Respiratory Therapy Blog

NBRC NPS Exam 2026: What Respiratory Therapists...

September 6, 2026

NBRC NPS Exam 2026: What Respiratory Therapists Need to Know If you are a Registered Respiratory Therapist considering the Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty credential, the NBRC NPS Exam is your opportunity to...

NBRC NPS Exam 2026: What Respiratory Therapists...

September 6, 2026

NBRC NPS Exam 2026: What Respiratory Therapists Need to Know If you are a Registered Respiratory Therapist considering the Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty credential, the NBRC NPS Exam is your opportunity to...

What Is the NBRC RTE Exam? Everything Respirato...

July 27, 2026

The new NBRC Respiratory Therapy Exam launches in 2027. Learn what is changing and how RRTNOW is preparing updated study guides and practice exams.

What Is the NBRC RTE Exam? Everything Respirato...

July 27, 2026

The new NBRC Respiratory Therapy Exam launches in 2027. Learn what is changing and how RRTNOW is preparing updated study guides and practice exams.

Common NBRC Exam Traps To Avoid - RRTNOW

11 NBRC Exam Traps Respiratory Therapists Must ...

July 5, 2026

Discover the most common NBRC TMC and CSE exam traps that cause students to lose valuable points. Learn practical test-taking strategies, improve your clinical reasoning, and avoid costly mistakes with...

11 NBRC Exam Traps Respiratory Therapists Must ...

July 5, 2026

Discover the most common NBRC TMC and CSE exam traps that cause students to lose valuable points. Learn practical test-taking strategies, improve your clinical reasoning, and avoid costly mistakes with...

How to Study for the NBRC TMC Exam in 30 Days

June 27, 2026

A complete week-by-week 30-day study plan for the NBRC TMC exam, covering high-yield topics, practice exam strategy, and daily study schedules to help RT students pass on their first attempt.

How to Study for the NBRC TMC Exam in 30 Days

June 27, 2026

A complete week-by-week 30-day study plan for the NBRC TMC exam, covering high-yield topics, practice exam strategy, and daily study schedules to help RT students pass on their first attempt.

CSE Exam Prep Timeline: A Week-by-Week Study Plan

June 27, 2026

A week-by-week CSE exam prep timeline covering all 11 disease categories, clinical simulation strategy, and scoring system tips to help RT students pass the NBRC Clinical Simulation Exam.

CSE Exam Prep Timeline: A Week-by-Week Study Plan

June 27, 2026

A week-by-week CSE exam prep timeline covering all 11 disease categories, clinical simulation strategy, and scoring system tips to help RT students pass the NBRC Clinical Simulation Exam.

How to Pass the NBRC TMC & CSE | Respiratory Th...

February 18, 2026

If you’ve ever thought, “I know this… why can’t I score like I want?” — you’re not alone. The students who pass the NBRC exams aren’t usually the ones who...

How to Pass the NBRC TMC & CSE | Respiratory Th...

February 18, 2026

If you’ve ever thought, “I know this… why can’t I score like I want?” — you’re not alone. The students who pass the NBRC exams aren’t usually the ones who...

Total items	160 multiple-choice items — 140 scored and 20 pretest
Time limit	3 hours
Fee	$190 first attempt / $150 repeat attempt
Attempts	3 attempts with no waiting period, then a minimum 120 days between subsequent attempts
Content outline	TMC Detailed Content Outline, effective January 2020 through December 31, 2026
Where you test	PSI assessment centers — more than 300 nationwide, Monday through Saturday
Results	Pass/fail appears on screen immediately; the full score report is emailed within 24 hours

Content area	Recall	Application	Analysis	Total items
I. Patient Data	15	27	8	50
II. Troubleshooting and Quality Control of Devices, and Infection Control	8	9	3	20
III. Initiation and Modification of Interventions	10	30	30	70
Totals	33	66	41	140

	TMC + CSE (through 2026)	RT Exam (from Jan 2027)
Number of exams	Two	One
Items	160 TMC (140 scored) + 22 CSE problems	185 items — 160 scored, 25 pretest
Time	3 hours + 4 hours	4 hours
Format	Multiple choice + branching simulations	All multiple choice
First-attempt cost	$390 combined	$360 (a $30 saving)
Repeat cost	$350 combined	$300 (a $50 saving)
How credentials are awarded	TMC low cut = CRT; high cut + passing CSE = RRT	Low cut score earns CRT; high cut score earns RRT

Content area	Recall	Application	Analysis	Total
I. Patient Data	6	15	4	25
II. Management of Devices and Patient Safety Procedures	8	12	5	25
III. Initiation and Modification of Interventions	9	25	16	50
Totals	23	52	25	100

Patient condition	Items per form
Adults — Chronic lung disease (COPD, asthma, restrictive disease, bronchiectasis, CF)	17
Adults — Medical (infectious disease 5, ARDS 5, other 5)	15
Adults — Cardiovascular	5
Adults — Pre- and post-operative care	5
Adults — Trauma	4
Adults — Neurological or neuromuscular	4
Children — Neonatal (resuscitation 3, RDS 3)	6
Children — Pediatric	4
Total	60

Your situation	Your pathway
Graduating and testing before December 31, 2026	TMC, then CSE if you hit the high cut score. Apply by December 15, 2026.
Graduating in 2027 or later	The RT Exam. One sitting decides both CRT and RRT.
Passed the TMC at the high cut score but have not yet passed the CSE	You may sit the CSE through December 31, 2027 — or take the RT Exam and pass at the high cut score to earn the RRT from January 1, 2027.
Passed the TMC at the low cut score only (CRT held)	If you hold an associate degree or higher from a CoARC-supported entry-into-practice program, you are eligible for the RT Exam.
CRT without a CoARC associate degree	CRT-to-Registry routes close December 31, 2026. After that, the CoARC associate degree becomes mandatory. Act now if this is you.

Respiratory Therapy Blog | RRTNOW

NBRC Exam Preparation: Complete Guide to Passing the TMC and CSE Exams

The 2026–2027 transition timeline

The TMC Exam: format, content, and cost

Who is eligible for the TMC

The official TMC blueprint (140 scored items)

Cut scores: what actually counts as passing

The Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE)

How CSE scoring differs

The new 2027 RT Exam blueprint

Inside the 160 scored items

Which exam will you take?

How to study for board-style questions

Study the blueprint, not the textbook

Practice in the exam's cognitive register

Master the recurring patterns

Take full-length timed exams

Use the free official resources

Why candidates fail (and how to avoid it)

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the NBRC TMC exam?

What score do you need to pass the TMC exam?

Is the TMC exam being discontinued?

What is replacing the TMC and CSE in 2027?

How many questions are on the Clinical Simulation Exam?

How much do the NBRC exams cost?

How many times can you retake the TMC exam?

Do I lose my CRT if I fail a retake?

How long does it take to get NBRC exam results?

What is the hardest section of the TMC exam?

Sources