Career Employer

Your FREE Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) Practice Test 2026 – 370+ Q&A

Prepare with realistic, NBRC TMC-style questions — take a full CRT practice test or drill one content area at a time.

Master questions to boost your score

How ready are you?

To find us again, just search “Career Employer CRT”

By

Click Start Test above to launch a full-length CRT practice test weighted exactly like the real Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) exam, or drill a single content area — Patient Data; Troubleshooting and Quality Control of Devices, and Infection Control; or Initiation and Modification of Interventions. Every question includes a clear explanation so you learn the reasoning, not just the answer.

The Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) is the entry-level respiratory care credential earned by passing the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination at the low cut score.

It is administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and delivered by computer at Pearson VUE test centers.[1] The TMC measures applied clinical reasoning across three content areas.

These practice questions follow the published TMC Detailed Content Outline and test specifications, mirroring the content and pacing of the real exam so you can build readiness across every area.[3] To build readiness across every content area, pair these with our free study guide, flashcards.

Prices, schedules, and policies change — always verify the current details at nbrc.org before applying.

CRT at a Glance

CRT / TMC Exam at a glance
DetailCRT / TMC Exam
Questions160 multiple-choice items (140 scored + 20 unscored pretest)
Question typeMultiple choice (computer-based)
Time limit3 hours
Content areasPatient Data; Troubleshooting & QC of Devices and Infection Control; Initiation & Modification of Interventions
Cut scoresLow cut score earns the CRT; high cut score earns the CRT plus eligibility for the Clinical Simulation Examination toward the RRT
Administered byNational Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) at Pearson VUE centers
EligibilityAge 18+ and a graduate (associate degree minimum) of a CoARC-supported or CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program
CostApproximately 190(new)/190 (new) / 150 (repeat) — verify at nbrc.org

What Is on the TMC Exam?

The TMC exam covers three scored content areas totaling 140 scored items: Initiation and Modification of Interventions (70 scored items), Patient Data (50 scored items), and Troubleshooting and Quality Control of Devices, and Infection Control (20 scored items). Twenty additional unscored pretest items bring the total to 160.[3]

These areas come from the NBRC’s TMC Detailed Content Outline, with Initiation and Modification of Interventions the largest. Our full practice test mirrors these proportions:

TMC weighting by content area
Initiation & Modification of Interventions50% · 70 Qs
Patient Data36% · 50 Qs
Troubleshooting, QC & Infection Control14% · 20 Qs
CRT practice test — practice questions by content area with answer explanations

Practice Questions by Content Area

Use Start Test for a full weighted TMC simulation, or open the hub and pick a single content area to drill your weak spot. After each full exam, your results show a per-area breakdown so you know exactly where to focus — most candidates need the most reps on Initiation and Modification of Interventions, the largest area.

Who Is Eligible to Take the TMC Exam?

To sit for the TMC Examination you must be at least 18 years old and a graduate, with a minimum of an associate degree, of an entry-into-practice respiratory therapy education program supported or accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).[1]

The NBRC also recognizes several alternative routes — for example, candidates who already hold the CRT plus additional college coursework, or who hold the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists RRT credential.

Because requirements and admission policies change, confirm your specific pathway and any deadlines with the NBRC before you apply, and make sure your education program is current CoARC-recognized.

How Do You Register for the TMC Exam?

You apply for the TMC Examination online through the NBRC, pay the approximately $190 new-applicant fee ($150 for repeat applicants), and then schedule your exam at a Pearson VUE test center.[1]

Verify the current fee at nbrc.org before applying, as fees change. Repeat applicants pay a reduced fee, so confirm which rate applies to you.

After your application is approved you schedule your exam at a Pearson VUE professional testing center, choosing a date and location that fit your timeline.

The name on your application must exactly match your government-issued ID, and you should review the NBRC’s candidate policies on rescheduling and refunds before you commit to a date.

How Is the TMC Exam Scored?

The TMC is scored against two established cut scores. Meeting the low cut score earns the CRT credential, and meeting the high cut score earns the CRT plus eligibility for the Clinical Simulation Examination toward the RRT.[2]

Only the 140 scored items count toward your result; the 20 unscored pretest items are mixed in throughout and are not identified, so you should treat every question as if it matters.

