updated 10/26/12

Do you have what it takes to be a respiratory therapist (RT)?

• Do you want to help people in their time of need?
• Do you like working with technology?  Are you good in math and science?
• Would you prefer working in a profession where there’s a lot of variety in the job?
• Do you want to be able to choose the type of place you work in and the type of patients you work with?
• Are you looking for a career with multiple opportunities for advancement—not just one?

If this sounds like you, our profession could be a great fit.  Check out the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) website. While you're there, be sure to watch the video clip called "Life and Breath" to take a good look at RTs on the job!

What RTs do

• Diagnose breathing disorders and recommend therapy 
• Interview patients and do physical exams 
• Consult with physicians to recommend therapy changes
• Analyze breath, tissue, and blood specimens
• Manage ventilators and artificial airway devices 
• Respond to Code Blue, disasters or urgent calls
• Transport patients
• Educate patients and families

Where RTs work

• In hospitals right at the bedside, along with doctors and nurses in the ICU, ED, OR, NICU, and PICU
• Long-term care
• Pediatrics
• Home care
• Sleep medicine
• Nursing homes
• Pulmonary rehabilitation
• Doctors offices and clinics
• Transport
• Case management, smoking cessation, disaster management, asthma management, education and more...

How respiratory therapists may enter the field and earn a license to practice

• An associate’s degree from a community college
• A bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university
• A master’s degree from a post-graduate program

The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) evaluates the competence of respiratory therapists.

CRT and RRT Exams

• After graduation RTs may take an entry-level exam which, upon passing, leads to the credential Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT).
• Subsequently they may take two more exams that lead to the advanced Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential
• Specialty exams may also be taken in PFTs, neo-peds and sleep medicine

Respiratory therapy employment and financial outlook

• According to a study from the AARC, the average new graduate earns $41,438 in their first year on the job.
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the median pay for a Respiratory Therapist in 2010 was $54,280 per year or $26.10 per hour.
• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the need for RTs will grow, faster than average, up to 28% over the next decade!
• With demand rising, so are salaries!

Respiratory therapists have an opportunity to make a substantial difference in the outcome and education of patients with pulmonary problems.