Respiratory Therapist Schools
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George Steinbrenner—a successful businessman and former owner of the Yankees—famously exclaimed, “Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.” Even for a fiercely competitive man such as Steinbrenner, the act of breathing was more important than anything.
While many take it for granted, the sad truth is that breathing is a daily struggle for some people. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 25.2 million people suffer from asthma, more than 8 percent of the population. As pollution levels continue to climb and cities grow more congested, this figure may continue to rise in the coming years. From emphysema to other chronic respiratory diseases, from smoking-related maladies to birth defects, several people rely on the help of medical professionals specializing in breathing assistance and rehabilitation. Enter the respiratory therapists.
These professionals monitor, diagnose, and treat breathing abnormalities to make people’s lives easier. Respiratory therapy is a growing career in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2022) projects that job openings for respiratory therapists will increase 14 percent between 2021 and 2031, more robust than the average growth expected for all occupations (5 percent). Most of these jobs will be in hospitals and private practices (82 percent), and with median annual salaries of $68,190, it’s a relatively well-compensated career (BLS May 2021).
So how does a person become a respiratory therapist? Students typically begin with a two-year associate’s degree through a school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Once candidates successfully pass a national exam, they can receive the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential. Some choose to complete a four-year degree and attain the higher Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) designation, or even continue on with a master’s degree in respiratory management or education.
The following sections explore possible educational paths for people interested in attending an accredited program. There are many flexible and reputable respiratory therapist schools to choose from, including those offering traditional campus experiences and partially online (i.e., hybrid) programs. There are also hundreds of CoARC-approved programs that can help a person become certified and assist in job placement upon graduation.
“As natural as breathing” has become a clichéd expression, and people have continually compared this most essential of human activities to things that are natural, unstoppable, or inevitable. For people looking to make a real difference in the world, a career in respiratory therapy may be an excellent option.
Respiratory Therapist fast facts | |
---|---|
Projected Jobs Created | 18,400 |
Projected Job Growth | 14% |
Average Salary | $68,190 |
Low Salary | $47,380 |
High Salary | $95,540 |
Entry-Level EDU | Associate's Degree |
Sourced From BLS May 2021 |
Respiratory Therapy Degree & Certification Programs – On-Campus
There are several levels of respiratory therapy education which can lead to certification. An associate degree program is typically the first step. An associate of science (AS) or associate of applied science (AAS) degree from an accredited CoARC school makes students eligible to sit for the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) exam.
The RRT exam is usually only taken by students who have completed a four-year degree, or two-year degree in addition to a CRT certification. The bachelor of science (BS) in respiratory therapy or respiratory care is the chosen program level for students interested in the RRT certification.
Finally, students interested in respiratory research or management may be interested in pursuing a master’s degree. This advanced degree is often required to get some of the highest-paying jobs as a hospital administrator or in a research lab. Pima Medical Institute (AAS) – Pima Medical Institute has campus locations offering their AAS program across the western part of the U.S., including Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. Students who complete this program put in over 2,000 contact and learning hours, making it one of the most extensive associate degree programs available.
Each campus has different student success rates, but more than 85 percent of all students from PMI pass the CRT examination, with some boasting success rates up to 96 percent.
- Location: Campuses across the United States
- Duration: 21 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
- Tuition: $12,024 per year
Georgia State University (AS, BS, MSHS-RT) – Ranked #2 on the list of Most Innovative Schools by the U.S. News and World Report (2022), Georgia State University in Atlanta offers an affordable and acclaimed respiratory therapy program in the Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions.
GSU offers both a traditional BS degree and a professional AS-to-BS bridge degree for those students who have already completed an AS at a CoARC-accredited school and are Registered Respiratory Therapists but want to earn a bachelor’s degree. In addition, GSU provides an accelerated program for completing both a bachelor’s and master’s of science health sciences in respiratory therapy. GSU has incredibly high student outcomes, with a 100 percent job placement and a 100 percent pass rate on the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and CRT exams.
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Duration: Two to four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
- Tuition: $298.27 per credit (residents); $932.87 per credit (non-residents)
Bellarmine University (BS) – Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky was named on the list of Best National Universities in the South by the U.S. News and World Report in 2022. Bellarmine offers a standard bachelor of health science (BHS) track, an AS to BHS bridge program for registered respiratory therapists, a master of health science (MHS) health promotion and social change track, and an MHS leadership track.
Students in this program earn more than 800 hours of clinical experience in healthcare settings such as intensive care units, neonatal intensive care units, pediatric intensive care units, emergency rooms, and sleep laboratories. This range of options makes Bellarmine an attractive choice to aspiring respiratory therapists at virtually any career level.
- Location: Louisville, KY
- Duration: Two to four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
- Tuition: $45,630 per year
Louisiana State University School of Health Sciences (BS) – LSU Health Sciences offers a four-year degree in cardiopulmonary science with an emphasis on respiratory therapy at its New Orleans campus. The bachelor of science program can be completed in two or four years and accepts students who have earned two years of general college or university credits.
This program prepares graduates to become registered respiratory therapists at the national and state levels. CoARC has awarded LSU a Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award for its record of credentialing 90 percent of its graduating classes in the past eight years.
