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) continuing education units (CRCE credits) is essential for maintaining your license without extra stress.

The top online resources for respiratory therapists to earn CE credits include:

• AARC Education Center : The official hub from the American Association for Respiratory Care provides a massive library of webcasts, live webinars, and independent study modules created specifically for RTs across all specialties.
• Continued Respiratory Therapy : A dedicated, highly-rated platform offering over 200 evidence-based courses Continued . They offer flexible annual subscriptions as well as select free introductory courses Continued.
• Respiratory Associates : Known for interactive live webinars and real-time streaming sessions where you can earn credits with no tests required, plus an extensive catalog of recorded options Respiratory Associates.
• Last Minute CEU's : A straightforward, budget-friendly option that supports state-specific CEU requirements (including medical errors and ethics modules) with an affordable annual unlimited plan Last Minute CEU's.
• Methapharm Respiratory : Offers a selection of AARC- and CSRT-approved on-demand courses provided at zero cost to healthcare practitioners for ongoing professional development Methapharm Respiratory.
• A & T Respiratory Lectures : Frequently hosts virtual, AARC-approved live and recorded lecture sessions tailored directly to clinical providers and respiratory therapists A & T Respiratory Lectures.

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

• Your licensure state or specific credit requirements (like ethics or live vs. self-paced)
• Whether you are looking for free options or an unlimited annual subscription

I can help point you toward the most cost-effective courses for your renewal cycle.

If you're a respiratory therapist, I’d prioritize RT-specific CE providers that clearly identify their accreditation/board acceptance, rather than generic healthcare CE sites.

Good online options

• American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC University) — Probably the most directly relevant source for RT continuing education. Its catalog includes clinical practice, adult critical care, neonatal/pediatrics, sleep medicine, PFT/diagnostics, ethics, leadership, and more, with courses offering CRCE.
• CE Broker — Particularly useful if you're licensed in a state that uses CE Broker. You can search specifically for your profession and filter for board-accepted courses. It also provides a free basic account for tracking completed CE.
• Medscape — A useful source for free online CME/CE activities. You'll need an account, and individual activities specify the type and amount of credit available.
• Institute for Continuing Education (CEU.org) — Offers distance-learning respiratory-care courses, including topics such as ARDS, infectious disease, pediatrics, and HIV/AIDS. It states that its respiratory-care courses are approved in most states, but you should verify your state's requirements before relying on a course.

If you're in Florida

This is especially important because Florida has specific RT CE requirements. The Florida Board of Respiratory Care currently lists 24 hours per biennium: 20 general hours, 2 hours of medical error, and 2 hours of Florida laws/rules. It specifically directs CRT/RRT licensees to CE Broker to locate board-approved courses.

The Florida Board also says online/home-study courses are not subject to the old 12-hour limit, provided they're completed through an approved respiratory-care provider.

So, if you're a Florida RT, I'd start with CE Broker + AARC and make sure each course satisfies the particular category you still need.

If you tell me your state, whether you're CRT or RRT, and whether you're looking for free CEUs or don't mind paying, I can narrow this down to the best options and find enough courses to satisfy your next renewal.

For respiratory therapists (RTs) looking to fulfill their Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) requirements, several top-tier online platforms offer AARC-approved courses, ranging from all-inclusive annual subscriptions to free specialized modules.

