Page |1
NBRC TMC/CRT/RRT EXAMINATION
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE | LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. NBRC Credentialing Overview and Exam Logistics
2. Patient Data Evaluation
3. Troubleshooting, Quality Control, and Infection Control
4. Initiation and Modification of Interventions
5. Arterial Blood Gas Interpretation
6. Mechanical Ventilation
7. Oxygen Therapy and Airway Management
8. Respiratory Pharmacology
9. Pulmonary Function Testing
10. Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care
11. Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) Preparation
, Page |2
Question 1: What is the passing score structure for the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice
(TMC) Examination?
A) A single passing score awards the CRT credential only
B) The low cut score awards the CRT credential, and the high cut score awards CSE
eligibility for the RRT pathway
C) The low cut score awards the RRT credential, and the high cut score awards the CRT
credential
D) Only the high cut score awards any credential
Correct Answer: B) The low cut score awards the CRT credential, and the high cut
score awards CSE eligibility for the RRT pathway
The TMC uses a two-cut-score model. The low cut score earns the CRT credential, which is
the entry-level credential accepted by state licensing boards. The high cut score earns
eligibility to sit for the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE); passing the CSE earns the
RRT credential .
Question 2: How many scored items are on the TMC Examination?
A) 100
B) 120
C) 140
D) 160
Correct Answer: C) 140
The TMC consists of 160 total multiple-choice items, of which 140 are scored and 20 are
unscored pretest items. The exam is administered over a three-hour period .
Question 3: What is the weighting of the three content domains on the TMC Examination?
A) Patient Data Evaluation (50 items), Troubleshooting/QC/Infection Control (20 items),
Initiation/Modification of Interventions (70 items)
B) Patient Data Evaluation (70 items), Troubleshooting/QC/Infection Control (50 items),
Initiation/Modification of Interventions (20 items)
, Page |3
C) Patient Data Evaluation (40 items), Troubleshooting/QC/Infection Control (40 items),
Initiation/Modification of Interventions (60 items)
D) All domains are weighted equally at approximately 47 items each
Correct Answer: A) Patient Data Evaluation (50 items), Troubleshooting/QC/Infection
Control (20 items), Initiation/Modification of Interventions (70 items)
The TMC Detailed Content Outline weights the domains as follows: Patient Data Evaluation
contributes approximately 50 scored items (~36%), Troubleshooting/Quality
Control/Infection Control contributes 20 items (~14%), and Initiation and Modification of
Interventions contributes approximately 70 items (~50%). Domain III is the largest and most
heavily weighted section .
Question 4: What is the admission requirement to sit for the TMC Examination?
A) High school diploma only
B) Being at least 18 years old and holding a minimum of an associate degree from a CoARC-
accredited respiratory therapy program
C) A bachelor's degree in any field
D) Five years of clinical experience only
Correct Answer: B) Being at least 18 years old and holding a minimum of an associate
degree from a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program
The NBRC requires candidates to be at least 18 years of age and to be graduates of (and hold
a minimum of an associate degree from) an entry-into-practice respiratory therapy education
program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Candidates may also qualify by holding the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists
(CSRT) RRT credential .
Question 5: What is the application deadline for the current TMC Examination before it
retires?
A) December 1, 2026
B) December 15, 2026
, Page |4
C) January 1, 2027
D) The TMC has no retirement date
Correct Answer: B) December 15, 2026
The NBRC will not accept TMC applications after December 15, 2026, and the last testing
day is December 31, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, the NBRC replaces the TMC and CSE
with a single new Respiratory Therapy (RT) Examination .
Question 6: What is the exam fee for the TMC in 2026?
A) $150 new / $100 repeat
B) $190 new / $150 repeat
C) $200 new / $160 repeat
D) $250 new / $200 repeat
Correct Answer: B) $190 new / $150 repeat
The TMC costs $190 for new applicants and $150 for repeat applicants in 2026. The CSE
costs $200. The new RT Examination (effective 2027) will cost $360 new and $300 repeat .
Question 7: A 64-year-old male patient with COPD presents with dyspnea, hypotension, and
tracheal shift to the right. Breath sounds are absent on the right. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A) Right-sided pneumonia
B) Right-sided tension pneumothorax
C) Left-sided pleural effusion
D) Bilateral pulmonary embolism
Correct Answer: B) Right-sided tension pneumothorax
The combination of dyspnea, hypotension, tracheal shift away from the affected side (right),
and absent breath sounds on the affected side is classic for tension pneumothorax. This is a
life-threatening emergency requiring immediate needle decompression followed by chest tube
insertion. The tracheal shift is a key finding that distinguishes tension pneumothorax from
simple pneumothorax .