You receive your score at the test center immediately after you finish, so you leave knowing whether you earned the CRT and whether you also qualified for the Clinical Simulation Examination.[5]

How Hard Is the TMC Exam?

The TMC is demanding because it tests applied clinical judgment under time pressure — 160 items in 3 hours — rather than simple recall.[3] The practical challenge is reasoning through patient scenarios quickly and consistently across all three content areas.

Initiation and Modification of Interventions is the largest area at 70 scored items, so it moves your score the most and rewards strong knowledge of therapy selection, mechanical ventilation, and how to adjust care based on patient response.

Patient Data rewards confident interpretation of arterial blood gases, oximetry, pulmonary function, and clinical findings, while Troubleshooting and Quality Control rewards fluency with respiratory equipment, infection control, and recognizing device problems.

140
Scored items
of 160 total
3 hrs
Time limit
computer-based
70
Interventions Qs
largest area

The takeaway: drill until you’re consistently clearing the high cut score on full-length, domain-weighted practice — especially Initiation and Modification of Interventions — before you book your exam date.

What to Expect on Exam Day

Arrive at your Pearson VUE test center early to check in — bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID whose name matches your TMC application.[1] You’ll store phones and personal items in a locker; no outside notes are allowed.

After a short tutorial you work through 160 multiple-choice items across the three content areas in a single 3-hour session, with both straightforward recall items and applied patient scenarios.

You receive your score before you leave the test center, so you know immediately whether you earned the CRT and whether you also became eligible for the Clinical Simulation Examination. Having simulated the full timing with practice tests makes the clock feel routine.

How to Use This CRT Practice Test

  • Recreate exam conditions. Take the full test timed, with no notes.[3]
  • Diagnose, then drill. Use a full TMC simulation to find weak areas, then drill them.
  • Prioritize Interventions. It’s the largest area and the biggest score-mover.
  • Learn the why. Read every explanation — clinical reasoning beats memorizing.
  • Aim for the high cut score. Clearing it unlocks the RRT pathway, not just the CRT.

Why the CRT Matters

The CRT is the entry-level credential that lets you practice as a respiratory therapist, and earning it on the TMC is the gateway to the RRT — clear the high cut score and you also unlock eligibility for the Clinical Simulation Examination.[2] Because the same exam decides both outcomes, scoring well across all three content areas keeps the advanced RRT pathway open instead of capping you at the entry level. These free CRT practice tests are the most efficient way to get there.

Conclusion

Performing well on the TMC comes down to applied clinical reasoning — patient data, equipment, and interventions — and the pacing to sustain it across 160 items. Use this free CRT practice test to find your weak content areas, drill them to mastery, and pair it with our free study guide, flashcards to walk in confident on test day.

CRT Practice Test FAQ

The CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) is an entry-level respiratory care credential awarded by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). It is earned by passing the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination at the low cut score and is intended for graduates of a respiratory therapy education program who are entering the profession.

References

  1. 1.National Board for Respiratory Care. “Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT).” nbrc.org. ↑
  2. 2.National Board for Respiratory Care. “Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).” nbrc.org. ↑
  3. 3.National Board for Respiratory Care. “Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination Detailed Content Outline.” nbrc.org. ↑
  4. 4.National Board for Respiratory Care. “Content Outlines.” nbrc.org. ↑
  5. 5.National Board for Respiratory Care. “Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE).” nbrc.org. ↑
Career Employer

Career Employer is the ultimate resource to help you get started working the job of your dreams. We cover topics from general career information, career searching, exam preparation with free study materials, career interviewing, and becoming successful in your career of choice.

Follow Us:

All Posts

Career Employer’s Editorial Process

Here at Career Employer, we focus a lot on providing factually accurate information that is always up to date. We strive to provide correct information using strict editorial processes, article editing, and fact-checking for all of the information found on our website. We only utilize trustworthy and relevant resources. To find out more, make sure to read our full editorial process page here.