Top Online CEU Resources for Respiratory Therapists

1. AARC University (American Association for Respiratory Care)
   • Overview: The official educational portal of the national professional organization, offering extensive content tailored specifically to RTs.
   • Key Features: Features categories like adult critical care, neonatal-pediatrics, asthma, clinical practice, and credential test prep. Many courses are free or heavily discounted for active AARC members.
   • Where to look: Explore available modules directly via the AARC Education Portal.
2. Continued Respiratory Therapy
   • Overview: A widely popular, dedicated online learning platform providing an extensive library of evidence-based, peer-reviewed courses.
   • Key Features: Offers an annual subscription (around $99/year) for unlimited access to recorded courses, live webinars, and instant certificate generation, with automated CE Broker reporting.
   • Where to look: Learn more about their subscription model on Continued Respiratory Therapy.
3. Respiratory Associates
   • Overview: A high-volume provider that has served tens of thousands of RTs, specializing in streamlined, flexible continuing education.
   • Key Features: Provides real-time interactive live webinars, recorded live sessions, and 24/7 self-directed CE options with instant certificates and no required testing for certain formats. Flat-rate annual unlimited access is priced around $99.
   • Where to look: Check out their current catalog at Respiratory Associates.
4. Sentec Education
   • Overview: Offers specialized clinical education focusing on non-invasive monitoring, ventilation, and diagnostics.
   • Key Features: Provides a targeted selection of free live and on-demand courses led by industry experts.
   • Where to look: Browse current offerings via Sentec Free CEUs for Respiratory Therapists.
5. A & T Respiratory Lectures
   • Overview: A long-standing independent provider known for comprehensive lecture series covering adult critical care, neonatal topics, and disease management.
   • Key Features: Offers multi-lecture packages and occasional free promotional CEU options tied to video lectures and post-tests.
   • Where to look: Access program details through A & T Respiratory Lectures.

If you'd like, let me know:

• How many credits/hours you need to complete
• Your state licensure deadline
• Whether you prefer free options or an all-inclusive annual subscription

I can help you pinpoint the most cost-effective path to meet your requirements.

If you’re a respiratory therapist looking for online CE/CEUs that are actually useful for maintaining your RT license and NBRC credentials, I’d prioritize resources that offer AARC-CRCE or are explicitly accepted by your state licensing board.

Best online CE resources for respiratory therapists

1. AARC University — best overall

American Association for Respiratory Care's AARC University is probably my first choice for an RT. It is specifically built around respiratory care education and offers CRCE courses in areas such as:

• Adult critical care
• Neonatal/pediatrics
• Asthma
• Clinical practice
• PFT/diagnostics
• Sleep medicine
• Ethics
• Patient safety
• Leadership

The catalog currently contains 200+ courses, including live and on-demand options.

Best if: You want RT-specific education and want the least ambiguity about whether your CE is relevant to respiratory care.

2. Continued — best for getting a lot of CE

Continued has 200+ evidence-based respiratory therapy courses, offers AARC-approved respiratory CEUs, and currently advertises unlimited access for $99/year. It also provides completion certificates and tracks your CE.

Best if: You need a substantial number of hours and don't want to pay individually for every course.

3. NetCE — good for inexpensive supplemental CE

NetCE is particularly useful for topics that aren't necessarily RT-specific but may count toward state requirements. It has a large healthcare CE catalog and offers some free courses, although you should check whether the specific course qualifies for your RT license before relying on it.

Best if: You need inexpensive courses in subjects such as ethics, infection control, cultural competency, or other state-required topics.

4. Institute for Continuing Education — good budget option

The Institute for Continuing Education has a dedicated respiratory-care catalog with individual online courses. Current examples include ARDS, infectious disease/CDC guidelines, pediatric asthma, and other RT-related topics.

Best if: You only need a few hours and don't want to purchase a subscription.

5. NBRC — use it as your requirements check

The National Board for Respiratory Care isn't necessarily where I'd go first to shop for CE, but its requirements should be your starting point.

The NBRC says that AARC-CRCE credits can satisfy its Credential Maintenance Program requirements when applicable. It also distinguishes maintaining your NBRC credential from maintaining your state license, so you need to check both.

The NBRC also maintains information about recognized CE providers.

One important warning

Don't assume that every "CEU" you find online will count toward your RT license. Your state board determines its own requirements. For example, California explicitly recognizes AARC and certain other providers and puts responsibility on the licensee to ensure the course meets its requirements.

A good strategy is:

AARC-CRCE for your core RT hours + state-specific courses for any special requirements.

