Respiratory therapy is a growing career field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, respiratory therapy is expected to grow faster than average in the coming decade.

As our population ages, and lives longer, they become more susceptible to such diseases as pneumonia, chronic emphysema, chronic asthma, and heart disease—all specialties of a respiratory therapist.

…and we are living longer.

The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that the life expectancy of the average American in 2010 will be 78.3 years.

A large percentage of these people will need the services of a respiratory therapist at some time in their lives. If you are considering a respiratory therapy career, this is good news for you.

Respiratory Therapy Job Description

Respiratory therapists treat patients with breathing or cardiovascular problems. Some of their job duties include running diagnostic tests, administering oxygen to patients, measuring lung function, monitoring cardiopulmonary functions, hooking patients up to incubators, and respiratory rehabilitation.

They treat all ages of patients, from newborn babies to the elderly. They can work in hospitals, nursing homes, physician’s offices, home health care agencies, and respiratory equipment retailers. At times, he or she may be the only person that stands between the patient and death.

But before they are permitted to assume such responsibilities, respiratory therapists must receive sufficient training.

Associate Degree Programs

An associate’s degree, at the very minimum, is required to enter the respiratory therapist field. Although there are some diploma or certificate degree programs that might allow you to participate in this field, this option is fading away. More and more employers today require that you have an associate’s degree before they will hire you.

Many medical colleges, vocational schools, universities, community colleges, and the Armed forces offer respiratory therapy programs.

These associate’s degree programs last for 2-years and include such science-oriented courses as:

• Microbiology
• Physics
• Human Anatomy
• Pathophysiology
• Chemistry
• Pharmacology
• Mathematics

You will also learn:

• Patient assessment
• Diagnostic procedures and tests
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Clinical practice procedures
• Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
• Medical recordkeeping and reimbursement
• Medical equipment usage
• Patient care outside of hospitals
• Respiratory health promotion

After Graduation

After graduation, you must become licensed in order to work as a respiratory therapist. A license is required to practice respiratory therapy in all states except Alaska and Hawaii.

The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) determines the licensing procedures for respiratory therapists. They award this license—called the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential—based on two factors:

• Your graduation from an entry-level (associate’s) or an advanced (bachelor’s or master’s) respiratory therapy program that has been accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
• Your passing of a comprehensive exam

You may also receive a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential if you:

• Have graduated from an advanced respiratory therapy program
• Are a Certified Respiratory Therapist
• Have passed two separate exams

Top Respiratory Therapist Schools

• 

  Grand Canyon University

  If you are driven to pursue a higher standard of success and require flexibility in your schedule to get there, Grand Canyon University, one of the Top 10 Christian colleges, is the right choice for you! GCU emphasizes individual attention for both traditional undergraduate students, as well as the working professional. With our cutting-edge curriculum, you will gain the real-world experience you need to succeed in today’s global marketplace. Online and campus-based bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are offered through the College of Education, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Ken Blanchard College of Business, and the College of Liberal Arts.

• 

  Platt College

  Find out where the future can take you with an outstanding college education. At Platt College, you’ll find the career-specific programs and training for the careers you really want. Come explore a variety of career paths that fit your lifestyle in a positive learning environment that combines real-world experience with small, private college instruction.

• 

  Carrington College

  Carrington College®, a recognized leader in private education, opened in 1976 and currently provides practical, real-world education to more than 4,000 students annually. Carrington College® offers small classes with hands-on learning taught by experienced faculty.

• 

  ATI Career Training Center

  For more than three decades, ATI has operated schools throughout Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklahoma with the primary objective of preparing its graduates for rewarding careers. These exciting employment opportunities include such fields as health care, personal fitness and wellness, business technology, information technology, automotive repair, air conditioning and refrigeration repair, and welding.

  At ATI you are a member of our extended family. Faculty and staff work with you to achieve your educational and career training objectives and secure the necessary skills you need to be successful in today’s competitive workplace environment.

  We have the experience, the tools, the instructors and the student support and benefits to help you change your life and earn a new career! Make today “the first day of the rest of your life” & make the call that will change your life and get you on the right track toward a rewarding future.

• 

  Sanford-Brown Institute

  Sanford-Brown can help prepare you for a rewarding career in health and dental care, business, paralegal, criminal justice or information technology. With nearly 20 campuses in the Sanford-Brown Institute and Sanford-Brown College divisions, selecting a school that suits your particular career training and education needs is easy.

• 

  Sanford-Brown College

  For over 140 years, Sanford-Brown College has provided career-oriented postsecondary educational programs. Our institution offers focused, innovative, quality short-term programs in the fields of business and healthcare. At Sanford-Brown, we have focused our study programs, which enable you the opportunity to develop your skills effectively to meet your specific career goals. Plus, our programs focus on the essential concepts and skills most employers look for in entry-level employees. Our goal is to provide you with the practical information and experience you need to get your foot in the door. The secret to our success is that we do not require students to take courses that are not directly supportive of their career goals.

• 

  Concorde Career College

  With over 15 years of experience in preparing adults for rewarding careers, Concorde is a recognized leader in training Healthcare Professionals. We offer short, manageable programs with day and evening classes to fit your busy schedule.

• 

  Kaplan Career Institute

  At Kaplan Career Institute, we provide affordable, career-focused programs that not only meet the demands of the market, but also the demands of your busy life. We offer day and evening classes to accommodate your busy schedule. Our accelerated curricula give you the opportunity to earn a diploma in as little as 9 to 15 months or an associate’s degree in less than 2 years. Our instructors have professional experience and provide an inside look into some of today’s hottest careers.

  Kaplan Higher Education or its authorized agents and representatives may contact me via email or telephone to discuss these and other educational opportunities in the future.

• 

  American Career College

  American Career College (ACC) offers training to students interested in pursuing a career in the fast-growing healthcare industry.* ACC’s three campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County all offer hands-on training with the same tools and technology found in professional healthcare facilities.

  ACC’s faculty and staff are committed to helping students achieve their educational goals. Our faculty members draw upon their own experiences in the healthcare industry to provide our students with in-depth training and education. All programs are a blend of classroom and hands-on training, with many programs ending with an externship in a local healthcare facility.

• 

  Keiser University

  At Keiser University we are here to help you succeed by providing the professional and academic foundation to meet your educational goals and objectives. Keiser University continues to be a valuable partner to employers, the community, and, above all, a valued choice for students serious about their education and career.