RRT, CRT, ACCS, NPS, CPFT, etc., I can narrow this down to the best sites with free/cheap CEUs and tell you exactly how many hours and what subjects you need.

For a respiratory therapist (RT), the best continuing education (CE) resources are usually those that provide AARC-CRCE® approval, are accepted by your state licensing board, and help with NBRC credential maintenance when applicable. Always verify your state’s specific CE requirements before completing courses.

Top online CE resources for respiratory therapists

1. aarc.org — Best overall RT-specific resource

Best for: RRT/CRT license renewal, specialty education, professional development

• Official education platform of the American Association for Respiratory Care
• Offers CRCE courses across areas such as: - Adult critical care
• Mechanical ventilation
• Neonatal/pediatrics
• Sleep medicine
• Pulmonary function testing
• Asthma
• Ethics and leadership
• Tracks certificates and transcripts through the platform.

Best choice if: You want the most directly RT-focused CE source.

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2. continued.com — Best for affordable, self-paced CE

Best for: Busy RTs who want to complete many hours online

• Large library of RT-focused courses
• Self-paced learning
• Covers topics such as: - Critical care
• Ventilator management
• Pulmonary diseases
• Neonatal/pediatric care
• Offers AARC-approved respiratory CEUs.

Best choice if: You need a flexible subscription model and want to accumulate credits quickly.

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3. nbrc.org — Best for credential planning

Best for: RRTs managing NBRC requirements

The NBRC does not function primarily as a CE course marketplace, but it provides guidance on acceptable continuing education and credential maintenance requirements. Online education can count when it meets NBRC criteria and applicable licensing requirements.

Best choice if: You are trying to maintain RRT, specialty credentials, or plan your renewal pathway.

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4. Hospital education platforms

Best for: Low-cost or free CE through your employer

Many hospitals provide:

• Ventilator competency modules
• Grand rounds recordings
• ICU education
• Evidence-based practice lectures
• Simulation training

Check whether the activity provides AARC-CRCE, state-approved CE, or another accepted credit type before relying on it.

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5. University and specialty organization courses

Best for: Advanced practice and specialty interests

Good areas to look for:

• Critical care societies
• Sleep medicine organizations
• Pulmonary function testing organizations
• Asthma education programs
• Neonatal/pediatric respiratory care groups

These can be especially useful if you hold or are pursuing specialty credentials.

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Free or low-cost options to check regularly

• AARC member education offerings and webinars (members often receive access to discounts and educational content).
• Employer-provided CE libraries
• Vendor education from ventilator, oxygen therapy, and respiratory equipment manufacturers (verify CE approval before counting credits)

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How to choose the right CE provider

Before paying for a course, check:

1. Is it AARC-CRCE approved?
2. Will my state respiratory care board accept it?
3. Does it count toward my NBRC requirements if needed?
4. Does it provide a completion certificate and transcript?
5. Does the topic match my practice area or specialty credential?

For most RTs, a strong combination is:

• AARC University for high-quality specialty education
• Continued (or a similar subscription provider) for filling required hours efficiently
• NBRC guidance to ensure credential compliance

If you tell me your state, credential (CRT/RRT/ACCS/NPS/SDS/PFT/AE-C), and how many CEUs you need, I can narrow this down to the best options for your renewal.

The best online resources for respiratory therapists (RTs) to earn Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credits are platform-accredited by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC).

Because state licensing boards enforce strict rules regarding live versus self-study hours, managing your credits requires picking the right combination of structured platforms, corporate academies, and high-volume libraries.

Premium Unlimited Subscription Platforms

If you need to complete a large bundle of hours quickly, flat-rate annual subscription models offer the best value for your money.

• Continued Respiratory Therapy : Offers a $99 annual subscription for unlimited access to peer-reviewed, evidence-based courses. Their library spans critical care, mechanical ventilation, and neonatal pediatrics.
• Respiratory Associates : Provides an unlimited $99 annual tier featuring a massive inventory of over 80 pre-recorded live courses. This is highly useful for therapists who need "live" interactive or real-time webinar credits without rigorous test formats.
• Elite Learning : Delivers a Passport Membership option focusing heavily on high-yield compliance topics, state-specific requirements, and biomedical ethics.
• TheCEPlace : Specializes in book-based self-study testing approved across all 50 states. It features a unique structure where you can retake testing materials multiple times at no added cost until you pass.

Direct Professional & Industry Leaders

These platforms are the most authoritative for staying aligned with official board guidelines and clinical protocol shifts.

• AARC University : The premier tracking system for professional development. It provides free credit allocations directly to active members , specialized credential test prep, and clinical practice guideline updates.
• A&T Respiratory Lectures : Features dedicated patient safety and clinical competency packages backed fully by standard AARC-approved credits.

