How do I find a good study guide for the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam?

nbrc.org

The NBRC provides a free TMC practice examination, and its website also provides the relevant content outline and candidate resources.NBRC

nbrc.org

The handbook is particularly useful because it explains the exam structure and the cognitive levels—recall, application, and analysis—that you'll encounter.NBRC

A commercial guide

One current option I found is NBRC Respiratory Therapy Study Guide 2026–2027 by Sandra Smith, which is advertised as covering CRT/RRT/TMC material and includes practice questions and clinical scenarios.Apple

I'd treat a commercial guide as a supplement, though—not the authority on what is tested. The NBRC explicitly states that it does not endorse or support particular review programs.NBRC

If you tell me when you're taking the CRT exam (2026 or 2027) and whether you're in respiratory therapy school or already graduated, I can also put together a 2-, 4-, or 8-week CRT study plan with the subjects to study each day and practice-question targets.

The best approach to sourcing and selecting a high-quality study guide involves a few key steps:

1. Check the Official NBRC Content Outline: Before buying any third-party book, visit the NBRC Official Website to review the detailed content outline for the TMC exam. A good study guide must explicitly align with these exam categories (Patient Data Evaluation and Recommendations, Troubleshooting/Quality Control, and Initiation/Modification of Interventions).youtube.com[2]
2. Invest in Industry-Standard Review Books:
   • The Comprehensive Respiratory Therapist's Exam Review by James R. Sills (Mosby) is widely considered a gold standard, featuring extensive content review and realistic Evolve practice platform integration.
   • Comprehensive Respiratory Therapy Exam Preparation Guide by Al Heuer and Craig L. Scanlan (Jones & Bartlett Learning) offers robust online test-prep and assessment components.
   • CRT & RRT Exam Secrets Study Guide by Mometrix Test Prep is another popular option if you prefer quick-hit concepts and test-taking strategy breakdowns.[1][2][3]
3. Prioritize Guides with Interactive Practice Portals: The real TMC exam is administered on a computer, so reading a static text isn't enough. Look for study guides that come with access codes for online practice question banks (like the ones bundled with the Sills or Heuer texts) to simulate timed testing conditions.youtube.com[2][3]
4. Check Student and Educator Consensus: Cross-reference reviews on platforms like Amazon Books or specialized respiratory student communities on Reddit r/RespiratoryTherapy to see which books current graduates are successfully using to pass the latest matrix.youtube.com

Would you like recommendations on how to structure an 8-week study schedule , or are you looking for specific advice on free online practice tests?youtube.com

If you mean the NBRC Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam, the best approach is to build your study guide around the official NBRC exam blueprint, rather than relying on a random “CRT study guide.”

One important update: through December 31, 2026, the CRT is earned through the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination. Starting in January 2027, the NBRC is replacing the TMC/CSE pathway with the new Respiratory Therapy (RT) Examination.NBRC+1

What I'd recommend

1. Start with the official NBRC content outline. This tells you exactly what subjects and question emphasis to expect. The NBRC specifically recommends using the detailed content outline to identify strengths and weaknesses and guide your studying.NBRC+1
2. Take the free official practice exam. It's particularly useful because it familiarizes you with the question style and computer-based testing environment.NBRC+1
3. Consider the official NBRC Self-Assessment Examination (SAE). Unlike a generic study book, this is directly tied to the NBRC exam and can show you where you need more work.NBRC
4. Use a commercial study guide as a supplement, not your blueprint. For example, there are current 2026–2027 guides marketed specifically for CRT/RRT/TMC preparation. One current example is NBRC Respiratory Therapy Study Guide 2026–2027 by Sandra Smith. Apple I'd prioritize a guide that has lots of practice questions plus explanations, rather than one that's primarily a textbook.
5. Make sure the guide matches your exam date. This is especially important in 2026 because of the NBRC's transition to the new RT Examination in January 2027.NBRC

The subjects I'd make sure your guide covers

• Patient assessment and monitoring
• Airway management
• Oxygen therapy
• Mechanical ventilation
• ABGs and acid-base interpretation
• Pulmonary function testing
• Pharmacology and aerosol therapy
• Cardiopulmonary diseases
• Neonatal/pediatric respiratory care
• Emergency/critical-care situations
• Infection control and patient safety
• Calculations and clinical decision-making

My preferred study setup: official NBRC content outline + one comprehensive review book + lots of practice questions + an error notebook where you write down why you missed each question.

