How To Become An Respiratory Therapist
Becoming a respiratory therapist is a great way to help others, and it can be a really rewarding career. There are many different paths you can take to become a respiratory therapist, and we’ll discuss some of them below.
Get Your High School Diploma or GED
You’ll need your high school diploma or GED to get into most schools that offer respiratory therapy programs. However, some may accept other forms of education as well. Check with the schools you’re considering to see if you need to have graduated with a high school diploma or GED.
Take Required Courses in College
If you don’t already have an associate’s degree, then you’ll need to attend college for two years before graduating with your bachelor’s degree. While in college, take courses in biology and chemistry because these are required by most schools offering respiratory therapy programs. You should also take classes like math and English composition because they will help prepare you for the SATs (or ACTs) required on applications for many colleges/universities. You might also want to consider taking some electives like psychology and sociology which will help you understand people better as well as what makes them tick psychologically speaking!
How To Become An Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory Therapist Salary
Respiratory therapy has become an increasingly popular field and is expected to see an increase in job growth of 23% by the year 2026. With the increase in knowledge about healthcare and the desire to prevent disease, it’s no wonder why this field is in such demand. People are living longer than ever before and may require more breathing help as they age. Issues regarding sleep, such as sleep apnea, are on the rise and need the assistance of respiratory therapists to manage and treat their conditions.
The average salary for a respiratory therapist is $59,710, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Respiratory Therapy Degree Type | Average Salary |
| Associates Degree | $49,473 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | $59,710 |
| Master’s Degree | $61,336 |
How Long Does It Take to Become a Respiratory Therapist?
The process of how to become a respiratory therapist takes a minimum of two years if you obtain your associates degree. However, many employers favor candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in the field, which takes about four years to complete.
Hands-on clinical experience is also required to become a licensed respiratory therapist. After completing all respiratory therapist education requirements, including laboratory, simulation and clinical experiences in the hospitals, aspiring therapists must also pass a credentialing examination and acquire a license to practice in their home state.
So just how long does it take to be a respiratory therapist? The entire process may take up to four years from start to finish, including earning your Bachelor of Health Science in Respiratory Care degree and becoming licensed. Respiratory therapy is a rewarding career with high demand in the health care field.
What Does a Respiratory Therapist Do?
Becoming a respiratory therapist provides opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of those with breathing problems and enjoy the benefits of an in-demand career in the medical field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as a respiratory therapist you will provide a number of services for patients with breathing difficulties, including the following:
- Measure lung capacity to determine a patient’s condition
- Educate patients about their conditions and the proper use of therapeutic equipment
- Provide basic treatments for diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and COPD
- Take notes and keep records of patients’ treatments and prognoses
- Serve as a member of the Code Team in performing basic and advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Initiate mechanical ventilation and maintain life support
- Assist doctors in creating and monitoring treatment plans
Respiratory therapy is a rewarding career, but you also need to understand that it is fast-paced, physically enduring, and often requires you to carry a beeper and respond to emergencies in the emergency department, ventilator alarms in the intensive care unit, or codes throughout the hospital.
Types of Respiratory Care Degrees
There are various types of respiratory care degrees you can pursue depending on the career field of your choice.
| Respiratory Therapy Degree Type | Jobs |
| Associates Degree | Sleep Study Technician |
| Bachelor’s Degree | Respiratory Therapist |
| Master’s Degree | Respiratory Therapist Educator |
Education Requirements and Prerequisites
In order to get a job in respiratory therapy, there are certain education requirements and prerequisites you will have to fulfill to get your degree before you can begin your career. Respiratory therapists need at minimum and associates degree in order to be considered for a position within the field, although more advanced degrees are strongly preferred. A bachelor’s degree or master’s degree may lead to more job opportunities and growth later in your career. Some prerequisites, such as chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology courses, may be required before beginning a degree in respiratory therapy. Clinical experiences are often required for respiratory therapy majors so that they can graduate with real-world experience before entering the workforce.
What Conditions do Respiratory Therapists Treat?
Respiratory therapists seek to help patients who are experiencing issues with their breathing and airways. Some conditions or ailments respiratory therapists treat include:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Cardiac Failure
- COPD
- Emphysema
- Lung Cancer
- Premature Babies
- Sleep Apnea
Where do Respiratory Therapists Work?
Respiratory therapists primarily work in medical facilities, such as hospitals, diagnostic laboratories or doctor’s offices. While hospitals are the primary place where respiratory therapists work, there are numerous other locations including:
- Doctor’s Offices
- Educational Institutions
- Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
- Patient Homes
- Rehabilitation Facilities
- Sleep Disorder Testing Centers
GMercyU, Your Pathway to Success
To become a respiratory therapist and qualify for employment in this growing field, you’ll need to complete either an Associates degree in Respiratory Care or a Bachelor of Health Science in Respiratory Care, pass credentialing examinations, and obtain licensure in your state.
At the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions at Gwynedd Mercy University, we offer pathways to success that can help you achieve your goals of becoming a respiratory therapist. In fact, our students have a near 100% pass rate on the Certified Respiratory Therapist exam that is administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, and GMercyU has been nationally recognized by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) to receive the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award with a 90+% pass rate over the past 3-year cycle.
Our respiratory care programs provide you with the classroom, laboratory and clinical education you need to qualify for good-paying jobs in this field. You will be taught by an experienced, dedicated and accomplished faculty – published authors, seasoned presenters, and experts in cardiopulmonary physiology, disease management, mechanical ventilation, and pulmonary diagnostics. Our faculty are professional leaders with more than 120 years of experience dedicated and committed to your professional growth and development.
Contact our Admissions office today at 800-342-5462 or send an email to admissions@gmercyu.edu to learn more about our associates and bachelor’s degree programs in the profession of respiratory care. We look forward to the chance to help you achieve your career goals.