- Location: Shreveport, LA
- Duration: Two to four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
- Tuition: $4,193.25 per year (residents); $8,541.75 per year (non-residents)
List of Respiratory Therapist Schools
School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
---|---|---|---|---|
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | Visalia | California | www.sjvc.edu | 266 |
Pima Medical Institute-Tucson | Tucson | Arizona | pmi.edu | 134 |
Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis | Indiana | www.ivytech.edu | 106 |
Weber State University | Ogden | Utah | www.weber.edu | 86 |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte | North Carolina | www.uncc.edu | 78 |
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Richmond | Virginia | www.reynolds.edu | 68 |
Midwestern State University | Wichita Falls | Texas | www.mwsu.edu | 61 |
Butte College | Oroville | California | www.butte.edu | 59 |
California College San Diego | San Diego | California | www.cc-sd.edu | 52 |
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove | Garden Grove | California | www.concorde.edu/campus/garden-grove-california | 51 |
Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen | California | www.lavc.edu | 48 |
Pima Medical Institute-Mesa | Mesa | Arizona | pmi.edu | 48 |
Valencia College | Orlando | Florida | valenciacollege.edu | 46 |
San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena | Texas | www.sanjac.edu | 43 |
Concorde Career College-North Hollywood | North Hollywood | California | www.concorde.edu/campus/north-hollywood-california | 42 |
Platt College-Ontario | Ontario | California | www.plattcollege.edu | 42 |
Texas State University | San Marcos | Texas | www.txstate.edu | 40 |
Concorde Career College-Memphis | Memphis | Tennessee | www.concorde.edu/campus/memphis-tennessee | 38 |
East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park | California | www.elac.edu | 38 |
American Career College-Anaheim | Anaheim | California | americancareercollege.edu | 37 |
Concorde Career College-Aurora | Aurora | Colorado | www.concorde.edu/campus/aurora-colorado | 37 |
Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville | Kentucky | jefferson.kctcs.edu | 36 |
Lone Star College System | The Woodlands | Texas | www.lonestar.edu | 35 |
American Career College-Ontario | Ontario | California | americancareercollege.edu | 33 |
GateWay Community College | Phoenix | Arizona | www.gatewaycc.edu | 33 |
Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick | New Jersey | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu | 33 |
Victor Valley College | Victorville | California | www.vvc.edu | 33 |
El Camino Community College District | Torrance | California | www.elcamino.edu | 32 |
Ferris State University | Big Rapids | Michigan | www.ferris.edu | 32 |
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville | Hanceville | Alabama | www.wallacestate.edu | 32 |
Georgia State University | Atlanta | Georgia | www.gsu.edu | 32 |
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus | San Juan | Puerto Rico | umet.suagm.edu | 32 |
Skyline College | San Bruno | California | skylinecollege.edu | 31 |
Concorde Career College-Portland | Portland | Oregon | www.concorde.edu/campus/portland-oregon | 30 |
Crafton Hills College | Yucaipa | California | www.craftonhills.edu | 29 |
Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | matc.edu | 29 |
Massasoit Community College | Brockton | Massachusetts | www.massasoit.edu | 28 |
Pima Medical Institute-Las Vegas | Las Vegas | Nevada | pmi.edu | 28 |
College of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas | Nevada | www.csn.edu | 27 |
James A Rhodes State College | Lima | Ohio | www.rhodesstate.edu | 27 |
Macomb Community College | Warren | Michigan | www.macomb.edu | 27 |
Oregon Institute of Technology | Klamath Falls | Oregon | www.oit.edu | 27 |
Salisbury University | Salisbury | Maryland | www.salisbury.edu | 27 |
Big Sandy Community and Technical College | Prestonsburg | Kentucky | bigsandy.kctcs.edu | 26 |
Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | www.ccac.edu | 26 |
Seminole State College of Florida | Sanford | Florida | www.seminolestate.edu | 26 |
Southeast Community College Area | Lincoln | Nebraska | www.southeast.edu | 26 |
Tennessee State University | Nashville | Tennessee | www.tnstate.edu | 26 |
Concorde Career College-San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | www.concorde.edu/campus/san-antonio-texas | 25 |
Tulsa Community College | Tulsa | Oklahoma | www.tulsacc.edu | 25 |
College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Illinois | www.cod.edu | 24 |
Florida SouthWestern State College | Fort Myers | Florida | www.fsw.edu | 24 |
Mt San Antonio College | Walnut | California | www.mtsac.edu | 24 |
Napa Valley College | Napa | California | www.napavalley.edu | 24 |
Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | New Mexico | pmi.edu | 24 |
Pima Medical Institute-Denver | Denver | Colorado | pmi.edu | 24 |
Pima Medical Institute-Renton | Renton | Washington | pmi.edu | 24 |
Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Ohio | www.sinclair.edu | 24 |
Somerset Community College | Somerset | Kentucky | somerset.kctcs.edu | 24 |
The University of Texas Medical Branch | Galveston | Texas | www.utmb.edu | 24 |
Bergen Community College | Paramus | New Jersey | www.bergen.edu | 23 |
Foothill College | Los Altos Hills | California | foothill.edu | 23 |
Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | www.hacc.edu | 23 |
Long Island University | Brookville | New York | liu.edu/cwpost | 23 |
Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista | Chula Vista | California | pmi.edu | 23 |
Ponce Paramedical College Inc | Ponce | Puerto Rico | www.popac.edu | 23 |
South Texas College | McAllen | Texas | www.southtexascollege.edu | 23 |
Grossmont College | El Cajon | California | www.grossmont.edu | 22 |
Modesto Junior College | Modesto | California | www.mjc.edu | 22 |
Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | North Carolina | www.cpcc.edu | 21 |
Daytona State College | Daytona Beach | Florida | www.daytonastate.edu | 21 |
