CRT Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling

The 2026 TMC Testing Window Explained

If you're planning to earn your Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), 2026 is a year defined by a hard stop. The Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination - the exam that leads to CRT status - is administered on a rolling, computer-based basis through PSI testing centers, but it does not run indefinitely. The current blueprint has been in effect since January 2020, and it closes out on December 31, 2026. That single fact should shape almost every scheduling decision you make this year.

Unlike a one-day national test date, the TMC exam works on an open testing model: once your application is approved, you pick a date and location that works for you, within the active window. That flexibility is a major advantage - but it also means the responsibility for tracking deadlines falls entirely on you. There's no proctor sending reminder emails months in advance.

Key Dates and Deadlines for 2026

The two dates every CRT candidate needs memorized are straightforward, but the gap between them is smaller than it looks once you factor in processing time and testing center availability.

• Application deadline: TMC applications for CRT eligibility under the current blueprint close on December 15, 2026.
• Final testing date: Testing under this exam version ends on December 31, 2026.
• Next-generation exam launch: The replacement Respiratory Therapy Examination begins administration on January 4, 2027.

Notice the 16-day gap between the application deadline and the final testing day. That window exists for application processing and scheduling logistics, not for last-minute registrants to squeeze in a test date. If you apply on December 15, you are not guaranteed a seat before December 31. Practically speaking, anyone serious about testing under the current 2026 blueprint should aim to have their application submitted and approved well before Thanksgiving, leaving a comfortable buffer to book a PSI testing slot.

How TMC Scheduling Works With PSI

Once the NBRC approves your application - confirming you meet eligibility requirements, which you can review in detail in our CRT Requirements 2026 guide - you'll receive authorization to schedule your seat through PSI, the testing provider that administers the exam. From there, scheduling is self-service: you select a testing center, choose an available date, and confirm your appointment.

A few mechanical details matter for planning purposes:

• The exam itself runs on a 3-hour time limit covering all 160 multiple-choice questions (140 scored, 20 unscored pretest items you won't be able to identify during the test).
• The test is delivered on computer, with an onscreen calculator available for any calculation-based items - no need to bring your own.
• There is no penalty for guessing, which changes how you should approach time management on harder items (more on this in our CRT difficulty breakdown).
• Testing centers fill up faster in the final quarter of any calendar year, simply because more candidates are racing the deadline. Booking early avoids the scramble.

Why 2026 Is a Pivotal Testing Year

2026 isn't just another year on the calendar - it's the last full year of the current TMC blueprint before a structurally different exam takes over. Starting January 4, 2027, the NBRC transitions to a new Respiratory Therapy Examination with 185 total questions (160 scored plus 25 pretest items), a longer 4-hour time limit, and new fee levels of $360 for new applicants and $300 for repeat applicants. It retains separate cut scores for CRT and RRT outcomes, similar in spirit to how the current exam distinguishes a low cut score (CRT) from a high cut score (which also opens CSE eligibility when RRT admission requirements are met).

This is not a minor update. The 2026 and 2027 exams draw from distinct question banks, follow different blueprints, and carry different fee structures entirely. If you've been studying from materials built around the current three-domain structure - Patient Data, Troubleshooting and Quality Control of Devices and Infection Control, and Initiation and Modification of Interventions - that preparation is specifically aligned to the exam ending December 31, 2026, not the version launching the following January.

Aligning Your Prep Timeline With the Three Domains

Because the current blueprint runs through the end of 2026, your scheduling decision and your study plan should be made together, not separately. The TMC exam's 140 scored questions are distributed across three domains, and understanding that distribution helps you decide how much runway you need before test day.

Because Interventions carries the heaviest weight, it deserves the largest share of your study calendar - not an equal three-way split. For a full breakdown of subtopics and sample question styles within each domain, see our CRT Exam Domains 2026 guide.