Alaska Becomes the 50th State to License Respiratory Therapists

This week marked a historic achievement for respiratory care in Alaska as the state officially became the 50th state to enact respiratory therapist licensure. After years of advocacy, collaboration, testimony, and dedication from respiratory therapists and supporters across Alaska and across the country, this milestone provides formal recognition of the profession while helping ensure consistent standards of education, competency, and practice throughout the state.

The accomplishment reflects years of work by the Alaska Society for Respiratory Care (ASRC), which partnered closely with the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) to advance the legislation.

“Alaska has actually been working toward licensure for many years,” shared a spokesperson from the ASRC Board. “As a board, we recognized that we needed to adjust our approach to gain traction. With guidance from AARC leadership, we decided to invest in a lobbyist. That was pivotal to moving our bill forward. With our lobbyist’s help, we built relationships, met with key stakeholders, and gained support from critical organizations.”

The ASRC also worked closely with the Alaska Department of Labor and Commerce to ensure the legislation was thoroughly developed before the legislative session began.

“We made sure the bill was as polished and ready as possible before the legislative session even began. It was truly a team effort that required strategy, persistence, and a lot of collaboration. Our board was amazing during this time. They were readily available to offer suggestions and question changes we needed to make,” said the spokesperson from the ASRC Board

In addition to providing professional recognition, licensure strengthens patient safety and quality of care across Alaska.

“One important piece is that licensure helps protect against ‘bad actors’—individuals who may have lost their license in another state or have not maintained professional standards,” the ASRC Board spokesperson noted. “Licensure creates accountability and oversight, which is critical to maintaining trust and ensuring safe, high-quality care for Alaskans.”

The passage of licensure legislation also creates new opportunities for the profession in Alaska. As a licensed state, Alaska is now technically eligible to join the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact (RCIC), which would allow qualified respiratory therapists to practice across participating states through a compact privilege. To become a member of the RCIC, Alaska would need to pass separate compact legislation in the future. The AARC stands ready to support Alaska should the state choose to pursue that next step.

ASRC extends its sincere appreciation to the State Legislators Representative Hall and Senator Bjorkman for sponsoring the legislation and championing the profession throughout the process. Their leadership and support were instrumental in making this achievement possible.

Over the coming months and throughout the next year, additional information regarding implementation, timelines, requirements, and next steps will be shared. Respiratory therapists and stakeholders are encouraged to follow ASRC for updates as details become available. Questions can be directed to ASRC through Facebook or via email at akrespcare@gmail.com.

With licensure now secured, Alaska joins every other state in recognizing and regulating the respiratory therapy profession—an achievement that strengthens the profession, protects patients, and positions the state for future opportunities, including potential participation in the RCIC.