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How to Become a Respiratory Therapist: Education & Licensing

Learn about a respiratory therapist career, the required education, licensing and salary.

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Home » Specialties » Respiratory Therapist

To pursue a career as a respiratory therapist, you typically need to complete either an Associates degree in Respiratory Care or a Bachelor of Health Science in Respiratory Care. After completing your education, you’ll need to pass credentialing examinations and obtain state licensure. These requirements enable you to qualify for employment in this rapidly growing field and make a meaningful impact on patients’ respiratory health.

Respiratory Therapist At a Glance

  • What you’ll do: You might work in the intensive or critical care unit, helping patients with a variety of respiratory illnesses to breathe normally, or work with a variety of people with chronic lung diseases. Some have cystic fibrosis, some are elderly or premature infants, and some need long-term care for diseases such as emphysema. You will measure patients’ lung capacity, set up and monitor ventilator equipment, test patients for lung abnormalities, assist patients with rehabilitative exercises.
  • Where you’ll work: Most work in hospitals, but a growing number are employed by nursing homes, home care agencies, respiratory therapy clinics, and emergency centers.
  • Degree you’ll need: Associate degree at minimum; bachelor’s degree preferred
  • Median annual salary: $70,540
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What is it like going back to school as an adult? Find out in this real respiratory therapist student’s story.

Median Annual Respiratory Therapist Salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics reports the following median annual salaries for respiratory therapists.

Respiratory Therapists

National data

Median Salary: $70,540

Projected job growth: 12.5%

10th Percentile: $51,970

25th Percentile: $62,260

75th Percentile: $81,610

90th Percentile: $100,520

Projected job growth: 12.5%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $57,420 $40,840 $70,380
Alaska $84,010 $66,830 $104,980
Arizona $65,280 $55,310 $83,700
Arkansas $62,210 $47,500 $74,990
California $97,770 $65,160 $131,560
Colorado $75,380 $62,630 $90,790
Connecticut $79,600 $62,760 $90,260
Delaware $79,020 $63,840 $93,700
District of Columbia $82,820 $35,030 $121,290
Florida $65,530 $51,270 $80,360
Georgia $74,050 $50,350 $97,960
Hawaii $85,160 $68,700 $96,670
Idaho $64,200 $57,830 $79,210
Illinois $66,320 $52,820 $81,940
Indiana $64,720 $51,060 $78,840
Iowa $61,000 $50,250 $78,000
Kansas $64,800 $50,300 $81,060
Kentucky $61,010 $48,170 $73,480
Louisiana $62,720 $50,500 $76,760
Maine $65,780 $53,540 $83,600
Maryland $78,140 $64,330 $95,960
Massachusetts $81,240 $63,600 $105,730
Michigan $64,490 $52,000 $78,470
Minnesota $79,390 $64,010 $87,290
Mississippi $51,840 $41,680 $67,040
Missouri $63,300 $50,440 $79,380
Montana $65,060 $51,760 $76,860
Nebraska $64,370 $50,700 $77,230
Nevada $80,650 $62,610 $104,390
New Hampshire $79,100 $64,140 $93,610
New Jersey $82,380 $67,350 $101,360
New Mexico $63,130 $52,750 $80,540
New York $90,460 $65,100 $107,550
North Carolina $64,390 $51,090 $81,020
North Dakota $62,130 $51,050 $79,590
Ohio $65,760 $54,150 $83,300
Oklahoma $63,980 $50,740 $82,970
Oregon $82,750 $66,000 $97,960
Pennsylvania $65,860 $51,170 $81,990
Rhode Island $75,170 $60,350 $84,830
South Carolina $66,490 $51,260 $78,710
South Dakota $60,390 $46,570 $69,140
Tennessee $60,850 $48,010 $75,180
Texas $72,820 $59,060 $89,450
Utah $65,560 $58,690 $83,910
Vermont $76,170 $55,620 $90,330
Virginia $65,790 $52,720 $83,260
Washington $82,250 $67,310 $102,110
West Virginia $60,320 $46,650 $76,820
Wisconsin $70,320 $60,990 $82,720
Wyoming $65,110 $52,440 $79,600

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Respiratory Therapist Education

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

Respiratory Therapist: Licensing

Generally, to qualify for state licenses, you must graduate from an accredited respiratory therapist school 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 CRT 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.