Respiratory Therapy Training

If you are interested in becoming a respiratory therapist, you’re in good company. In 2006, there were 112,000 respiratory therapy jobs in the United States. But that figure is expected to grow substantially. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts faster than average growth for this profession in the coming decade. In fact, the BLS estimates that the respiratory therapy profession will grow 19 percent in the decade of 2006 and 2016.

To take advantage of the growth of this industry, you should start your respiratory therapist training—NOW.

Duties of a Respiratory Therapist

Working under a doctor’s supervision, respiratory therapists treat people who have breathing and cardiovascular problems. Some of their lifesaving (and life enhancing) duties include:

  • Running diagnostic tests
  • Assessing patient needs
  • Ventilating patients who cannot breathe on their own
  • Monitoring the oxygen level in patients’ blood
  • Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Testing the lung capacities of patients
  • Adjusting medical equipment
  • Teaching asthma patients how to use their inhalers
  • Performing chest physiotherapy on patients to relieve lung congestion
  • Counseling patients about their respiratory condition
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation

They learn these skills—and many others—through respiratory training programs across the country.

Respiratory Therapist Schools

Respiratory therapist training programs are plentiful in the United States. According to the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), there were a total of 379 such accredited programs in 2006.

In order to work as a respiratory therapist, you must have at least a 2-year associate’s degree in this field. But many people obtain 4-year bachelor’s or a master’s degree so that they will be able to advance in the field.

Accreditation is key to choosing the correct respiratory therapist school. If you do not graduate from a school that has been accredited by either the Committees on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) you will not be able to obtain the license needed to be able to work as a respiratory therapist.

What do I Need to Apply?

To apply for respiratory therapist training, you will need a GED or its equivalent.

It will also be helpful if your high school coursework included such subjects as:

  • Physics
  • Biology
  • Health
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics

Though not a prerequisite for the training, you should also have a certain type of temperament and personality to work as a respiratory therapist. Because you will be treating patients who have breathing conditions, you need to be very sensitive to their fear and to their pain.

You must also respond well to stressful situations, pay attention to minute details, and work well as part of a team.

Respiratory Therapist Training

Whether you choose to pursue an associate’s, a bachelor’s, or a master’s degree in respiratory therapy, you can expect intensive training in such medical/scientific areas as:

  • Microbiology
  • Chemistry
  • Human anatomy
  • Mathematics
  • Pharmacology
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Diagnostic procedures
  • Patient assessment
  • Anatomy
  • Physiology
  • Disease prevention

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.