If you tell me what state you're licensed in (e.g., Louisiana, Texas, Florida) and how many CE hours you need, I can find the cheapest/best online options that meet your specific state + NBRC requirements, including free courses.

The best online resource for respiratory therapists to earn continuing education (CRCE) credits is the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Education Center , which offers comprehensive, AARC-approved live webinars and on-demand courses tailored to specialties like critical care, neonatal-pediatrics, and diagnostics.

Other top-rated and accredited platforms provide robust online libraries, subscription models, or free contact hours to fit busy clinical schedules.

Choosing the Right Platform

• For Comprehensive Specialty Tracks: Use the AARC Education Center to target high-level competencies like pulmonary function testing (PFT), sleep medicine, and leadership.
• For High-Volume, Budget-Friendly Learning: Subscribing to unlimited access libraries like Continued Respiratory Therapy is ideal if you need an expansive catalog to knock out numerous contact hours cost-effectively.
• For Free Credit Opportunities: Check out industry resource aggregators or corporate clinical education portals like Dräger A Breath Ahead for complimentary ventilator and critical care modules.

If you let me know how many contact hours you need and your state license renewal deadline , I can help you find specific packages or free courses to meet your exact state requirements.

Absolutely. For a respiratory therapist, I’d prioritize resources that offer AARC-CRCE credit, because CRCE is specifically designed for respiratory-care continuing education and is generally a safe choice for NBRC credential maintenance. The NBRC says it will accept AARC-CRCE courses when a state board doesn’t have more specific requirements.

Best online CE resources for respiratory therapists

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

This would be my first choice. It has a large catalog of CRCE courses covering adult critical care, neonatal/pediatrics, asthma, PFT/diagnostics, sleep medicine, clinical practice, ethics, patient safety, leadership, and more.

Especially useful: AARC members can earn up to 12 CRCE per year for free through CRCE Through the Journal—one 1-hour course each month. AARC 2. AARC Explores — Great for convenient, on-demand credits

These are shorter educational videos designed specifically for RTs. The current series offers up to 10 CRCE hours, and you only receive credit for the content you actually complete.

This is particularly attractive if you want to knock out credits without sitting through long courses. 3. NBRC Credential Maintenance Program — Best for combining CE with credential maintenance

The NBRC now uses quarterly assessments as part of its Credential Maintenance Program. Depending on your assessment performance, you may need 0, 15, or 30 CE credits. The NBRC also awards CRCE for completing its assessments.

Important: NBRC credential maintenance and your state RT license renewal are separate requirements. NBRC 4. Your state respiratory-care licensing board — Essential before paying for anything

Even if a course says "CEU approved," you should verify that it satisfies your particular state's renewal rules. The NBRC explicitly notes that state licensure requirements can differ from NBRC credential-maintenance requirements.

This is especially important for requirements involving things like ethics, infection control, implicit bias, laws/rules, or specific mandated topics. 5. Hospital/employer education portals — Often overlooked and frequently free

Check your employer's LMS, medical-library access, grand rounds, and vendor-sponsored education. Some employers provide access to respiratory, critical-care, AACN, neonatal, or multidisciplinary CE at no additional cost.

What I'd choose

If I were trying to earn RT CE efficiently, I'd use this strategy:

• Start with AARC University for specialty-specific CRCE.
• Use the AARC Journal courses for easy monthly credits if you're an AARC member.
• Use AARC Explores when you want short, convenient courses.
• Check your state board requirements before completing a large number of credits.
• Keep your certificates/transcript in one place in case your state board or NBRC asks for documentation.

The NBRC specifically recognizes online education when it includes an independently scored test, and it accepts courses accepted by your state licensing board or AARC-CRCE courses when the state has no specific course requirements.

If you tell me what state you're licensed in (e.g., Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina), I can also find the best free/low-cost RT CEUs that meet that state's exact renewal requirements and make you a list of 10–20 courses you could start today.

