Respiratory therapy schools prepare you to work with patients who have medical conditions that interfere with proper breathing. Respiratory Therapy, also called Respiratory Care, is one of four rehabilitation therapy fields. Graduates from respiratory therapy programs who earn the required credentials are called respiratory therapy practitioners.
Facts
Respiratory therapy schools are post-secondary institutions that prepare you to work in respiratory therapy at entry or advanced levels. As a respiratory therapy practitioner, you work with patients of all ages who are experiencing breathing or cardiopulmonary difficulties caused by chronic conditions or illness. Respiratory therapy schools teach you to assess patients in collaboration with physicians and other health professionals and to identify and administer the appropriate treatments.
Credentialing
The minimum qualification to become a respiratory therapy practitioner is an associate's degree from an accredited program. All the states except Alaska and Hawaii also require a state-issued license. In order to qualify for state license, you must pass the Certified Respiratory Therapist's (CRT) exam administered by the National Board of Respiratory Care. To earn the advanced credentials, you must also pass the two-part Registered Respiratory Therapist's (RRT) exam. You have three years after passing the CRT exam to pass the Registry, as it is called. If you do not pass the Registry within this time frame, you must retake the CRT before sitting for the Registry again.
Programs
Respiratory Therapy programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education (CAAHE). As of October 2009, CAAHE listed 369 active respiratory therapy programs offered across the United States. Twenty-nine (29) of these programs prepare you to become a respiratory therapy technician. Three hundred thirty-four (334) of these programs prepare you to become a registered respiratory therapist. There are an additional 54 colleges and universities that offer bachelors or masters degree programs in respiratory therapy. Advanced degrees are often required to gain promotions into supervisory or managerial positions.
The respiratory therapy curriculum includes science courses such as microbiology, physics, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and mathematics. Therefore, you need a solid foundation in math and science before enrolling in a program by taking math, biology, chemistry, physics and health courses in high school.
Schools
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that respiratory therapy programs are offered in colleges, universities, medical schools, and vocational-technical institutes across the county as well as by the Armed Forces. The states with the greatest number of schools are Texas, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, New York, Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri. There is also one accredited online program listed by CAAHE.
Considerations
According to the American Association of Respiratory Care, to become a respiratory therapist you should enjoy using technology and helping people particularly during difficult times. You should also be good in math and science.
Because respiratory therapists work in hospitals, nursing care facilities and home health care facilities, you will probably have to work evenings, nights or weekends. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, respiratory therapy practitioner salaries ranged from $25,940 to $64,190 in May 2006.
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