If you tell me when you're taking the CRT exam (before or after January 2027) and whether you're a student, recent RT graduate, or already working as an RT, I can recommend 2–3 specific study guides and make you a 4-, 6-, or 8-week CRT study plan.

If you mean the NBRC Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential, the best approach is to build your study guide around the NBRC’s official exam blueprint, rather than relying on a random third-party review book.

One important update: the CRT is currently earned through the TMC (Therapist Multiple-Choice) Examination. The TMC has two cut scores—the lower score earns CRT, while the higher score can qualify you for the RRT pathway if you meet the other requirements.NBRCC

How to find a good study guide

1. Start with the official NBRC content outline. The NBRC publishes the detailed content outline showing exactly which respiratory-care domains are tested and their relative emphasis.NBRCC+1
2. Use the NBRC's free practice exam. It's particularly valuable because it uses software designed to simulate the actual exam experience.NBRCC+1
3. Consider the official Self-Assessment Examination (SAE). The NBRC says its SAEs duplicate the content/design of the credentialing examinations, and they're the official products that provide the examination committee's rationale for the best answer.NBRCC
4. Then choose a third-party review resource that has:

• Lots of practice questions
• Detailed explanations for why answers are correct
• ABGs and acid-base interpretation
• Mechanical ventilation
• Oxygen therapy
• Pulmonary function testing
• Cardiopulmonary diseases
• Pharmacology
• Neonatal/pediatric basics
• Patient assessment and clinical decision-making

A particularly good strategy

Don't just read a review book from cover to cover. Take a practice test first, identify your weak areas, and then use your study guide to attack those areas. The NBRC itself recommends taking a practice examination, reviewing the performance report, studying missed topics, and then taking an SAE.NBRCC

Also pay attention to when you're taking the exam. The current TMC blueprint applies through December 31, 2026; the NBRC says a new Respiratory Therapy Examination takes effect January 4, 2027, with 185 questions and a four-hour time limit.NBRCC+1

If you tell me when you're taking the CRT exam and whether you're a student, recent RT graduate, or already working as an RT, I can recommend 2–3 specific study guides/resources and make you a week-by-week CRT study plan.

What I’d use

1. Start with the official NBRC content outline. nbrc.org The detailed content outline tells you exactly what areas can appear and their relative emphasis. This should be the backbone of your study plan.NBRC+1
2. Use the NBRC's free practice exam. The NBRC provides a free practice examination specifically so candidates can become familiar with the content and question format.NBRC+1
3. Add a dedicated TMC/CRT review book or question bank. Look for one that has:

• Lots of practice questions with explanations
• ABG interpretation and acid-base problems
• Mechanical ventilation
• Oxygen therapy and aerosol therapy
• Pulmonary function testing
• Neonatal/pediatric and adult patient care
• Cardiopulmonary diseases
• Patient assessment and clinical decision-making

4. Prioritize questions over passive reading. The exam isn't just about memorizing facts—the NBRC emphasizes application and problem-solving as well as knowledge.NBRC
5. Be careful with older study materials. If you're taking the exam in 2027 or later, don't build your preparation entirely around a TMC study guide. The new RT Examination takes effect January 2027 and has a different format/content outline.NBRC

A simple way to choose between study guides

I'd rate a potential guide like this:

If you tell me when you're planning to take the CRT exam (2026 or 2027+) and whether you're currently in RT school or already graduated, I can also find 3–5 specific study guides/question banks and compare them by price, number of questions, strengths, and weaknesses.