Job Opportunities
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, respiratory care is one of the nation’s fastest-growing allied health professions, with employment opportunities expected to grow faster than average (18 to 26 percent) through the year 2014 due to:
- our aging population
- environmental problems
- increasing incidences of cancer
- technological advances in the treatment of heart attacks
- the increasing role of respiratory therapists in the early detection of disease
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Job opportunities are expected to be very good, especially for therapists with cardiopulmonary care skills or experience working with infants. More than 80 percent of respiratory care practitioners work in hospitals, but many also work in:
- offices of physicians and other health care practitioners
- clinics, both inpatient and outpatient
- home health care
- health maintenance organizations
- skilled nursing facilities
- consumer goods rental firms
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Credentialing and Licensing
The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) offers certification and registration to graduates of programs accredited by CAAHEP or the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Two credentials are awarded to respiratory therapists who satisfy the requirements: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). Graduates from accredited entry-level or advanced-level programs in respiratory therapy may take the CRT examination. CRTs who were graduated from advanced-level programs and who meet additional experience requirements can take two separate examinations leading to the award of the RRT credential.
All states except Alaska and Hawaii, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require respiratory therapists to obtain a license. Passing the CRT exam qualifies respiratory therapists for state licenses. Also, most employers require respiratory therapists to maintain a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification. Supervisory positions and intensive-care specialties usually require the RRT or at least RRT eligibility.
Salary Ranges
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for respiratory therapists was $46,270 in 2005 with a mean hourly wage of $22.24. Salaries will vary depending on place of employment, with hospitals and physicians’ offices generally offering the highest salaries for RRTs.