If you have decided to become a respiratory therapist, you have made an excellent career choice. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is an occupation that is expected to grow faster than average during the next decade.

Medical advances and healthier lifestyles have led to a substantial increase in the numbers of people that are more likely to need the services of a respiratory therapist—the middle aged and the elderly.

Will that respiratory therapist be YOU?

The answer can be YES, but only if you graduate from a special training program and then work on getting certified as a respiratory therapist.

What is a Respiratory Therapist?

A respiratory therapist treats patients who have breathing disorders or cardiovascular problems. They evaluate, diagnose, and monitor such conditions as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma.

Since breathing is essential to life, a respiratory therapist has a huge responsibility to his or her patients.

Some of the duties of a respiratory therapist include:

• Interviewing patients
• Running diagnostic tests
• Explaining treatment options to patients
• Adjusting medical machinery
• Administering oxygen to patients
• Checking the levels of oxygen in patients’ blood

…to name just a few.

Educational Requirements to be a Respiratory Therapist

You must have at least a 2-year associate’s degree from an accredited respiratory therapist-training program in order to enter this occupational field. Although you can sometimes get an entry-level position if you just have a certificate degree, this practice is becoming less common.

Today, you need an associate’s degree to secure an entry-level position in respiratory therapy.

Accreditation Requirements for a Respiratory Therapy Training Program

Before you register for any respiratory therapy-training program, make sure that it is registered by at least one of these two agencies:

• The Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or
• The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

This is an absolute must if you want to become a respiratory therapist. In order to become certified—a requirement in most states for working as a respiratory therapist—you must have graduated from a respiratory therapy-training program that has been accredited by one of these two agencies.

Getting Certified as a Respiratory Therapist

You can become a certified respiratory therapist if you have:

• Graduated from a respiratory therapy program that has been accredited by either the CoARC or the CAAHEP

And then…

• Passed a comprehensive exam administered by The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)

How do I Register for the Exam?

There are two ways that you can register for the CRT exam.

1. Apply online at the NBRC website
2. Download an application from the NBRC website, fill it out, then mail it to the NBRC

If you apply online, you may immediately schedule your examination appointment. If you mail the application to the NBRC, it will be processed within two weeks. A confirmation notice will then be sent to you along with instructions on scheduling your exam. In either case, you must pay the application fee that is listed on the NBRC’s website.

How is the CRT Examination Conducted?

There are over 150 testing centers in the United States. You must schedule your exam at one of these testing centers within 3 days of your preferred examination date. .

The CRT examination covers three major areas: therapeutic procedure initiation and modification, patient data and evaluation, and equipment application and cleanliness. The exam contains 160 multiple-choice questions, which you must answer within a 3 hour time period.

Once you have passed this exam, the NBRC will award you a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) license.