Erie Community College | Buffalo | New York | www.ecc.edu | 21 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus | Columbus | Ohio | www.osu.edu | 21 |
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus | Gurabo | Puerto Rico | ut.suagm.edu | 21 |
University of Akron Main Campus | Akron | Ohio | www.uakron.edu | 21 |
Greenville Technical College | Greenville | South Carolina | www.gvltec.edu | 20 |
Madison Area Technical College | Madison | Wisconsin | madisoncollege.edu | 20 |
Monroe County Community College | Monroe | Michigan | www.monroeccc.edu | 20 |
New England Institute of Technology | East Greenwich | Rhode Island | www.neit.edu | 20 |
Oklahoma City Community College | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | www.occc.edu | 20 |
Pima Community College | Tucson | Arizona | www.pima.edu | 20 |
Platt College-Moore | Moore | Oklahoma | www.plattcolleges.edu | 20 |
Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Tennessee | www.chattanoogastate.edu | 19 |
Huertas College | Caguas | Puerto Rico | www.huertas.edu | 19 |
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | Indiana | Pennsylvania | www.iup.edu | 19 |
Mt Hood Community College | Gresham | Oregon | www.mhcc.edu | 19 |
Ohlone College | Fremont | California | www.ohlone.edu | 19 |
St Petersburg College | Clearwater | Florida | www.spcollege.edu | 19 |
St Philip's College | San Antonio | Texas | www.alamo.edu/spc | 19 |
YTI Career Institute-Altoona | Altoona | Pennsylvania | www.yti.edu | 19 |
Miami Dade College | Miami | Florida | www.mdc.edu | 18 |
Allegany College of Maryland | Cumberland | Maryland | www.allegany.edu | 18 |
Collin County Community College District | McKinney | Texas | www.collin.edu | 18 |
Columbia State Community College | Columbia | Tennessee | www.columbiastate.edu | 18 |
Concorde Career College-Dallas | Dallas | Texas | www.concorde.edu/campus/dallas-texas | 18 |
Frederick Community College | Frederick | Maryland | www.frederick.edu | 18 |
Hartnell College | Salinas | California | www.hartnell.edu | 18 |
Hudson Valley Community College | Troy | New York | www.hvcc.edu | 18 |
Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills | Illinois | www.morainevalley.edu | 18 |
Trident Technical College | Charleston | South Carolina | www.tridenttech.edu | 18 |
Bossier Parish Community College | Bossier City | Louisiana | www.bpcc.edu | 17 |
Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | Iowa | www.dmacc.edu | 17 |
Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Florida | www.fscj.edu | 17 |
Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo | Michigan | www.kvcc.edu | 17 |
McLennan Community College | Waco | Texas | www.mclennan.edu | 17 |
Nassau Community College | Garden City | New York | www.ncc.edu | 17 |
Oakland Community College | Bloomfield Hills | Michigan | www.oaklandcc.edu | 17 |
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College | Cumberland | Kentucky | southeast.kctcs.edu | 17 |
Southern Crescent Technical College | Griffin | Georgia | www.sctech.edu | 17 |
Tallahassee Community College | Tallahassee | Florida | www.tcc.fl.edu | 17 |
Tyler Junior College | Tyler | Texas | www.tjc.edu | 17 |
Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Tennessee | www.volstate.edu | 17 |
Weatherford College | Weatherford | Texas | www.wc.edu | 17 |
Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa | California | www.orangecoastcollege.edu | 16 |
American River College | Sacramento | California | www.arc.losrios.edu | 16 |
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago | Illinois | www.ccc.edu/colleges/malcolm-x | 16 |
Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore | Maryland | www.ccbcmd.edu | 16 |
Concorde Career College-San Bernardino | San Bernardino | California | www.concorde.edu/campus/san-bernardino-california | 16 |
Concorde Career Institute-Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Florida | www.concorde.edu/campus/jacksonville-florida | 16 |
County College of Morris | Randolph | New Jersey | www.ccm.edu | 16 |
Dixie State University | Saint George | Utah | dixie.edu | 16 |
Franklin Technology-MSSU | Joplin | Missouri | www.franklintechnologycenter.com | 16 |
Gwinnett Technical College | Lawrenceville | Georgia | www.gwinnetttech.edu | 16 |
Hinds Community College | Raymond | Mississippi | www.hindscc.edu | 16 |
Kankakee Community College | Kankakee | Illinois | www.kcc.edu | 16 |
Middle Georgia State University | Macon | Georgia | www.mga.edu | 16 |
Missouri Southern State University | Joplin | Missouri | www.mssu.edu | 16 |
Mott Community College | Flint | Michigan | www.mcc.edu | 16 |
Naugatuck Valley Community College | Waterbury | Connecticut | www.nv.edu | 16 |
North Central State College | Mansfield | Ohio | www.ncstatecollege.edu | 16 |
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay | Wisconsin | www.nwtc.edu | 16 |
Northeastern University Lifelong Learning Network | Boston | Massachusetts | www.northeastern.edu/learnforlife | 16 |
Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Virginia | www.nvcc.edu | 16 |
Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | Missouri | www.otc.edu | 16 |
Pearl River Community College | Poplarville | Mississippi | www.prcc.edu | 16 |
Rose State College | Midwest City | Oklahoma | www.rose.edu | 16 |
Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville | Illinois | www.swic.edu | 16 |
Stark State College | North Canton | Ohio | www.starkstate.edu | 16 |
Stony Brook University | Stony Brook | New York | www.stonybrook.edu | 16 |
Tarrant County College District | Fort Worth | Texas | www.tccd.edu | 16 |
Washburn University | Topeka | Kansas | www.washburn.edu | 16 |
Brookdale Community College | Lincroft | New Jersey | www.brookdalecc.edu | 15 |
Broward College | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | www.broward.edu | 15 |
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati | Ohio | www.cincinnatistate.edu | 15 |
Colegio Educativo Tecnologico Industrial Inc | Arecibo | Puerto Rico | www.ceticollege.com | 15 |
Community College of Aurora | Aurora | Colorado | www.ccaurora.edu | 15 |
Del Mar College | Corpus Christi | Texas | www.delmar.edu | 15 |
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee | Florida | www.famu.edu | 15 |