Top Free & Vendor-Sponsored Resources

Clinical equipment manufacturers provide excellent, niche-specific CRCE courses for free to promote proper device utilization and clinical mastery.

• Passy Muir Education : The top resource for tracheostomy and ventilator application credits. They offer free self-study tracks, live remote in-services, and clinical podcasts focused on speech and swallowing restoration.
• Saxe Healthcare Communications : Highly recommended within the RT community for no-cost on-demand webinars that deal directly with high-acuity respiratory care.
• Sentec : Focuses intensely on non-invasive monitoring parameters . Their webinars cover advanced topics like transcutaneous CO₂ technology in pediatric sleep labs and specialized NICU/PICU clinical applications.
• Dräger Clinical Education : Delivers vendor-neutral training pathways centered on protective ventilation strategies , neonatal jaundice management, and operating room anesthesia delivery setups.

To help you narrow down the best path, let me know:

• What state do you hold your license in?
• How many of your required hours must be "Live" or interactive?
• Are you looking for a specific specialty focus like Neonatal (NPS) or Adult Critical Care?

Absolutely. For a respiratory therapist, I’d prioritize AARC/CRCE-approved education and then use state-specific CE portals to make sure the credits actually count toward your license.

Best online CE resources for RTs

If you're a Florida RT

This is particularly important because Florida requires 24 hours per biennium for respiratory therapists:

• 20 hours general CE
• 2 hours medical errors
• 2 hours Florida laws & rules

Florida specifically states that online/home-study courses are acceptable as long as they're from an approved respiratory-care provider.

The Florida Board also recognizes providers such as AARC, Florida Society for Respiratory Care, ACCME, American College of Chest Physicians, American Heart Association, CoARC, and others.

A convenient option is the Florida RT CE course search on CE Broker, where you can filter specifically for courses accepted for Florida RRTs. There are currently 24-hour renewal bundles available as well.

My recommendation

If your goal is "get my CEUs done efficiently while actually learning useful RT material," I'd use:

1. AARC University → for high-quality respiratory-specific clinical education
2. CE Broker → to verify Florida/state acceptance and track completion
3. NBRC → to make sure your CE strategy also satisfies your credential-maintenance requirements

One important distinction: state licensure CE and NBRC credential maintenance are separate requirements. NBRC explicitly notes that satisfying one does not necessarily satisfy the other.

If you're in Florida, I can also find you the 5–10 best online RT CEU courses that are currently available, inexpensive/free, and cover the required 24 hours, including the medical-error and laws/rules requirements.

Finding reliable, accredited continuing education (Continuing Respiratory Care Education - CRCE) credits is essential for maintaining your state license and NBRC credentials . The best online resources range from comprehensive subscription platforms to dedicated free lecture sites.

Comprehensive & Subscription Platforms (Paid/Value)

• AARC Education & AARC University : The official home of the American Association for Respiratory Care. It offers extensive live webinars, clinical practice modules, credential test prep, and the popular "CRCE through the Journal" program where members can earn free credits by reading and testing on Respiratory Care journal articles.
• Continued Respiratory Therapy : A dedicated, high-quality subscription platform ($99/year) providing unlimited access to peer-reviewed, evidence-based video and text courses covering mechanical ventilation, neonatal care, and latest research.
• The CE Place : Known as a straightforward, budget-friendly "easy button" option. They offer multi-state accredited AARC courses and state-specific bundles (like California compliance packages) with instant certificate generation.
• Frontline CEU Place : Offers flexible on-demand, self-paced AARC-approved courses starting at a low per-course rate or an annual unlimited access plan.

Free AARC-Approved CEU Resources

• A&T Respiratory Lectures : A widely recommended platform offering entirely free, AARC-approved video and text lectures covering everything from PFT diagnostics to critical care, complete with downloadable PDFs and post-tests.
• Sentec Educational Webinars : Regularly hosts and archives complimentary live and on-demand clinical webinars focusing on non-invasive monitoring, NICU/PICU ventilation, and sleep diagnostics.
• Passy-Muir Education : Provides valuable web-based, self-study modules and specialized clinical training focusing on tracheostomy, speaking valves, and airway management for continuing education credit.

RT Community Experiences

Finding Free and Last-Minute Options

If you share your state of licensure or specific specialty (Neonatal, Critical Care, Sleep, etc.), I can help you find targeted course bundles or check if your license renewal deadline has unique credit requirements.

For respiratory therapists (RTs), earning Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credits online requires finding platforms approved by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) or recognized by state licensing boards.

The best online resources range from official professional association portals to budget-friendly subscription libraries and specialized vendor modules.