The best online resource for respiratory therapists to earn continuing education credits is the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Education Center , which offers a massive library of AARC-approved CRCE (Continuing Respiratory Care Education) courses covering everything from neonatal care to critical management.

Top Online CEU Platforms for Respiratory Therapists

• AARC Education Center : Provides extensive live webinars, credential test prep, and specialized clinical modules, with many options free for association members.
• Continued Respiratory Therapy : Offers unlimited AARC-approved courses via an affordable annual subscription model ($99/year) featuring evidence-based, peer-reviewed topics.
• Respiratory Associates : Features interactive live webinars, recorded sessions, and self-directed CE options with instant certificate generation for a flat yearly fee.
• TheCEPlace : Focuses on accessible, straightforward coursework built around prominent respiratory care texts, ideal for straightforward credit completion.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Your state license requirements (number of hours needed)
• Whether you are looking for free courses or a flat-rate subscription

I can narrow down the best specific modules for you.

For a respiratory therapist (RT), the best online continuing education (CE) resources are usually those that offer AARC-approved CRCE® credits, keep good records of completed courses, and cover areas relevant to your practice (critical care, ventilator management, neonatal/pediatrics, PFTs, sleep, COPD, etc.).

Here are some of the strongest options:

1. aarc.org — Best overall for RT-specific CE

Best for: RTs who want the most profession-focused education.

• Run by the American Association for Respiratory Care.
• Offers Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) courses designed specifically for respiratory therapists.
• Topics include: - Adult critical care
• Mechanical ventilation
• Asthma/COPD
• Neonatal and pediatric respiratory care
• Ethics and patient safety
• Diagnostics and PFTs
• Strong choice if you want your CE history organized in one place.

Best fit: RRTs who value specialty-specific education and professional development.

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2. continued.com — Best for unlimited CE access

Best for: Busy RTs who want many credits without buying individual courses.

• Provides a large library of online RT CE courses.
• Offers self-paced learning with course certificates.
• Includes AARC-approved respiratory CEUs/CRCE options.
• Useful for filling a yearly CE requirement because you can choose from many clinical topics.

Best fit: Staff therapists trying to complete a high number of credits efficiently.

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3. Hospital education portals and vendor academies — Best for specialized skills

Many RTs earn CE through manufacturer and clinical education platforms, especially for areas like:

• Mechanical ventilation
• High-flow oxygen therapy
• Noninvasive ventilation
• Aerosol delivery
• Sleep medicine
• ECMO and critical care

These can be excellent for staying current with equipment and therapies used in your facility. Always verify that the course provides credit accepted by your licensing board or credentialing body.

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4. aarc.org — Best for department-based education

Best for: RT departments that want shared education.

• Provides on-demand educational videos for respiratory care teams.
• Designed for departments and health systems.
• Can provide CRCE credit for completed content.

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5. Free CE opportunities

Free CE is available periodically through:

• Professional organizations
• Hospital systems
• Respiratory equipment companies
• Webinars and archived lectures

A good strategy is to combine free offerings with one subscription service so you can cover both required credits and areas of professional interest.

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Choosing the right CE platform

Before paying for a course, check:

• ✅ Is it AARC CRCE-approved (or accepted by your state board)?
• ✅ Does it issue a completion certificate?
• ✅ Does it report or track your credits?
• ✅ Are the topics relevant to your role?
• ✅ Does your state require specific subjects (ethics, infection control, etc.)?

Requirements vary by state, so it’s worth checking your state respiratory care licensing board rules before completing a large batch of credits.

If you tell me your state, credential (CRT/RRT), and specialty area (ICU, NICU, pulmonary rehab, sleep, PFT, etc.), I can narrow this down to the best CE options for your situation.

If you’re a respiratory therapist looking for online continuing education, I’d prioritize resources that offer AARC CRCE credit, since that is specifically designed for respiratory care professionals. AARC defines one CRCE contact hour as 60 minutes of learning activity.

