Become a Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory therapists are responsible for evaluatingThe minimum educational requirement to become a
and treating patients with breathing or lung disorders.respiratory therapist is an associate degree, although a
Working together with, and often under the supervisionbachelor's or master's degree is highly preferable.
of, physicians or medical professionals, respiratoryThere are literally hundreds of accredited respiratory
therapists treat disorders such as asthma,therapy programs available today. They are offered at
emphysema and cystic fibrosis using a variety ofcolleges and universities, medical schools, vocational
methods and highly-specialized equipment to assisttechnical institutes, and the Armed Forces.
patients with their breathing. To evaluate patients,In all states except Alaska and Hawaii, respiratory
respiratory therapists interview them and conducttherapists must be licensed in order to practice.
diagnostic tests such as measuring their breathingLicensure is usually based on obtaining the Certified
capacity and determining the concentration of oxygenRespiratory Therapist (CRT) credential awarded by
or acidity in their blood. To treat patients, respiratorythe National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). In
therapists set up and monitor ventilator equipment,order to earn CRT certification, a therapist must have
perform chest therapy to remove mucus from theirgraduated from an accredited educational program
lungs, and assist them with rehabilitative exercises.and must also pass the licensing exam offered by the
Although most respiratory therapists work in hospitals,NBRC. An advanced credential, the Registered
an increasingly large number of them are employed byRespiratory Therapist (RRT) certification, is available to
home care agencies, nursing homes, and respiratoryCRTs who have graduated from advanced programs
therapy clinics.and are able to pass two separate examinations.
Education, Certification, Licensing