Respiratory Therapy - Schools
and Careers
Become a healthcare professional – start a career in
Respiratory Therapy
Healthcare professionals are
well paid and in high demand. A career as a
Respiratory Therapist
offers the opportunity for an exciting and rewarding
occupation
in the healthcare profession. According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, the job outlook is excellent, especially for Respiratory
Therapists with
cardiopulmonary care skills or experience working
with infants.
Respiratory Therapists must complete a minimum of a 2
year Associate Degree
and pass a State exam. All States (except
Alaska and Hawaii), the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico
require Respiratory Therapists to obtain a license.
Training is
offered by community colleges, colleges and universities, and technical
schools. Training programs prepare graduates for jobs as
Registered Respiratory
Therapists (RRT) or Certified Respiratory
Therapists (CRT).
Hospitals employ the vast majority of Respiratory
Therapists, but a growing
number of therapists will work in other
settings such as Home Health Agencies,
Respiratory Therapy
Clinics, Physician Offices and Rehabilitation Centers.
Respiratory Therapists may specialize in the following
areas:
- Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics
- Critical
Care
- Neonatal Care
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
-
Sleep Laboratories
Respiratory Therapists and
respiratory therapy technicians - also known as
respiratory care
practitioners - evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing
or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Respiratory Therapists evaluate
and treat all
types of patients, ranging from premature infants
whose lungs are not fully
developed to elderly people whose lungs
are diseased.
Beginning a career as a Respiratory Therapist can be
an important step in
securing your future.