Fresno City College | Fresno | California | www.fresnocitycollege.edu | 15 |
Georgia Southern University | Statesboro | Georgia | www.georgiasouthern.edu | 15 |
Metropolitan Community College Area | Omaha | Nebraska | www.mccneb.edu | 15 |
Mohawk Valley Community College | Utica | New York | www.mvcc.edu | 15 |
Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap | Virginia | www.mecc.edu | 15 |
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana | Las Cruces | New Mexico | dacc.nmsu.edu | 15 |
Northern Essex Community College | Haverhill | Massachusetts | www.necc.mass.edu | 15 |
O C Collins Career Center | Chesapeake | Ohio | www.collins-cc.edu | 15 |
Oconee Fall Line Technical College | Sandersville | Georgia | www.oftc.edu | 15 |
Pickens Technical College | Aurora | Colorado | www.pickenstech.org | 15 |
Saint Johns River State College | Palatka | Florida | www.sjrstate.edu | 15 |
Tidewater Community College | Norfolk | Virginia | www.tcc.edu | 15 |
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | Johnstown | Pennsylvania | www.upj.pitt.edu | 15 |
University of South Alabama | Mobile | Alabama | www.southalabama.edu | 15 |
University of Toledo | Toledo | Ohio | www.utoledo.edu | 15 |
Walters State Community College | Morristown | Tennessee | www.ws.edu | 15 |
Bellarmine University | Louisville | Kentucky | www.bellarmine.edu | 14 |
Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington | Kentucky | bluegrass.kctcs.edu | 14 |
Bowling Green State University-Firelands | Huron | Ohio | www.firelands.bgsu.edu | 14 |
BridgeValley Community & Technical College | South Charleston | West Virginia | www.bridgevalley.edu | 14 |
Central New Mexico Community College | Albuquerque | New Mexico | www.cnm.edu | 14 |
Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | www.ccp.edu | 14 |
Community College of Rhode Island | Warwick | Rhode Island | www.ccri.edu | 14 |
Delgado Community College | New Orleans | Louisiana | www.dcc.edu | 14 |
El Paso Community College | El Paso | Texas | www.epcc.edu | 14 |
Gannon University | Erie | Pennsylvania | www.gannon.edu | 14 |
Itawamba Community College | Fulton | Mississippi | www.iccms.edu | 14 |
Jackson College | Jackson | Michigan | www.jccmi.edu | 14 |
Johnson County Community College | Overland Park | Kansas | www.jccc.edu | 14 |
Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Pennsylvania | www.luzerne.edu | 14 |
Rock Valley College | Rockford | Illinois | www.rockvalleycollege.edu | 14 |
Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton | Missouri | www.stlcc.edu | 14 |
Southwestern Community College | Sylva | North Carolina | www.southwesterncc.edu | 14 |
Augusta Technical College | Augusta | Georgia | www.augustatech.edu | 13 |
Berkshire Community College | Pittsfield | Massachusetts | www.berkshirecc.edu | 13 |
Carteret Community College | Morehead City | North Carolina | www.carteret.edu | 13 |
Central Virginia Community College | Lynchburg | Virginia | www.centralvirginia.edu | 13 |
Concorde Career College-San Diego | San Diego | California | www.concorde.edu/campus/san-diego-california | 13 |
Dakota State University | Madison | South Dakota | dsu.edu | 13 |
Delta College | University Center | Michigan | www.delta.edu | 13 |
El Centro College | Dallas | Texas | www.elcentrocollege.edu | 13 |
Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | North Carolina | www.faytechcc.edu | 13 |
George C Wallace Community College-Dothan | Dothan | Alabama | www.wallace.edu | 13 |
Jefferson College of Health Sciences | Roanoke | Virginia | www.jchs.edu | 13 |
Kapiolani Community College | Honolulu | Hawaii | www.kapiolani.hawaii.edu | 13 |
Kent State University at Ashtabula | Ashtabula | Ohio | www.kent.edu/ashtabula | 13 |
Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | Iowa | www.kirkwood.edu | 13 |
Lamar Institute of Technology | Beaumont | Texas | www.lit.edu | 13 |
Laurel Business Institute | Uniontown | Pennsylvania | laurel.edu | 13 |
Northwest Mississippi Community College | Senatobia | Mississippi | www.northwestms.edu | 13 |
Norwalk Community College | Norwalk | Connecticut | norwalk.edu | 13 |
Saint Paul College | Saint Paul | Minnesota | www.saintpaul.edu | 13 |
Sandhills Community College | Pinehurst | North Carolina | www.sandhills.edu | 13 |
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | Bowling Green | Kentucky | southcentral.kctcs.edu | 13 |
Southern Maine Community College | South Portland | Maine | www.smccme.edu | 13 |
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College | Mount Gay | West Virginia | www.southernwv.edu | 13 |
Stanly Community College | Albemarle | North Carolina | www.stanly.edu | 13 |
Texas Southmost College | Brownsville | Texas | www.tsc.edu | 13 |
Fletcher Technical Community College | Schriever | Louisiana | www.fletcher.edu | 13 |
Alvin Community College | Alvin | Texas | www.alvincollege.edu | 12 |
Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory | North Carolina | www.cvcc.edu | 12 |
CEM College-Bayamon | Bayamón | Puerto Rico | www.cemcollege.edu | 12 |
Columbus Technical College | Columbus | Georgia | www.columbustech.edu | 12 |
Concorde Career Institute-Tampa | Tampa | Florida | www.concorde.edu/campus/tampa-florida | 12 |
Copiah-Lincoln Community College | Wesson | Mississippi | www.colin.edu | 12 |
Edgecombe Community College | Tarboro | North Carolina | www.edgecombe.edu | 12 |
Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome | Georgia | www.gntc.edu | 12 |
Louisiana State University-Eunice | Eunice | Louisiana | www.lsue.edu | 12 |
Meridian Community College | Meridian | Mississippi | www.meridiancc.edu | 12 |
Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac | Wisconsin | www.morainepark.edu | 12 |
North Dakota State University-Main Campus | Fargo | North Dakota | www.ndsu.edu | 12 |
River Valley Community College | Claremont | New Hampshire | www.rivervalley.edu | 12 |
Shawnee State University | Portsmouth | Ohio | www.shawnee.edu | 12 |
Shelton State Community College | Tuscaloosa | Alabama | www.sheltonstate.edu | 12 |
Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield | Massachusetts | www.stcc.edu | 12 |
