Respiratory Therapist Career Guide

Looking for a different career guide?

Overview

Respiratory therapists (RTs) play a critical role on healthcare teams, whether responding to emergencies in the trauma unit, caring for babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or working in pulmonary rehabilitation. If performing life-saving procedures sounds appealing, you might be well-suited for an RT career.

Respiratory therapists evaluate, care for and educate patients of all ages with lung and breathing disorders. They help treat patients with asthma, sleep apnea, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis. They also provide critical care for heart attack, stroke and trauma patients having trouble breathing.

Respiratory therapist jobs typically include:

Evaluating patients and performing pulmonary function tests
Working with physicians to determine appropriate respiratory care
Administering oxygen and medication
Providing emergency care to patients who can’t breathe on their own
Setting up mechanical ventilators and artificial airway devices
Educating patients and families on managing chronic conditions

Education

Aspiring RTs must complete a degree at an accredited respiratory therapy education program. To ensure you qualify to take the national certification exam, confirm that it has accreditations from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

The CoARC evaluates programs to ensure they meet quality standards. As of mid-March 2023, prospective students could choose from more than 400 accredited college and university respiratory care programs to prepare for an RT career.

Respiratory therapy programs are 2 to 4 years long, depending on the degree. The minimum requirement for becoming an RT is an associate degree. However, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) recommends a bachelor’s or master’s degree to best prepare for a future in the field. Check with your state board for specific degree requirements before selecting a program.

Respiratory therapy programs are rigorous, ensuring students are ready for the challenges of the job. Programs typically combine classroom education, hands-on learning and

Qualifications

Related certifications

Once you complete an accredited program, it’s time to earn your national respiratory therapy credential to demonstrate your qualifications. There are two certifications available through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC):

Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) is an entry-level certification
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) is an advanced certification

All candidates start with the Therapist Multiple-Choice Exam (TMC), which consists of 160 questions. The score you receive on the TMC determines which credential you earn. If you achieve the low-cut score, you earn the CRT. If you achieve the high-cut score, you earn the CRT and become eligible to take the Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE) to earn the RRT. The CSE consists of 22 problems designed to simulate situations you might encounter as a respiratory therapist.

In addition to a CRT or RRT credential, employers usually require Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications. As you grow your respiratory

Skills

Respiratory therapists work as part of multidisciplinary teams in fast-paced environments. Some of the diverse skills you need to perform the job well include:

Ability to work calmly in high-pressure settings
Critical thinking skills to assess situations and make decisions
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
Excellent organizational abilities and attention to detail
Exceptional interpersonal skills to work with colleagues and patients
Patience, empathy and listening skills
Ability to communicate clearly with patients and families
Strong proficiency in math to perform calculations
Aptitude for working with advanced technology and equipment

Thousands of healthcare jobs in
your pocket.

4.8

13.6k Ratings

4.4

1.5k Ratings

Responsibilities

Respiratory therapists are crucial in providing respiratory care and support to patients with breathing disorders. Specific job responsibilities of a respiratory therapist include but aren’t limited to the following:

Assessing and Diagnosing: Respiratory therapists evaluate patients with breathing difficulties, assessing their lung capacity, oxygen levels and overall respiratory function. They use diagnostic tools and tests to determine the nature and severity of respiratory disorders.
Creating and Implementing Treatment Plans: Respiratory therapists develop individualized treatment plans for patients based on their assessments. They administer therapies such as oxygen therapy, aerosol medications, chest physiotherapy and breathing exercises to improve lung function.
Operating and Monitoring Respiratory Equipment: Respiratory therapists are proficient in operating and maintaining various respiratory devices and equipment. They set up and monitor mechanical ventilators, oxygen delivery systems and other respiratory support devices.
Conducting Pulmonary Function Tests: Respiratory therapists perform pulmonary function tests to evaluate lung capacity and efficiency. These tests measure lung volumes, airflow

Salary Insights

Salary guide

Compare your pay with the most up-to-date job market data using our comprehensive salary calculator.

Discipline Required

Specialty

Respiratory Therapist

$1,523-2,423/week

The average salary for a Respiratory Therapist is $1,981.15 per week.

Last updated on March 30, 2025. Based on active jobs on Vivian.com.

Pros & Cons

A respiratory therapy career can be professionally and personally rewarding. The following outlines some pros of this allied health profession.

Respiratory Therapy Is a Fast-Growing Field: Current and prospective RTs can look forward to a strong job market with increased demand for respiratory services and treatment in the coming years. The BLS forecasts a 14% growth in RT jobs in the United States between 2021 and 2031, according to May 2021 data. This growth translates to about 18,400 new positions created during this 10-year span.

Salaries Are Competitive: Vivian’s salary data shows staff respiratory therapist salaries averaged $30.75 per hour on March 15, 2023. While there are higher-paying allied health specialties, the average RT staff salary is 6% higher than the average staff allied health salary of $28.95 posted on this same date.

Respiratory Therapists Can Work and Travel: Respiratory therapists can take advantage of the demand for their skills and work temporary travel

Was this page helpful?

Yes