NBRC TMC/CRT/RRT EXAMINATION
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE | LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. NBRC Credentialing Overview and Exam Logistics
2. Patient Data Evaluation
3. Troubleshooting, Quality Control, and Infection Control
4. Initiation and Modification of Interventions
5. Arterial Blood Gas Interpretation
6. Mechanical Ventilation
7. Oxygen Therapy and Airway Management
8. Respiratory Pharmacology
9. Pulmonary Function Testing
10. Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care
11. Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) Preparation
, Page |2
Question 1: What is the passing score structure for the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice
(TMC) Examination?
A) A single passing score awards the CRT credential only
B) The low cut score awards the CRT credential, and the high cut score awards CSE
eligibility for the RRT pathway
C) The low cut score awards the RRT credential, and the high cut score awards the CRT
credential
D) Only the high cut score awards any credential
Correct Answer: B) The low cut score awards the CRT credential, and the high cut
score awards CSE eligibility for the RRT pathway
The TMC uses a two-cut-score model. The low cut score earns the CRT credential, which is
the entry-level credential accepted by state licensing boards. The high cut score earns
eligibility to sit for the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE); passing the CSE earns the
RRT credential .
Question 2: How many scored items are on the TMC Examination?
A) 100
B) 120
C) 140
D) 160
Correct Answer: C) 140
The TMC consists of 160 total multiple-choice items, of which 140 are scored and 20 are
unscored pretest items. The exam is administered over a three-hour period .
Question 3: What is the weighting of the three content domains on the TMC Examination?
A) Patient Data Evaluation (50 items), Troubleshooting/QC/Infection Control (20 items),
Initiation/Modification of Interventions (70 items)
B) Patient Data Evaluation (70 items), Troubleshooting/QC/Infection Control (50 items),
Initiation/Modification of Interventions (20 items)
, Page |3
C) Patient Data Evaluation (40 items), Troubleshooting/QC/Infection Control (40 items),
Initiation/Modification of Interventions (60 items)
D) All domains are weighted equally at approximately 47 items each
Correct Answer: A) Patient Data Evaluation (50 items), Troubleshooting/QC/Infection
Control (20 items), Initiation/Modification of Interventions (70 items)
The TMC Detailed Content Outline weights the domains as follows: Patient Data Evaluation
contributes approximately 50 scored items (~36%), Troubleshooting/Quality
Control/Infection Control contributes 20 items (~14%), and Initiation and Modification of
Interventions contributes approximately 70 items (~50%). Domain III is the largest and most
heavily weighted section .
Question 4: What is the admission requirement to sit for the TMC Examination?
A) High school diploma only
B) Being at least 18 years old and holding a minimum of an associate degree from a CoARC-
accredited respiratory therapy program
C) A bachelor's degree in any field
D) Five years of clinical experience only
Correct Answer: B) Being at least 18 years old and holding a minimum of an associate
degree from a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program
The NBRC requires candidates to be at least 18 years of age and to be graduates of (and hold
a minimum of an associate degree from) an entry-into-practice respiratory therapy education
program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Candidates may also qualify by holding the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists
(CSRT) RRT credential .
Question 5: What is the application deadline for the current TMC Examination before it
retires?
A) December 1, 2026
B) December 15, 2026
, Page |4
C) January 1, 2027
D) The TMC has no retirement date
Correct Answer: B) December 15, 2026
The NBRC will not accept TMC applications after December 15, 2026, and the last testing
day is December 31, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, the NBRC replaces the TMC and CSE
with a single new Respiratory Therapy (RT) Examination .
Question 6: What is the exam fee for the TMC in 2026?
A) $150 new / $100 repeat
B) $190 new / $150 repeat
C) $200 new / $160 repeat
D) $250 new / $200 repeat
Correct Answer: B) $190 new / $150 repeat
The TMC costs $190 for new applicants and $150 for repeat applicants in 2026. The CSE
costs $200. The new RT Examination (effective 2027) will cost $360 new and $300 repeat .
Question 7: A 64-year-old male patient with COPD presents with dyspnea, hypotension, and
tracheal shift to the right. Breath sounds are absent on the right. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A) Right-sided pneumonia
B) Right-sided tension pneumothorax
C) Left-sided pleural effusion
D) Bilateral pulmonary embolism
Correct Answer: B) Right-sided tension pneumothorax
The combination of dyspnea, hypotension, tracheal shift away from the affected side (right),
and absent breath sounds on the affected side is classic for tension pneumothorax. This is a
life-threatening emergency requiring immediate needle decompression followed by chest tube
insertion. The tracheal shift is a key finding that distinguishes tension pneumothorax from
simple pneumothorax .