St Catherine University | Saint Paul | Minnesota | www.stkate.edu | 12 |
Temple College | Temple | Texas | www.templejc.edu | 12 |
Texas Southern University | Houston | Texas | www.tsu.edu | 12 |
University of Hartford | West Hartford | Connecticut | www.hartford.edu | 12 |
Western Technical College | La Crosse | Wisconsin | www.westerntc.edu | 12 |
Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | California | home.llu.edu | 11 |
Albany State University | Albany | Georgia | www.asurams.edu | 11 |
Arkansas State University Mid-South | West Memphis | Arkansas | www.asumidsouth.edu | 11 |
Atenas College | Manati | Puerto Rico | www.atenascollege.edu | 11 |
Ball State University | Muncie | Indiana | www.bsu.edu | 11 |
Casper College | Casper | Wyoming | www.caspercollege.edu | 11 |
CEM College-Humacao | Humacao | Puerto Rico | www.cempr.edu | 11 |
Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland | Ohio | www.tri-c.edu | 11 |
Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus | Roswell | New Mexico | www.roswell.enmu.edu | 11 |
Florida National University-Main Campus | Hialeah | Florida | www.fnu.edu | 11 |
Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem | North Carolina | www.forsythtech.edu | 11 |
Gwynedd Mercy University | Gwynedd Valley | Pennsylvania | www.gmercyu.edu | 11 |
Henry Ford College | Dearborn | Michigan | www.hfcc.edu | 11 |
Hillsborough Community College | Tampa | Florida | www.hccfl.edu | 11 |
Idaho State University | Pocatello | Idaho | www.isu.edu | 11 |
Lake Superior College | Duluth | Minnesota | www.lsc.edu | 11 |
Molloy College | Rockville Centre | New York | www.molloy.edu | 11 |
Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth | Florida | www.palmbeachstate.edu | 11 |
Piedmont Technical College | Greenwood | South Carolina | www.ptc.edu | 11 |
Roane State Community College | Harriman | Tennessee | www.roanestate.edu | 11 |
Rockingham Community College | Wentworth | North Carolina | www.rockinghamcc.edu | 11 |
Saint Augustine College | Chicago | Illinois | www.staugustine.edu | 11 |
University of Cincinnati-Clermont College | Batavia | Ohio | www.ucclermont.edu | 11 |
University of Mary | Bismarck | North Dakota | www.umary.edu | 11 |
Upstate Medical University | Syracuse | New York | www.upstate.edu | 11 |
Washington State Community College | Marietta | Ohio | www.wscc.edu | 11 |
Angelina College | Lufkin | Texas | www.angelina.edu | 10 |
Antelope Valley College | Lancaster | California | www.avc.edu | 10 |
Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center | Cape Girardeau | Missouri | www.capectc.org | 10 |
Cisco College | Cisco | Texas | www.cisco.edu | 10 |
Delaware County Community College | Media | Pennsylvania | www.dccc.edu | 10 |
Eastern Florida State College | Cocoa | Florida | www.easternflorida.edu | 10 |
Florence-Darlington Technical College | Florence | South Carolina | www.fdtc.edu | 10 |
Illinois Central College | East Peoria | Illinois | icc.edu | 10 |
Kaskaskia College | Centralia | Illinois | www.kaskaskia.edu | 10 |
Manchester Community College | Manchester | Connecticut | www.manchestercc.edu | 10 |
Marshall University | Huntington | West Virginia | www.marshall.edu | 10 |
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science | Rochester | Minnesota | college.mayo.edu | 10 |
Northeast Mississippi Community College | Booneville | Mississippi | www.nemcc.edu | 10 |
NorthWest Arkansas Community College | Bentonville | Arkansas | www.nwacc.edu | 10 |
Parkland College | Champaign | Illinois | www.parkland.edu | 10 |
Pittsburgh Career Institute | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | www.pci.edu | 10 |
Prince George's Community College | Largo | Maryland | www.pgcc.edu | 10 |
Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | Colorado | www.pueblocc.edu | 10 |
Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Massachusetts | www.qcc.edu | 10 |
Robeson Community College | Lumberton | North Carolina | www.robeson.edu | 10 |
Southeastern Community College | West Burlington | Iowa | www.scciowa.edu | 10 |
Spartanburg Community College | Spartanburg | South Carolina | www.sccsc.edu | 10 |
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College | North Little Rock | Arkansas | www.uaptc.edu | 10 |
Gulf Coast State College | Panama City | Florida | www.gulfcoast.edu | 9 |
Camden County College | Blackwood | New Jersey | www.camdencc.edu | 9 |
Carver Career Center | Charleston | West Virginia | www.carvercareercenter.edu | 9 |
Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire | Wisconsin | www.cvtc.edu | 9 |
Columbus State Community College | Columbus | Ohio | www.cscc.edu | 9 |
Concorde Career College-Kansas City | Kansas City | Missouri | www.concorde.edu/campus/kansas-city-missouri | 9 |
Educational Technical College-Recinto de san Sebastian | San Sebastian | Puerto Rico | www.edutecpr.com | 9 |
Goodwin College | East Hartford | Connecticut | www.goodwin.edu | 9 |
Great Falls College Montana State University | Great Falls | Montana | www.gfcmsu.edu | 9 |
Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo | Iowa | www.hawkeyecollege.edu | 9 |
Houston Community College | Houston | Texas | www.hccs.edu | 9 |
Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | Florida | www.irsc.edu | 9 |
Midlands Technical College | West Columbia | South Carolina | www.midlandstech.edu | 9 |
Mountwest Community and Technical College | Huntington | West Virginia | www.mctc.edu | 9 |
Newman University | Wichita | Kansas | www.newmanu.edu | 9 |
North Shore Community College | Danvers | Massachusetts | www.northshore.edu | 9 |
Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls | Minnesota | www.northlandcollege.edu | 9 |
Pitt Community College | Winterville | North Carolina | www.pittcc.edu | 9 |
Shenandoah University | Winchester | Virginia | www.su.edu | 9 |
Southeast Arkansas College | Pine Bluff | Arkansas | www.seark.edu | 9 |
Stevens-Henager College | Boise | Idaho | www.stevenshenager.edu | 9 |
Stevens-Henager College | Murray | Utah | www.stevenshenager.edu | 9 |
SUNY Westchester Community College | Valhalla | New York | www.sunywcc.edu | 9 |
Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences | Rock Island | Illinois | www.trinitycollegeqc.edu | 9 |