Top Professional and Comprehensive Platforms

• AARC Education Hub / AARC University : The official site of the American Association for Respiratory Care provides robust self-study modules, live webinars, credential test prep, and specialized clinical tracks. Members often get exclusive access or discounted pricing on courses covering critical care, neonatal pediatrics, and disease management.
• Continued Respiratory Therapy : A dedicated, high-quality subscription platform ($99/year) featuring unlimited, peer-reviewed, and evidence-based courses created and overseen by experienced RT professionals. It covers a wide range of relevant bedside topics like mechanical ventilation and advanced pathophysiology.
• Frontline CEU Place : Known for flexibility and speed, offering individual AARC-approved courses or affordable annual unlimited bundles. It is popular for fast certificate generation and nationwide state board compliance.
• The CE Place : A straightforward self-study option tailored for busy practitioners needing reliable credits across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Their model typically involves reading structured material and passing a test with unlimited retakes included.
• Respiratory Associates : Provides a mix of real-time interactive webinars, recorded live courses, and 24/7 self-directed options backed by instant certificate downloads.

Specialty and Free CEU Options

• A&T Respiratory Lectures : Offers a collection of both paid unlimited subscriptions and select free AARC-approved introductory courses focusing on critical care, pulmonary diseases, and patient safety.
• Passy-Muir Education : An exceptional niche resource offering free web-based self-study courses and live webinars specifically focused on tracheostomy, speaking valves, and swallowing/secretion management.
• Equipment Manufacturer Academies: Companies that manufacture respiratory equipment (such as Dräger Clinical Education and Sentec ) frequently host free, device-specific and clinical practice webinars that offer AARC-approved CEUs.

If you want to narrow down your choices, let me know:

• Are you looking for free options or an annual unlimited subscription?
• Do you need credits for a specific clinical specialty (like neonatal, sleep, or critical care)?

If you’re a respiratory therapist looking for online CE/CEU credits, I’d prioritize courses that are AARC-CRCE approved and that your state licensing board accepts. The NBRC specifically says it accepts courses approved by your state board, and if the state has no specific course requirements, AARC-CRCE courses are acceptable for its Credential Maintenance Program.

My top choices

1. AARC University — Best overall

   • Run by the American Association for Respiratory Care.
   • Large catalog covering adult critical care, neonatal/pediatrics, asthma, PFT/diagnostics, sleep medicine, ethics, leadership, patient safety, etc.
   • Courses are specifically designed for respiratory care and carry CRCE credit.
   • Bonus: AARC members can get up to 12 CRCE per year free through CRCE Through the Journal—one credit each month.

2. Continued – Respiratory Therapy CE — Best for lots of CE at a low cost

   • More than 200 online respiratory CE courses.
   • AARC-approved respiratory CEUs.
   • Self-paced and accessible on phones/tablets.
   • Currently advertises unlimited CE access for $99/year, making it attractive if you need a lot of hours.

3. NBRC Credential Maintenance Program — Best for NBRC credential maintenance

   • Don't overlook the NBRC's own quarterly assessments.
   • Depending on your assessment performance, you may need to document 0, 15, or 30 CE credits.
   • Completing at least 90% of the annual RT assessments can also earn 6 CRCE, while specialty assessments can earn 3 CRCE.
   • This is particularly useful because you're killing two birds with one stone: maintaining your NBRC credential while earning CE.

4. Institute for Continuing Education — Good traditional self-study option

   • Offers distance-learning respiratory care courses.
   • Courses are designed for respiratory care practitioners and are approved in many states for relicensure.
   • I'd verify your specific state's acceptance before purchasing.

A particularly good strategy

If I were trying to complete my CE efficiently, I'd use:

AARC University + NBRC assessments + Continued

That gives you a mix of:

• High-quality RT-specific education
• CRCE credits
• Self-paced courses
• Potentially inexpensive bulk CE
• NBRC credential-maintenance credit

One important distinction: NBRC credential maintenance and state license renewal are separate. You can satisfy an NBRC requirement and still need additional CE for your state license.

If you tell me what state you're licensed in, whether you're CRT or RRT, and how many CEUs you need, I can narrow this down to the cheapest/easiest online options that meet your specific requirements.

Finding convenient and AARC-approved (American Association for Respiratory Care) Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credits is essential for keeping your license and credentials active.

The top online resources for respiratory therapists to earn CEUs range from comprehensive subscription libraries to specialized and free options:

Comprehensive & Subscription Platforms

• AARC Education Center : The official hub from the American Association for Respiratory Care. It features an extensive catalog organized by topics (adult critical care, neonatal-pediatrics, sleep medicine, ethics) and offers plenty of member-exclusive or free-for-member options.
• Continued Respiratory Therapy : A dedicated, high-quality subscription platform ($99/year) providing unlimited access to evidence-based, AARC-approved courses covering mechanical ventilation, neonatal care, and the latest clinical research.
• A&T Respiratory Lectures : Highly popular among working RTs, offering an annual subscription or individual module packages ($99/year) with video lectures, downloadable PDFs, and straightforward post-tests that yield instant certificates. They also offer select free CEU options.

