Become a Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory therapists work with a team of physicians and medical professionals to evaluate and treat patients with lung disorders.

Respiratory therapists are responsible for respiratory treatment of their patients. In hospitals, respiratory therapists might work for the intensive care or critical care units. Respiratory therapists also perform duties such as: Testing patients for lung abnormalities Setting up and monitoring ventilator equipment Assisting patients with rehabilitative exercises Measuring patients' lung capacity

Respiratory therapists work with a variety of people with chronic lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, the elderly, premature infants and individuals who need long-term care for diseases like emphysema.

They work with complex, highly-specialized equipment that assists people with their breathing. Respiratory therapists are now very active in the fight for smoking cessation, teaching classes to the general public and to their patients.

Respiratory Therapist: Workplaces

Most respiratory therapists work in hospitals, but a growing number are employed by nursing homes, home care agencies and respiratory therapy clinics. Often respiratory therapists are relied upon in emergency centers where people are in need of immediate care.

Respiratory Therapist: Training

Respiratory therapists complete either 2-year associate's degree or 4-year bachelor's degree programs. Upon graduation, you can choose to sit for a national exam to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). After passing this exam, you can decide to sit for two additional tests to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Most respiratory therapists obtain a four-year or higher degree from an accredited institution. However, there are associate’s degree and certificate programs that can get you started. All states, except Alaska and Hawaii, require respiratory therapists to obtain a license in order to practice.

Respiratory Therapist: Salary Range

The annual salary for respiratory therapists ranges from $32,000 to $58,000. Their median annual income is just over $43,000.*

Respiratory Therapist: Licensing

Generally, to qualify for state licenses, you must graduate from an accredited university and pass the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam. Certified Respiratory Therapists who graduated from advanced-level programs and who have met experience requirements can take the exams leading toward the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. Certain specialty areas, such as intensive care units and supervisory positions, require the RRT or RRT eligibility.

Your school advisor will be able to tell you what requirements have been set by the board of respiratory care examiners in your state.

Find out what it takes to become a respiratory therapist in this informative article.

*Statistics provided by Bureau of Labor Statistics.