Becoming a Respiratory Therapist
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about a career in the field of
healthcare? Does your mind conjure up images of somber-looking doctors and nurses attending
to one medical emergency after another? Or are you discouraged by the thought of going through
years of extensive schooling?
Well, it’s time someone told you there is more to the healthcare profession than doctors and
nurses. There’s a whole army of healthcare professionals who specialize in providing different
kinds of patient care. What’s more encouraging is the fact that a lot of these professions don’t
require extensive training or years of schooling.
Among these lesser known medical warriors are respiratory therapists or RTs. Respiratory
therapists provide treatment, evaluation, and care to patients who are suffering from breathing or
cardiopulmonary disorders.
They work with physicians in the cardiopulmonary or respiratory care department of a hospital,
clinic, or home health services center. Among their many duties are:
1. Diagnosing breathing disorders.
2. Recommending appropriate treatment.
3. Conducting physical examination of patients.
4. Managing ventilators and other breathing devices.
5. Educating patients and their families about breathing disorders.
If you think becoming a Respiratory Therapist is your cup of tea, you need to start planning early.
Maintaining good grades in biology, chemistry, physics, and math through high school could hold
the key to becoming a Respiratory Therapist.
A strong foundation in these subjects will ensure that you sail smoothly through college. Although
you can get started with an Allied Health degree, there are direct programs that train you
specifically for a career in Respiratory Therapy and may be a good choice for interested
candidates.
Two-year training programs leading to an Associate’s degree in Respiratory Therapy are offered
by community colleges, career schools, hospitals, and the armed forces. An Associate’s degree
comprises both classroom instruction as well as clinical training. In fact, clinical training is a very
important component of any Respiratory Therapy program as it allows students to work in real life
situations in a healthcare environment.
Although entry-level jobs can be attained with an Associate’s degree, a Bachelor’s degree in
Respiratory Care indicates a higher level of expertise and may be necessary for professional
growth as well as for accessing roles with greater complexity. A Bachelor’s in Respiratory Care
program also comprises courses in management and non-clinical aspects of healthcare.
Some of the topics you can expect to learn en route to becoming a Respiratory Therapist are
Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology, Pulmonary Anatomy & Physiology, Airway Management,
Microbiology & Decontamination, Respiratory Care Protocols, Mechanical Ventilation
Management, etc. Respiratory Therapists require a license from the National Board for
Respiratory Care (NBRC) to practice in all U.S. states except Alaska and Hawaii. The board
offers two types of credentials:
Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT): This license is offered to RTs who graduate from
accredited entry-level or advanced programs and also pass a licensure examination.
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT): This license is offered to CRTs who graduate from an
advanced accredited program and pass two separate examinations. RTs who desire supervisory
positions require an RRT.
In addition to these NBRC-conferred licenses, all practicing respiratory therapists need to obtain
and maintain a certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (or CPR). Once you have the
desired qualifications and necessary licensure, you can explore employment possibilities in a
wide range of healthcare settings.