Self-Paced & Budget-Friendly Providers

• The CE Place : Known as an efficient "easy button" option for busy clinicians. They offer self-study courses accepted across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, featuring instant certificate generation and free unlimited test retakes if you do not pass on the first try.
• Last Minute CEUs : Offers an affordable $99 unlimited plan with 24/7 access to non-traditional and standard online courses. It is particularly handy if you need specific state-mandated credits (like ethics, human trafficking, or patient safety) on a tight deadline.
• Frontline CEU Place : Provides self-paced, on-demand, AARC-approved courses tailored to fit the hectic shift schedules of RTs, RRTs, and CRTs needing nationwide compliance.

Industry & Manufacturer-Led Free CEUs

• Sentec CE Portal : Frequently hosts live and on-demand clinical webinars focusing on non-invasive and transcutaneous monitoring (CO₂/O₂) in the NICU, PICU, and sleep labs, often offering free continuing education credits.
• Medline University : Features an education-first portal with AARC-accredited modules designed to help clinical staff stay aligned with industry standards and safety best practices.

Community Perspectives

Some colleagues note how streamlined these online portals can be for knocking out requirements quickly:

“Last minute CEU. Unlimited for $99. They have videos that count as live. Lieterally just hit play and keep it moving. Includes child abuse for PA. For me, my time and lack of hassle is well worth it.”

“Vapotherm has many online CEU credits. Draeger, Passy-Muir, vapotherm, you can probably get everything you need.”

If you'd like, let me know:

• Your licensing state (to check for specific mandatory credits like California leadership or state ethics)
• Whether you prefer video-based, text-based, or live webinar formats

I can help narrow down the ideal platform or specific free courses for your renewal cycle.

Absolutely. For a respiratory therapist (RT/RRT), I’d prioritize resources that specifically offer AARC-approved CRCE and make it easy to document your credits. The “best” option depends on whether you need inexpensive self-study hours, live/interactive hours, or specific state-required topics.

My top choices

🥇 Best overall: Continued

If you want to knock out a lot of CE without paying for each course, I'd probably start with Continued Respiratory Therapy. It currently advertises 200+ evidence-based courses, AARC-approved CRCE, multiple formats, certificates, and unlimited access for $99/year.

It also has a particularly useful feature if you're in Florida: its Florida-specific catalog says AARC-approved courses are accepted by the Florida Board of Respiratory Care, there is no limit on online CE hours, and it has courses addressing Florida's laws/rules, medical errors, human trafficking, and HIV/AIDS requirements.

🥈 Best for getting a lot of hours quickly: Respiratory Associates

Respiratory Associates is another excellent option. It offers self-directed, real-time live, and “recorded live credit” courses, all AARC-approved. The annual subscription is currently $99, and individual courses are available as well.

A major advantage is that they report completed courses to CE Broker for RTs in Florida and several other states.

🥉 Best authoritative source: AARC University

If you want education directly from the professional organization for respiratory care, AARC University is the obvious choice. Its catalog currently contains 200+ courses covering adult critical care, asthma, clinical practice, neonatal/pediatrics, PFT/diagnostics, sleep medicine, ethics, patient safety, leadership, and more.

The downside is that it may not be the cheapest way to accumulate a large number of credits compared with the $99 unlimited platforms.

💰 Best free/cheap supplements

Medscape is useful for filling gaps with free CME/CE activities. You need an account, and each activity specifies the type and amount of credit.

There are also manufacturer-sponsored educational programs from companies such as ventilator, airway, and oxygen-therapy manufacturers. These can be excellent for device-specific clinical education, but I'd verify that the particular course awards credit acceptable to your state/NBRC before counting it.

One important distinction: license CE vs. NBRC CE

Don't assume that every CE certificate automatically satisfies both requirements.

The NBRC Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) has its own requirements. Depending on your credential/CMP pathway, maintenance can involve a new credential, retaking the credentialing examination, or quarterly assessments plus documentation of continuing education.

For state licensure, you need to follow your state respiratory-care board's rules. AARC's CRCE program is specifically designed to accredit continuing education for respiratory therapists and is aligned with state-board requirements.

What I'd do if I were trying to finish CE efficiently

If you're a Florida RT: I'd use Continued or Respiratory Associates as the primary CE source, because both have Florida-specific information and AARC-approved RT courses. Then use AARC University and free manufacturer/Medscape courses to fill any specialized requirements.

If you tell me (1) your state, (2) how many CEUs you need, and (3) your renewal deadline, I can find the cheapest/easiest combination of online courses and make sure you're covering any required topics (laws/rules, medical errors, HIV, live CE, etc.).