Respiratory Therapy Majors Guide

What Does it Mean to Study Respiratory Therapy?

Respiratory therapy is the healthcare field that assists patients with cardiopulmonary (heart/lung) illnesses and breathing difficulties. Respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy technicians assess, treat and monitor these patients.

Respiratory therapy involves the use of diagnostic testing and equipment to determine patients’ lung capacity, oxygen levels in the blood, and other data. This information is used to diagnose patients and to develop treatment plans. Respiratory therapists work with respiratory technicians and other health care professionals to create and carry out these treatment plans.

Most employers require respiratory therapy employees to have an associate degree from an accredited respiratory therapy school. In some cases a certificate in respiratory therapy may be sufficient, but this is rare; more often an associate degree is the minimum educational level required for careers in this field.

Accredited health and medical degree programs in respiratory therapy focus heavily on math and science in addition to medical courses such as cardiopulmonary physiology, respiratory pharmacology, and cardiopulmonary diagnostics. Significant fieldwork is usually required before graduation from an accredited respiratory therapy school.

Depending on their education, respiratory therapy majors can earn positions as respiratory therapists, respiratory therapy technicians, pulmonary function technologists or neonatal-pediatric specialists. With more education and experience, they may advance to management positions, such as medical and health services management.

Types of Respiratory Therapy Degrees

Most respiratory therapy degree programs are offered at the certificate or associate level, with some bachelor’s degrees available as well. Though graduate degrees can be helpful for advancement in any field, advanced respiratory therapy degrees are uncommon.

Respiratory therapy certificate programs are usually classified as either entry-level or advanced. Though some entry-level certification programs exist, most are being phased out of the curriculum, as the associate degree is the educational standard for most careers in respiratory therapy. Entry-level certification programs tend to focus solely on the education and clinical experience needed to pass the Certified Respiratory Therapist examination that most states require for licensure.

What Can You Do With a College Degree in Respiratory Therapy?

Respiratory Therapists

Respiratory therapists assist patients with breathing problems and cardiopulmonary disorders. They work with healthcare professionals to develop treatment plans and assess options for the patient. Respiratory therapists are responsible for implementing and following the treatment plan. Respiratory therapists work under the supervision of a doctor and may supervise respiratory therapy technicians.

Patients of all ages, with a variety of health issues, may require the services of a respiratory therapist to help ease their breathing or aid in ventilation. Respiratory therapists treat premature newborns, performing diagnostic tests and assisting with ventilation when needed. They see heart attack patients and patients with breathing disorders such as emphysema, asthma, or bronchitis. Respiratory therapists may deal with patients in critical situations on life support or in the intensive care unit.

Respiratory therapists use a variety of treatments to assist their patients. For people with asthma, an aerosol medicine is often prescribed. Other patients may require an oxygen mask or chest physiotherapy. Respiratory therapists in some areas are permitted to take electrocardiograms, perform stress tests, and draw blood for testing.

Most respiratory patients are dealing with difficult health issues, and therapists must be sensitive to patients’ concerns and needs. They should work well as part of a team of health professionals, but also be able to make important decisions independently. Successful respiratory therapists are detail-oriented and understand the importance of keeping good records.

Most respiratory therapists are employed by hospitals. Respiratory therapists may also be found in nursing homes, physician’s offices, sleep disorder clinics, and home health care settings. They typically work full time and may be required to work nights and weekends. Those working in sleep disorder clinics usually work night shifts.

In most cases, earning an associate degree from a respiratory therapy school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is required for this position. Respiratory therapists must also be licensed in most states. See the bottom of this page for more information on respiratory therapy certifications.

Respiratory Therapy Technicians

Respiratory therapy technicians work with patients under the supervision of a respiratory therapist. They treat patients according to the treatment plan developed by the respiratory therapist and other healthcare staff. These professionals have many of the same duties as a respiratory therapist, but do not have the same level of responsibility. A respiratory therapy technician does not usually operate life support, nor do they typically work with patients in intensive care units.

Requirements for a respiratory therapy technician vary considerably from state to state. Technicians are usually required to have an entry-level respiratory therapy certificate or associate degree from an accredited respiratory therapy school. In some states — but not all — technicians are required to pass the CRT exam.

As with respiratory therapists, good technicians are patient and sensitive. They are often responsible for documenting patients’ treatments, and must be thorough and responsible with these duties. Respiratory therapy technicians must be able to communicate well with many types of people in all age groups.