Best online CE resources for respiratory therapists

1. aarc.org — Best overall

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is my first choice for RT-specific CE.

• Large catalog of online courses and webinars
• CRCE-approved courses
• Topics include adult critical care, asthma, neonatal/pediatric care, PFTs, sleep medicine, ethics, patient safety, leadership, and more
• Courses are available on demand, so you can complete many at your own pace
• AARC members get discounts and additional education benefits.

A particularly nice member benefit is CRCE Through the Journal: AARC members can earn up to 12 CRCE per year, with one 1-hour course associated with each monthly issue of Respiratory Care.

2. aarc.org — Best for free/low-cost learning

AARC offers online live and archived webinars. Members receive two free CRCE hours each month, and many past webinars can be completed for credit as well.

This is particularly useful if you want to knock out credits without purchasing individual courses.

3. aarc.org — Best for current clinical topics

The 2026 AARC Explores series provides 10 hours of CRCE through 10 educational programs covering recent developments and evidence-based respiratory care.

This is a good option if you prefer shorter modules rather than sitting through one long course.

4. medscape.org — Best for free general healthcare CE

Medscape has thousands of free CME/CE activities covering areas such as critical care, pulmonary medicine, infectious disease, pharmacology, and other clinical subjects.

Important: Medscape's accreditation is primarily through ACCME/ANCC/ACPE, so don't assume that every Medscape activity will satisfy your particular RT license or NBRC requirement. Check that the specific activity is acceptable for your credential/state before relying on it.

5. Hospital/employer education portals — Often overlooked

If you work for a hospital or health system, check your employer's learning-management system. Many hospitals provide CE at no additional cost, and respiratory departments sometimes have access to AARC or other accredited educational programs.

What I'd use

If I were trying to complete an RT's CE efficiently, I'd use this combination:

One important caveat: your state's respiratory-care licensing requirements and the NBRC's continuing-competency requirements aren't necessarily identical. Before spending money on a course, verify that the credit type and subject matter meet your specific renewal requirements.

If you tell me which state you’re licensed in (e.g., Texas) and whether you're renewing CRT/RRT, ACCS, NPS, CPFT/RPFT, etc., I can narrow this down to the best free and low-cost online courses that will actually count toward your requirements.

When looking for reliable, AARC-approved (American Association for Respiratory Care) Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credits, several top-tier online platforms stand out for their variety, pricing, and ease of use.

The best online resources for respiratory therapists to earn continuing education credits include:

• AARC Education Center : The official hub managed by the American Association for Respiratory Care. It offers a robust catalog categorized by clinical practice, adult critical care, neonatal-pediatrics, ethics, and leadership. Many specific modules are even free for active AARC members.
• Continued Respiratory Therapy : A popular, highly-rated subscription platform offering unlimited AARC-approved courses for a flat annual fee (around $99). They provide evidence-based audio, video, and text courses covering everything from mechanical ventilation to chronic lung disease management, and they even offer a free introductory course to test the platform.
• Respiratory Associates : Known for flexibility, they offer a mix of real-time interactive webinars, recorded live courses, and self-directed CE. They feature an annual unlimited plan for $99 with instant certificate generation.
• The CE Place : A trusted, straightforward choice for fast self-study CEUs across all 50 states. It works well if you need a quick, no-nonsense way to fulfill specific state requirements (like infection control or legal/ethics modules) using downloadable text/e-book materials and straightforward testing.
• Manufacturer & Vendor Webinars : Companies like Passy-Muir and various medical device/pharmaceutical companies frequently host free, live Zoom or virtual educational webinars offering AARC-approved contact hours. Keeping an eye on industry LinkedIn groups or professional boards can unearth these zero-cost options.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Your licensing state
• Any specific clinical topics you need (e.g., neonatal, critical care, ethics)

I can help narrow down which platform has the best course match for your renewal cycle.