Baltimore City Community College | Baltimore | Maryland | www.bccc.edu | 8 |
Durham Technical Community College | Durham | North Carolina | www.durhamtech.edu | 8 |
Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | Illinois | www.llcc.edu | 8 |
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania | Mansfield | Pennsylvania | www.mansfield.edu | 8 |
Mineral Area College | Park Hills | Missouri | www.mineralarea.edu | 8 |
Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar | Iowa | www.nicc.edu | 8 |
York College of Pennsylvania | York | Pennsylvania | www.ycp.edu | 8 |
Amarillo College | Amarillo | Texas | www.actx.edu | 7 |
Black River Technical College | Pocahontas | Arkansas | www.blackrivertech.edu | 7 |
CEM College-San Juan | San Juan | Puerto Rico | www.cemcollege.edu/cem | 7 |
Cochise County Community College District | Sierra Vista | Arizona | www.cochise.edu | 7 |
Hutchinson Community College | Hutchinson | Kansas | www.hutchcc.edu | 7 |
Mid-State Technical College | Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin | www.mstc.edu | 7 |
Midland College | Midland | Texas | www.midland.edu | 7 |
Morehead State University | Morehead | Kentucky | www.moreheadstate.edu | 7 |
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | Omaha | Nebraska | www.methodistcollege.edu | 7 |
Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights | Kentucky | www.nku.edu | 7 |
Northwest Kansas Technical College | Goodland | Kansas | www.nwktc.edu | 7 |
Polk State College | Winter Haven | Florida | www.polk.edu | 7 |
Rowan College at Gloucester County | Sewell | New Jersey | www.rcgc.edu | 7 |
Santa Fe Community College | Santa Fe | New Mexico | www.sfcc.edu | 7 |
South Arkansas Community College | El Dorado | Arkansas | www.southark.edu | 7 |
South Plains College | Levelland | Texas | www.southplainscollege.edu | 7 |
The University of Montana | Missoula | Montana | www.umt.edu | 7 |
Victoria College | Victoria | Texas | www.victoriacollege.edu | 7 |
Wheeling Jesuit University | Wheeling | West Virginia | www.wju.edu | 7 |
Wilkes Community College | Wilkesboro | North Carolina | www.wilkescc.edu | 7 |
Coahoma Community College | Clarksdale | Mississippi | www.coahomacc.edu | 6 |
Clarion University of Pennsylvania | Clarion | Pennsylvania | www.clarion.edu | 6 |
Coastal Pines Technical College | Waycross | Georgia | www.coastalpines.edu | 6 |
Lakeland Community College | Kirtland | Ohio | www.lakelandcc.edu | 6 |
Madisonville Community College | Madisonville | Kentucky | madisonville.kctcs.edu | 6 |
Maysville Community and Technical College | Maysville | Kentucky | maysville.kctcs.edu | 6 |
Missouri State University-West Plains | West Plains | Missouri | www.wp.missouristate.edu | 6 |
Pima Medical Institute-Houston | Houston | Texas | pmi.edu | 6 |
Reading Area Community College | Reading | Pennsylvania | www.racc.edu | 6 |
Southern State Community College | Hillsboro | Ohio | www.sscc.edu | 6 |
Southern University at Shreveport | Shreveport | Louisiana | www.susla.edu | 6 |
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | Elizabethtown | Kentucky | elizabethtown.kctcs.edu | 5 |
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Indiana | www.iupui.edu | 5 |
Labette Community College | Parsons | Kansas | www.labette.edu | 5 |
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences | Lancaster | Pennsylvania | www.pacollege.edu | 5 |
University of Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Indiana | uindy.edu | 5 |
University of Rio Grande | Rio Grande | Ohio | www.rio.edu | 5 |
Sullivan County Community College | Loch Sheldrake | New York | sunysullivan.edu | 4 |
Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville | Alabama | www.jsu.edu | 4 |
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | Bowling Green | Ohio | www.bgsu.edu | 4 |
Canisius College | Buffalo | New York | www.canisius.edu | 4 |
CEM College-Mayaguez | Mayaguez | Puerto Rico | www.cemcollege.edu/cem | 4 |
Concorde Career Institute-Miramar | Miramar | Florida | www.concorde.edu/campus/miramar-florida | 4 |
Howard College | Big Spring | Texas | www.howardcollege.edu | 4 |
Missouri State University-Springfield | Springfield | Missouri | www.missouristate.edu | 4 |
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College | Orangeburg | South Carolina | www.octech.edu | 4 |
Rush University | Chicago | Illinois | www.rushu.rush.edu | 4 |
San Juan College | Farmington | New Mexico | www.sanjuancollege.edu | 4 |
St Luke's College | Sioux City | Iowa | www.stlukescollege.edu | 4 |
Union County College | Cranford | New Jersey | www.ucc.edu | 4 |
Educational Technical College-Recinto de Bayamon | BAYAMON | Puerto Rico | www.edutecpr.com | 3 |
Rowan College of South Jersey | Vineland | New Jersey | www.rcsj.edu | 3 |
Educational Technical College-Recinto de Coamo | Coamo | Puerto Rico | www.edutecpr.com | 3 |
Essex County College | Newark | New Jersey | www.essex.edu | 3 |
Santa Monica College | Santa Monica | California | www.smc.edu | 3 |
Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland | Kentucky | ashland.kctcs.edu | 2 |
Atlantic Cape Community College | Mays Landing | New Jersey | www.atlantic.edu | 2 |
Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences | Memphis | Tennessee | www.bchs.edu | 2 |
Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Quincy | Illinois | www.brcn.edu | 2 |
Dalton State College | Dalton | Georgia | www.daltonstate.edu | 2 |
Hudson County Community College | Jersey City | New Jersey | www.hccc.edu | 2 |
Midland University | Fremont | Nebraska | www.midlandu.edu | 2 |
Seward County Community College | Liberal | Kansas | www.sccc.edu | 2 |
Universidad Adventista de las Antillas | Mayaguez | Puerto Rico | www.uaa.edu | 2 |
University of Holy Cross | New Orleans | Louisiana | uhcno.edu | 2 |
Middlesex County College | Edison | New Jersey | www.middlesexcc.edu | 1 |
Northeast Community College | Norfolk | Nebraska | www.northeast.edu | 1 |
Raritan Valley Community College | Branchburg | New Jersey | www.raritanval.edu | 1 |
Rowan College at Burlington County | Mount Laurel | New Jersey | www.rcbc.edu | 1 |
Samford University | Birmingham | Alabama | www.samford.edu | 1 |
