CRT (CREST)

The TMC Examination has 160 multiple-choice items: 140 scored and 20 pretest items that do not count toward your score. Testing time is three hours. That works out to roughly one minute per item, so practice pacing yourself rather than lingering on any single question.

The low cut score earns the CRT credential. The high cut score earns the CRT credential and makes you eligible for the Clinical Simulation Examination, provided you meet the eligibility requirements and qualify to earn the RRT credential. Scoring below the low cut score means you must reapply for the TMC Examination.

No. The NBRC states that you must meet the CSE eligibility requirements regardless of your examination score. A high score opens the door but does not substitute for the admission requirements tied to the RRT credential, so confirm your eligibility before assuming you can register for the simulation exam.

You must be at least 18 and a graduate with a minimum associate degree from a respiratory therapy program supported or accredited by CoARC. Several alternate routes exist, including holding the CRT credential for two or four years with specified college coursework, or holding the CSRT RRT credential. Foreign respiratory therapy education does not qualify.

The TMC Examination costs $190 for new applicants and $150 for repeat applicants. There are no application deadlines: if you meet the admission requirements you may submit your application and fee at any time. Online credit card applications are processed immediately; mailed applications take roughly five to seven business days.

You may attempt the TMC Examination three times without a wait. After that, a minimum of 120 days is required between any subsequent attempt. If you already hold the CRT credential and score below the low cut score, you do not lose it, but the 120-day rule still applies after your third attempt.

Examinations are administered Monday through Saturday at more than 300 assessment centers nationwide, excluding nationally recognized holidays. You receive information about your score at the test center after completing the examination. You can search for a center by state or ZIP code and schedule online once approved and paid.

Eligibility records are maintained for one year following application, whether or not you schedule an exam. After that they are inactivated and you must reapply as a new candidate under the most current admission requirements. If you passed the TMC or CSE and let records lapse, that passing performance is nullified.

Start with the Detailed Content Outline: it lists content areas and the number of questions per section, letting you judge relative importance and build a study order. A free practice examination shows the content and question types. The purchased Self-Assessment Examination has the same number of questions as the credentialing exam and includes committee rationale for each answer.

Yes. The TMC Detailed Content Outline runs January 2020 through December 31, 2026. Effective January 2027, the Respiratory Therapy Examination replaces it: 185 multiple-choice items, 160 scored and 25 pretest, over four hours, with the low cut score earning the CRT and the high cut score earning the RRT. Check the outline for your planned test date.