Respiratory Therapy Degree | Online Respiratory Therapy Program

Respiratory Therapy Degree | Online Respiratory Therapy Program | Our TOP Recommendations
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Respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy technicians—also known as respiratory care practitioners—evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders.

• Nature of the Work - Working under the supervision of a physician, respiratory therapists have the responsibility for all diagnostic procedures, respiratory care therapeutic treatments. Respiratory therapy technicians adhere to precise, well-defined respiratory care procedures under the supervision of physicians and respiratory therapists.
• Respiratory Therapy Degree - Schools - In 2006, there were 45 entry-level and 334 advanced respiratory therapy programs accredited in the United States. An associate degree is needed to become a respiratory therapist. Training is available at medical schools, colleges and universities, the Armed Forces, and vocational-technical institutes.
• Licensing - Except in Alaska and Hawaii, respiratory therapists must be licensed to practice in the United States. Additionally, most employers require respiratory therapists to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification. For the most part, licensure is typically based on meeting the certification requirements from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
  
  

Respiratory Therapy Degree - Schools and Training

Among the fields of study in respiratory therapy programs are microbiology, chemistry, physics, human anatomy and physiology, mathematics, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. Additional classes feature cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, patient assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and tests, equipment, respiratory health promotion and disease prevention, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, patient care outside of hospitals, the application of clinical practice guidelines, and medical recordkeeping and reimbursement.

High school students with a desire to apply to respiratory therapy programs should enroll in chemistry, biology, mathematics, physics, and health classes. Respiratory care entails an understanding of chemical and physical principles and general mathematical problem solving skills. For instance, respiratory care workers must have the ability to calculate gas concentrations and compute dosages of medication.

As far as education is concerned, an associate degree is the minimum requirement, but a bachelor’s or master’s degree may be significant for advancement. All States require respiratory therapists to be licensed, except Alaska and Hawaii.


Respiratory Therapy Degree - Schools - Graduate - Job Outlook

Employment opportunities appear to be very good. The large majority of job opportunities will be found in hospitals. On the other hand, an increasing number of jobs are expected to become available outside of hospitals, particularly in consumer-goods rental firms, home health care services, doctors’ offices, or other health practitioners’ offices, or in the employment services industry as a temporary worker in other fields.

In 2006, respiratory therapists held about 122,000 jobs. About 79 percent of jobs were located in hospitals, specifically in anesthesiology, respiratory care, or pulmonary medicine departments. Most of the other jobs were in home health care services, nursing care facilities, doctors’ or other health practitioners’ offices, and consumer-goods rental firms that offer respiratory equipment for home use. Having a second job is pretty common for many respiratory therapists. Around 12 percent held a second job, compared with 5 percent of workers in all careers.

Quicker-than-average job growth is expected for respiratory therapists. Employment opportunities should be excellent, particularly for respiratory therapists with experience working with infants and who have cardiopulmonary care skills.


Respiratory Therapy Degree - Schools - Graduates - Earnings Statistics

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that in May 2006, average annual incomes of salary and wage respiratory therapists were $47,50. The middle 50 percent made between $40,50 and $56,000. The bottom 10 percent made less than $35,000, and the top 10 percent made more than $64,000.

In May 2006, average annual incomes of salary and wage respiratory therapy technicians were $39,000. The middle 50 percent made between $32,000 and $46,500. The bottom 10 percent made less than $25,750, and the top 10 percent made more than $56,000.

Related Occupations: While being supervised by a physician, respiratory therapists provide respiratory care and life support to patients with heart and lung difficulties. Other workers who treat, care for, or train patients to improve their breathing or physical condition include physical therapists, radiation therapists, registered nurses, occupational therapists, and athletic trainers. Respiratory care works deal with advanced medical technology, as do other health care workers like nuclear medicine technologists, radiologic technologists and technicians, cardiovascular technologists and technicians, and diagnostic medical sonographers.


Respiratory Therapy Degree - Schools and Colleges


There are an excellent number of choices for attaining your Respiratory Therapy Degree. Online schools and colleges now provide the same curriculum as the traditional education. Learning online provides you with so much more flexibility to suit your lifestyle and current employment. We include our top recommendations for schools and classes where you can earn your Respiratory Therapy Degree.


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