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CRT study materials
CRT study resources

CRT (CREST) study guide

CRT · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

The Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential is issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) to candidates who pass the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination, which the board describes as objectively measuring the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities required of respiratory therapists at entry into practice. All 49 states that regulate respiratory care use the CRT or RRT credential as the basis for licensure, so the exam functions as a licensure gateway as well as a professional distinction. The TMC Examination is delivered in a multiple-choice format: 160 items, of which 140 are scored and 20 are pretest items, taken over a three-hour period under the Detailed Content Outline in force from January 2020 through December 31, 2026. Two cut scores apply. Reaching the low cut score earns the CRT credential; reaching the high cut score earns the CRT and makes you eligible for the Clinical Simulation Examination, provided you meet the eligibility requirements to pursue the RRT credential. Preparation should be organized around the Detailed Content Outline, which lists the content areas and the number of questions per section, so you can judge the relative weight of each area. Topics on this exam: TMC Examination content areas (Detailed Content Outline, effective January 2020–December 31, 2026). The CRT study guide has 1 section and about 1,380 words.

01

Patient Data - TMC Detailed Content Outline (2020–2026)

Domain I, Patient Data , covers the interpretive items on the TMC: history, physical findings, vital signs, arterial blood gases, pulmonary function, imaging, hemodynamic and monitor data. The exam asks you to collect the data, decide what it means, and choose the next action - not simply to name a value. pH first: acidemia < 7.35, alkalemia 7.45. PaCO2 next: it moves opposite to pH in respiratory disorders (high CO2 with low pH = respiratory acidosis) and in the same direction in metabolic disorders.

1,380 words, about 7 min

More study resources for CRT

  • Practice questionsUnder the CRT Detailed Content Outline effective January 2020 through December 31, 2026, which item is classified as a therapeutic device rather than a monitoring or diagnostic device?
  • FlashcardsNormal adult respiratory rate. At rest, an adult typically breathes 12 to 20 times per minute.
  • Cheat sheetThe TMC Detailed Content Outline (effective January 2020–December 31, 2026) organizes the exam into three content areas: (1) Patient Data and Assessment, (2) Therapeutics and Diagnostics, and (3) Patient Safety and Quality Control.
  • Key termsTidal volume (VT). The volume of gas moved into or out of the lungs during one unforced breath.
  • Study planMap every content area in the detailed content outline to a personal confidence rating from 1 to 5 so the heaviest gaps are visible before study begins.
  • Common mistakesTrigger sensitivity is set very high in the practice scenario, and the candidate has memorized 'dip equals trigger' without learning to confirm each effort against flow and volume deflections.
  • Exam-day guideBring the original, unexpired ID that matches the name on your registration.