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Why respiratory therapy matters (and where you’ll fit in the care team)

Respiratory therapists are central to acute and chronic care for patients with conditions such as COPD, asthma, ARDS, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, neuromuscular weakness, and the respiratory complications of COVID-19 and other critical illnesses. RTs are found in emergency departments, intensive care units (ICUs), neonatal/pediatric units, pulmonary-function labs, outpatient pulmonary rehab clinics, home oxygen and ventilator programs, and on transport teams. Your expertise improves survival, shortens hospital stays, and improves quality of life for patients who struggle to breathe. Employment figures and professional summaries show that the occupation is sizable and growing. O*NET OnLineAARC

The day-to-day: what you’ll actually do (realistic description)

Your exact duties depend on the setting, but the core tasks repeat across sites:

• Acute care / ICU / ED: manage mechanical ventilators (initiation, weaning, troubleshooting), perform arterial blood-gas draws and interpretation, assist with intubation and extubation, manage oxygenation/ventilation strategies, perform chest physiotherapy as needed, and support ECMO teams where available.
• Neonatal/pediatric: care for premature infants on specialized ventilators, perform gentle ventilation strategies, and collaborate closely with neonatologists.
• Pulmonary function & diagnostics: run and interpret spirometry, lung volumes, diffusion studies, and six-minute walk tests; perform sleep studies in sleep labs.
• Outpatient & pulmonary rehab: deliver education (inhaler technique, energy conservation), supervise exercise programs for COPD and post-COVID patients, and manage long-term oxygen programs.
• Home-care & durable medical equipment: set up home ventilators, teach patients and caregivers safe use, monitor equipment function, and troubleshoot remotely or in person.
• Transport & emergency response: move critically ill patients between facilities, maintain ventilation during transport, and provide rapid airway support in emergencies.

Some days are routine (scheduled PFTs, planned ventilator checks). Other days are urgent and technical: you’ll interpret blood gases, change ventilator settings, or respond to a code blue. Expect a blend of procedure, patient teaching, documentation, and collaboration with physicians, nurses, and respiratory-care assistants.

Who thrives as an RT? Personality, strengths and the soft-fit checklist

You’ll likely enjoy being an RT if you:

• Are calm under pressure and skilled at focused problem-solving.
• Enjoy technical equipment and learning new devices and software.
• Like a mix of patient contact and procedural tasks.
• Want visible outcomes — patient breathing improves and you know why.
• Communicate clearly with anxious patients and families and can teach complex tasks simply.

Less of a fit if you hate unpredictable shifts, dislike being on your feet a lot, or have low tolerance for life-or-death responsibilities. If you’re unsure, try a short career assessment, the MAPP at www.assessment.com helps match your motivators and work-style preferences to respiratory therapy tasks. Is this career path right for you? Find out Free.

Core skills & competencies: what you must be able to do

Clinical & technical

• Ventilator management: modes, settings, weaning strategies, alarms, ventilator waveforms interpretation.
• Airway care: assist with intubation, extubation, airway suctioning, and emergency airway maneuvers.
• Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis: draw ABGs and interpret pH / PaCO₂ / PaO₂ to guide therapy.
• Oxygen therapy & noninvasive ventilation: delivery systems, high-flow nasal cannula, CPAP/BiPAP set-up and titration.
• Diagnostic testing: spirometry, lung-volume measurement, DLCO, smoking-cessation counseling, and sleep testing basics.

Soft skills & teamwork

• Clear, calm communication with patients (education and reassurance).
• Precision documentation and understanding of billing/medical records.
• Team collaboration: working seamlessly with physicians, nurses, PT/OT, and home-care vendors.

Safety mindset

• Rigor in infection control, safe aerosol procedures, and equipment maintenance, patient and clinician safety matter every minute.

Education, credentialing & licensure: realistic pathway

The education path is straightforward compared with many clinical careers, but certification and state licensing are essential:

1. Entry-level education: Most employers require an associate degree from a respiratory-care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC); bachelor’s programs exist and are becoming more common for leadership roles. Graduates complete clinical rotations across ICU, neonatal, and pulmonary settings. AARC
   
2. Credentialing: After graduation you are eligible to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) examinations. Common credentials include the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and the advanced Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. The RRT requires passing more rigorous exams and meeting NBRC criteria; it’s the standard for advanced practice and many employers. nbrc.org+1
   
3. State licensure / registration: Nearly all U.S. states require RT licensure or registration to practice—requirements vary and usually include NBRC credentials and background checks.
4. Continuing competence: Many employers and NBRC require ongoing continuing education and periodic re-testing or competency verification for maintenance of credentials. nbrc.org
   

Typical time to entry: a quality associate program plus exam prep often takes 2 years; bachelor’s tracks take longer but increase competitiveness for advanced or administrative roles.