Hybrid & Online Respiratory Therapy Degree Programs
Carlow University
University of Cincinnati Online
There are both hybrid and fully online programs for students who need more flexibility in getting their degree. Usually, a fully online program requires that a student already has an associate degree from a school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). For students without any prior experience, a hybrid program is a good option. This allows students to take didactic courses online and completed hands-on components in an approved on-site clinical location.
Here are some featured flexible online programs in respiratory therapy.
Southeast Community College (AAS) – Southeast Community College offers an associate of applied science in respiratory care, which can be completed in just over one year. With a comprehensive curriculum, graduates will be prepared to take the National Board for Respiratory Care exams and apply for state licensure.
The respiratory therapy program accepts students for fall and spring semesters and is recognized in all 50 states. As a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution (NC-SARA), Southeast Community College is dedicated to providing quality education to students across the country.
- Location: Campuses across Nebraska
- Duration: Four semesters
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
- Tuition: $10,023 total
University of Missouri Online (BS) – The University of Missouri’s online Bachelor of Health Science in Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences with an emphasis in respiratory therapy is designed for those already working in the field. Up to 30 transfer credits can be accepted, making it easy for respiratory therapists to continue their education while maintaining their current job. The program is 100 percent online, allowing students flexibility and convenience.
Students are taught by faculty from the University of Missouri-Columbia’s School of Health Professions and Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences. Applicants with the NBRC RRT credential or Canadian equivalent are eligible for this program, ensuring a high level of education and expertise. And with a 100 percent job placement rate, graduates can feel confident in their future career prospects. This program offers respiratory therapists the opportunity to advance their knowledge and skills while remaining in the field.
- Location: Columbia, MO
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
- Tuition: $13,720.60 total (for transfer students)
Oregon Institute of Technology (BS) – The bachelor’s degree of respiratory care at the Oregon Institute of Technology is one of the finest hybrid programs in the nation, with a CRT pass rate of more than 97 percent and a job placement rate of over 95 percent. Students who engage in this program must already have an associate degree from a CoARC-accredited school and be working at an approved respiratory therapy practice.
- Location: Klamath Fall, OR
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Tuition: $294 per credit
University of Kansas (BS) – The University of Kansas Medical Center offers a fully online RT-to-bachelor’s-degree program for students who already have a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) certification. In addition to being one of the most flexible programs for gaining a bachelor’s degree, it also has a good CRT success rate, with 97 percent of graduates passing the exam.
Graduates from this program are eligible to take specialized credentialing exams, including adult critical care specialist (ACCS), neonatal and pediatric specialist (NPS), and/or the asthma educator (AE-C) national board exams.
- Location: Kansas City, KS
- Duration: Four semesters
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
- Tuition: $342.14 per credit
School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Independence University | Salt Lake City | Utah | www.independence.edu | 207 |
Boise State University | Boise | Idaho | www.boisestate.edu | 136 |
Pima Medical Institute-Tucson | Tucson | Arizona | pmi.edu | 134 |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte | North Carolina | www.uncc.edu | 78 |
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Cincinnati | Ohio | www.uc.edu | 64 |
St Louis College of Health Careers-Fenton | Fenton | Missouri | www.slchc.edu | 36 |
Santa Fe College | Gainesville | Florida | www.sfcollege.edu | 35 |
Platt College-Los Angeles | Alhambra | California | www.plattcollege.edu | 34 |
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | www.uthscsa.edu | 34 |
East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Tennessee | www.etsu.edu | 26 |
Youngstown State University | Youngstown | Ohio | ysu.edu | 26 |
Siena Heights University | Adrian | Michigan | www.sienaheights.edu | 25 |
University of Kansas | Lawrence | Kansas | ku.edu | 23 |
American College for Medical Careers | Orlando | Florida | www.acmc.edu | 22 |
Kansas City Kansas Community College | Kansas City | Kansas | www.kckcc.edu | 18 |
Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | www.nova.edu | 18 |
University of Southern Indiana | Evansville | Indiana | www.usi.edu | 17 |
Augusta University | Augusta | Georgia | www.augusta.edu | 15 |
Kent State University at Ashtabula | Ashtabula | Ohio | www.kent.edu/ashtabula | 13 |
Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | California | home.llu.edu | 11 |
Florida National University-Main Campus | Hialeah | Florida | www.fnu.edu | 11 |
Cardinal Stritch University | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | www.stritch.edu | 10 |
National Park College | Hot Springs | Arkansas | www.np.edu | 10 |
Concordia University-Saint Paul | Saint Paul | Minnesota | www.csp.edu | 7 |
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | Omaha | Nebraska | www.methodistcollege.edu | 7 |
Core & Elective Courses in Respiratory Therapy Programs
At typical respiratory therapy schools, students complete both classwork and hands-on training throughout the program. Initially, students may need to complete core curriculum like English, math, and biology. This eventually gives way to studies of anatomy, medical terminology, medical law, and ethics.