Pulmonary Function Technologists

Respiratory therapists often qualify for jobs as pulmonary function technologists. These professionals prepare patients and equipment for diagnostic testing involving lung functioning. They sometimes assist the doctor with these tests and record the test results.

Pulmonary function technologists may be responsible for basic diagnostic testing such as spirometry, lung volume testing, and oximetry. They are often responsible for explaining tests to patients and putting them at ease before the procedure. Pulmonary function technologists work under the direct supervision of a doctor, most frequently in physician’s offices and hospitals.

Pulmonary function technologists are often Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) who learn pulmonary function technology skills on the job. Certification is available to pulmonary function technologists through the National Board for Respiratory Care. A CRT who successfully completes the examination requirements becomes a Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT). An RRT who successfully completes the examination becomes a Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT).

Health and Medical Services Managers

Medical and health services managers plan, deliver, and coordinate health care services for large and small health care facilities. Respiratory therapists with proper education and experience can advance to positions in health services management. They may administer a large facility, such as the respiratory therapy unit in a hospital, or a smaller facility, such as a sleep disorder clinic, home healthcare center, or nursing home.

In smaller facilities, health and medical services managers are often responsible for staff issues, accounts payable and receivable, and patient admissions. In larger facilities, they may develop policies and procedures, create and maintain budgets, and hire, retain and train personnel.

Successful medical and health services managers are meticulous and precise. They have good supervisory skills and are able to work well with a diverse population. They have excellent written and oral communications skills, which allow them to work effectively with patients, staff, and the community.

Medical and health services managers are usually educated in one field of the health care profession, such as respiratory therapy. Following this segment of their education, they usually earn a graduate degree in business or healthcare administration.

The outlook for careers in medical and health services management is very favorable, according to the BLS. Employment in this field is expected to grow faster than average, especially in home healthcare services.

Sales

Education and experience in respiratory therapy are often sufficient for a career in the field of medical equipment sales and rental. The companies that make respiratory devices often hire respiratory therapists to sell their product to hospitals and physicians’ offices. Respiratory therapists use their experience to accurately demonstrate the product and explain its uses and functions.

Sales representatives work with clients on a regular basis and must be able to communicate effectively with them. They should be knowledgeable about their products and their clients’ needs. Good sales reps clearly demonstrate to clients how their needs can be met by using the products in question.

Educational requirements for sales positions vary, but many require at least a bachelor’s degree (though not necessarily in respiratory therapy). Experience with the type of products being sold is often more important than formal education.

Though no license is legally required to be a sales representative, manufacturers may require their sales reps to earn certain certifications and/or licenses as a way for them to stay informed about products in their industry and sales techniques in their field.

Respiratory Therapy Certification, Licensure and Associations

In most states, respiratory therapists must be licensed to practice. Of those states requiring licensure, most recognize the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) as the acceptable credentials for respiratory therapists. Both the CRT and RRT are credentials offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

• The Certified Respiratory Therapist Credential (CRT): To earn the CRT credential, graduation from an accredited respiratory therapy program and successful completion of a specific examination is required. Certified Respiratory Therapists are able to apply for entry-level positions in respiratory therapy.
• The Registered Respiratory Therapist Credential (RRT): Candidates for the RRT must be already have earned the CRT, then must pass a written content examination and a clinical simulation examination. The RRT credential is usually required for advanced respiratory therapy positions that require significant amounts of responsibility.

Though respiratory therapists work with patients of all ages, some choose to specialize in pediatrics. For these respiratory therapists, the NBRC offers the Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Specialty Examination. This examination is open to CRTs with one year of experience in neonatal/pediatric respiratory care and to all RRTs. The NBRC also offers an examination that allows CRTs and RRTs to earn the title of Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT), allowing them to work as pulmonary function technologists.

In addition to these certifications, most states require that respiratory therapists and other registered respiratory professionals maintain CPR certifications. These certifications can be renewed in a short amount of time, often by taking a quick refresher course.

Many states require that licensed respiratory therapists renew their licensure through continuing education credits. State requirements vary, but most require renewal every three years by obtaining at least 30 hours of continuing education credit. Continuing education credits can be obtained by taking respiratory therapy courses, participating in professional associations, and attending professional seminars and conferences.

Students who need to know licensing requirements for respiratory therapy should consult their local licensing boards. Each state has its own licensing requirements, and it is important to understand what may be required of you before you begin a degree program.

• American Association for Respiratory Care
• American Lung Association
• American Respiratory Care Foundation
• American Thoracic Society (ATS)
• Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists
• Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
• National Board for Respiratory Care