Salary & compensation: realistic numbers (data-backed)

Respiratory therapists enjoy solid compensation for an associate-level allied-health profession. As of May 2024, the median annual wage for respiratory therapists was $80,450 (about $38.68 per hour). Wage ranges vary by state, experience, and setting; the lowest 10% earned under roughly $61,900, and the highest 10% earned above about $108,820. Bureau of Labor StatisticsO*NET OnLine

What affects pay:

• Setting: ICU/hospital and transport roles often pay more than outpatient or long-term care.
• Geography: urban and high-cost areas pay more nominally; shortages in rural areas may include incentives.
• Credentials & experience: RRT credential, advanced certifications (neonatal, pulmonary function), and leadership roles (lead RT, manager) increase pay.
• Shift differentials & overtime: nights, weekends, and holiday differentials plus overtime can significantly raise earnings.

If compensation is a major driver, target acute-care, transport, or specialized roles and earn RRT/advanced credentials.

Job outlook & demand: why the field is growing

The employment outlook for RTs is strong: employment of respiratory therapists is projected to grow about 13% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations, with roughly ~8,200 openings per year expected on average over that decade (driven by growth and replacement needs). Demand arises from an aging population, high prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases, and expanded care needs for acute respiratory failure and post-ICU care. Professional associations and government data align on this positive outlook. Bureau of Labor StatisticsAARC

That projected growth makes respiratory therapy a stable and strategic career choice for people who want both immediate employability and long-term career options.

Growth paths & specializations: how the career expands

Respiratory therapy is not a static role — experienced RTs can grow into many directions:

• Clinical specialization: neonatal/pediatric respiratory care, ECMO specialists, pulmonary function testing specialists, sleep-lab technologists, and transport/flight RTs.
• Advanced clinical roles: lead RT, clinical educator, or department supervisor — these often require additional education or management training.
• Polysomnography & sleep medicine: cross-training to work in sleep labs interpreting and running sleep studies.
• Pulmonary rehab & outpatient programs: integrate chronic-disease management, behavior change, and long-term coaching.
• Home mechanical ventilation & durable medical equipment management: build programs that support patients needing long-term ventilation at home.
• Education & research: teach in CoARC programs, become a clinical coordinator, or pursue applied research in pulmonary care.
• Further clinical advancement: many RTs pursue bachelor’s degrees, then transition to roles in case management, respiratory care administration, or entry into advanced clinician training (e.g., perfusionist or advanced degree programs).
• Leadership & policy: RTs with advanced degrees can move into program leadership, quality & safety roles, or advocacy through professional organizations.

Specializing and gaining RRT or other credentials accelerates access to higher-paying, higher-responsibility roles.

Pros & cons: the honest tradeoffs

Pros

• High job satisfaction: direct, visible clinical impact (helping someone breathe is immediate and meaningful).
• Shorter education pathway than many healthcare professions with strong job prospects.
• Variety of settings and shift options (full-time, PRN, travel RT contracts).
• Technical and hands-on role with growing scope (ECMO, non-invasive ventilation, pulmonary rehab).

Cons

• Physically and emotionally demanding: patient acuity can be high and outcomes sometimes poor.
• Irregular schedules (nights/weekends) are common in many settings.
• Some employers still limit practice scope: advancement often requires extra credentials or degrees.
• Exposure to infectious aerosols and stressful emergencies requires rigorous safety practices and resilience.

Would I like it? A quick self-check

Ask yourself:

• Do I want a hands-on, technically demanding role where my daily work can be life-saving?
• Can I stay calm in emergencies and handle emotionally intense patient situations?
• Do I like working with machines and troubleshooting under time pressure?
• Am I OK with rotating shifts and physical work?

If you answered yes, respiratory therapy could be a terrific fit. If uncertain, a career assessment such as the MAPP at www.assessment.com provides a fast, objective read on whether your motivations and strengths line up with this career’s demands. Is this career path right for you? Find out Free.

Practical next steps: 30 / 90 / 180 day plan

0–30 days

• Shadow an RT in an ICU or pulmonary clinic for at least two full shifts to see the rhythm.
• Take the MAPP career assessment at assessment.com to quickly check fit and which RT settings suit you. Is this career path right for you? Find out Free.

30–90 days

• Research CoARC-accredited associate and bachelor’s programs near you; contact program directors about prerequisites and clinical sites. AARC
  
• Start prerequisite coursework (anatomy, physiology, microbiology) if needed.
• Volunteer or work in respiratory-care support roles (patient transporter, nursing assistant) to gain clinical familiarity.

90–180 days

• Apply to an accredited respiratory-care program; plan for clinical rotations and NBRC exam prep.
• Network with local RTs and join a student RT organization or the AARC (American Association for Respiratory Care) for mentorship and job leads. AARC

Selected authoritative sources

• S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Respiratory Therapists (median wage and job outlook). Bureau of Labor Statistics
  
• O*NET OnLine: Respiratory Therapists (occupation summary, wages, employment). O*NET OnLine
  
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC): RRT credential and exam requirements. org
  
• American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC): career resources and job-outlook commentary. AARC

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