Respiratory therapists provide crucial medical care to people who have breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders. Working under a doctor’s supervision, they interview patients and assess their medical conditions. They run diagnostic tests, diagnose respiratory conditions, and prepare treatment plans. They may do all of this, and more, before lunchtime in the hospitals and doctor’s offices in which most of them work.

But not all respiratory therapists work in medical facilities. There are a growing number of respiratory therapists, in fact, whose workplaces change daily. They are called traveling respiratory therapists.

Who Employs Traveling Respiratory Therapists?

Traveling respiratory therapists usually provide respiratory care in patent’s homes or in nursing homes. They may work for:

• Agencies that dispatch them to their daily job destinations
• Hospice care agencies
• Respiratory rental equipment companies

Working as a traveling respiratory therapist allows you the freedom to travel and meet new people while responding to continuously changing routines and patient needs.

How do I Become a Traveling Respiratory Therapist?

Like all respiratory therapists, you need a minimum of a 2-year associate’s degree to work as a traveling respiratory therapist. But you can also obtain advanced degrees—such as a bachelor’s and a master’s—in respiratory therapy. Many community colleges, universities, medical schools, and technical schools offer respiratory therapist training programs.

Before you choose a respiratory training program, however, make sure that it is accredited by either of these two agencies:

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

This is important because if you don’t graduate from a respiratory therapist-training program that has been accredited by at least one of these two agencies, you will be unable to become a licensed respiratory therapist. (All states except Alaska and Hawaii have licensing requirements for their respiratory therapists).

What will I Study?

As long as your respiratory training program is accredited by either the CoARC or by the CAAHEP, you can be sure that you will receive a quality education that meets (or exceeds) industry standards.

Some of the subjects that you will study in respiratory therapy school include:

• Microbiology
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Medical Equipment Usage
• Patient diagnostic procedures
• Diagnostic testing procedures
• Human Anatomy
• Physiology
• Pharmacology
• Patient care outside of hospitals
• Respiratory therapy health promotion
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

After Graduation

After graduation, you must obtain a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential. The National Board for Registry Care (NBRC) administers the written examination that you need to take to become licenses.

You are eligible to take this exam if you have graduated from a respiratory therapist program that has been accredited by the CoAEC or by the CAAHEP.

To apply to take the exam you must submit an application and an application fee to NBRC. You can find complete information about the CRT test, as well as instructions on scheduling the exam, on NBRCs website.

After you obtain your CRT, you can either start working at a medical facility, or you can submit your application to work for an agency that employs traveling respiratory therapists.

Top Respiratory Therapist Schools

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.