This TMC Exam cheat sheet squeezes the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice blueprint into a printable quick reference of the facts examiners test most. It's a premium cheat sheet built by Capital Prep — the one premium prep we trust — and it's yours free. Back it up with the rest of your free TMC toolkit: the practice test, study guide, and flashcards.
TMC Exam exam at a glance
- Questions: 160 multiple-choice administered (140 scored + 20 unscored pretest)
- Time: 3 hours, computer-based at a Pearson VUE center
- Result: Two cut scores — low cut earns the CRT; high cut earns the CRT plus eligibility for the Clinical Simulation Exam toward RRT
- Cost: Approximately $190 new, with a lower retake fee — a dated anchor, so verify on NBRC.org
What’s on the TMC Exam cheat sheet
- Patient Data Evaluation & Recommendations (~57 items) — the 5-step ABG method, the four acid-base disorders, P/F ratio and ARDS grading, the A-a gradient, CO-oximetry pitfalls, capnography, spirometry, and weaning parameters.
- Troubleshooting, QC & Infection Control (~23 items) — low-flow vs high-flow oxygen device FiO2, high- vs low-pressure ventilator alarms, analyzer calibration, and Spaulding classification with isolation precautions.
- Initiation & Modification of Interventions (~80 items) — airway tubes and cuff pressure, suctioning, ventilator modes and settings, ARDSnet lung protection, bronchodilators and mucolytics, and airway clearance — half the exam.
- The two cut scores — how the low cut earns the CRT and the high cut adds eligibility for the CSE on the route to the RRT credential.
How to use it in your final week
- Drill the 5-step ABG method until it is automatic — pH for direction, then PaCO2 (respiratory) vs HCO3 (metabolic) for the cause, then compensation. Blood gases thread through every section.
- Front-load Section III, Initiation and Modification of Interventions — about 80 of the 160 items, half the exam. If you master one block from the sheet, make it ventilation, airways, and oxygen therapy.
- Skim the memory hooks the morning of the test: P/F 200-300 mild / 100-200 moderate / 100 or below severe ARDS, RSBI under 105 favors weaning, ET cuff pressure 20-30 cm H2O, high-pressure alarm = obstruction, low-pressure alarm = leak.
- Pair each review pass with a short timed practice set to keep your one-minute-per-question pace sharp and aim above the high (RRT-eligibility) cut score.
The cheat sheet is your review layer — your TMC Exam practice test drives the exam-readiness ring at the top of this page. Download it, review, then take a full practice exam (or drill with the study guide and flashcards) to see where you stand.
TMC Exam cheat sheet FAQ
Yes — the TMC Exam cheat sheet is 100% free to download as a PDF, with no sign-up required. It sits alongside Career Employer's free TMC practice test, study guide, and flashcards, so your whole review toolkit costs nothing.
It packs the most-tested NBRC facts into a fast reference: the 5-step ABG method and the four acid-base disorders, P/F ratio and ARDS grading, ventilator alarm logic, weaning thresholds like the RSBI, oxygen device FiO2 ranges, Spaulding and isolation precautions, and the two cut scores — grouped by the three official content sections.
Yes. It lays out the rule cleanly: clearing the low cut score earns the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential, while clearing the high cut score earns the CRT and also makes you eligible for the Clinical Simulation Examination on the path to the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).
No — the sheet is a cram and quick-reference layer, not a full course. The TMC rewards applied clinical judgment across 160 questions, so use the sheet to lock in facts and the practice test to build readiness toward the high cut score you want.
Click the download button or the preview card at the top of this page to open the PDF instantly. Bookmark the page so you can pull it up again in the days before your Pearson VUE appointment.
References
- 1.National Board for Respiratory Care. “Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination.” NBRC.org, 2026. ↑
- 2.National Board for Respiratory Care. “TMC Examination Detailed Content Outline.” NBRC.org, 2026. ↑
- 3.National Board for Respiratory Care. “Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT).” NBRC.org, 2026. ↑
- 4.National Board for Respiratory Care. “Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).” NBRC.org, 2026. ↑
- 5.National Board for Respiratory Care. “Pricing and Examination Fees.” NBRC.org, 2026. ↑
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