Once fully accepted into a respiratory care program, students will need to complete vital courses such as:
- Mechanical ventilation – This course is focused on teaching students the theory and practical applications of how to use typical mechanical respiration devices. Specific topics include negative pressure ventilation, correcting gas exchange abnormalities, and identifying different types of respiratory monitoring for various illnesses.
- Cardiovascular diagnostics – Students in this course identify and analyze the various diagnostic assessments used in cardiopulmonary healthcare. Specific diagnostic exams may include blood gas levels, pulmonary function testing, EKGs, chest radiographs, spirometry, and other advanced diagnostic studies.
- Pediatric and geriatric pathobiology and critical care – These two courses study the respiratory care of the very young and very old. Specifically, students will learn how to monitor respiratory diagnostics during sleep, set up initial monitoring equipment for those with high potential risks, and different therapeutic interventions for these demographic groups.
- Pharmacology – In this course, students learn the effects of typical cardiopulmonary medications, and what these medicines are typically prescribed for. They also learn the typical side effects and what medicines cannot be prescribed concurrently (i.e., contraindications). Specific types of medicines include adrenergic bronchodilators, mucus-controlling medications, and xanthines.
- Clinical practicum – This is a series of hands-on training sessions in an approved hospital or clinical setting. Students will learn how to assess and monitor the respiration of various types of patients. They will also learn how to analyze diagnostic results in a real-world setting and counsel attending professionals regarding diagnosis and pharmacological options. In the later stages of the practicum, students may also receive direct training on how to pass the CRT exam.
Accreditation of Respiratory Therapy Programs
Students must be careful to choose an appropriately accredited program or may not be eligible for certification upon graduation. To receive a license in all states except Alaska, students must complete a degree program from a college that the Commission has approved on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). The CoARC has a list of approved programs and their student outcomes—including graduation rate, job placement rate, and CRT exam pass rate -- available on their website.
Universities must go through a rigorous process to meet the criteria set up by CoARC. Firstly, the university must be regionally accredited by a body approved by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). Then, the program undergoes a thorough review, which includes an assessment of the staff, facilities, and curriculum. Finally, several on-site visits verify the program's strength and that all areas of the program correlate with the proposed plan.
Remember, it is vital for applicants to ensure that a school has also been regionally accredited through a body affiliated with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). In addition, it is in a student's best interest to ensure that their chosen school has an endorsement from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP). These two endorsements will guarantee that the degree will allow graduates to sit for the national exam and receive a CRT license.
Career Outlook
Respiratory therapy is one of the fastest growing industries in the nation, probably due to the increased need for healthcare among the baby boomer generation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the respiratory therapy industry are projected to increase by 14 percent from 2021 to 2031 – much faster than the average for all occupations. This figure may also reflect an increased need for respiratory specialization due to potentially declining air quality over the next decade.
Respiratory therapists have a large projected job pool and can expect to be some of the highest-paid non-doctoral healthcare workers in the next decade. Although the average wage is $61,810 annually, the highest-paid respiratory therapists can make more than $95,000 annually.
Like many other healthcare careers, education plays a major role in whether graduates can land top-paying jobs. Those who become Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRTs) or Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) often have the best job prospects in the highest-paying areas – outpatient care centers and universities.
Although the most highly-concentrated areas for jobs in the respiratory therapy industry are California, Texas, and Florida, they are not the only states that are in the most need of these healthcare professionals. In fact, some of the best-paying jobs are in more rural areas – such as Alaska and Hawaii – with average wages hovering around $82,000 per year. The BLS suggests that respiratory therapists who are willing to commute to these remote areas will have the best job prospects in the next decade, from 2021 to 2031.
Career Facts | Respiratory Therapist |
---|---|
Related Careers | Radiation Therapist, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Radiologic Technician |
Common Job Titles | Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist, Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) |
Technology & Equipment | Arterial Blood Gas Monitors, Medical Aerosol Tents, Nebulizer |
Source: BLS Sept. 2022 |
Licensing & Certification
To become licensed as a respiratory therapist, it is necessary to gain certification through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). This requires that a prospective respiratory therapist not only complete a program that has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Care Education Programs (CAAHEP), but also that they pass the Therapist Multiple Choice Examination.
Once a student has completed an accredited program and passed the CRT examination, they are credentialed with the NBRC and eligible to be certified in whatever state they choose. Successful completion of the CRT exam makes an individual eligible to go on to complete the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential by sitting for another exam and submitting to a clinical skills simulation examination. Additionally, most states require a state-specific course in medical law and ethics to receive a license to practice as a CRT or RRT.
Licensure is required to become a respiratory therapist in all states except Alaska. And, while completing an accredited program is the most traditional way to gain a license, it is possible to gain certification with an appropriate set of passing exam scores in addition to significant experiences as a respiratory therapist in a professional setting.