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Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant

Program Description

Just the Facts

Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant. A program that prepares individuals to administer general respiratory care procedures under the supervision of respiratory therapists in a variety of clinical settings. Includes instruction in patient data collection and monitoring, airway management, installation of nebulizers and other respiratory assistance devices, application and monitoring of breathing gases, equipment operation and maintenance, safety and sanitation procedures, and applicable regulations.

This program is available in these options:

  • Certificate / Diploma
  • Associate degree
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's degree

High School Courses

See the high school courses recommended for programs in this career cluster:

See the high school courses recommended for programs in this pathway:



Additional Information

Respiratory therapy means giving the breath of life to another human being. Working as part of a life-saving team with doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists is an experience most respiratory students never forget.

Respiratory therapists (RTs) help people with breathing disorders such as asthma and emphysema get the oxygen they need. They use ventilators, oxygen tanks and other equipment to help patients breathe easier.

Respiratory therapy is also called respiratory care. It's offered both at the two-year associate's degree and the four-year bachelor's degree levels. The four-year programs may prepare you for higher positions in the field. Many two-year programs offer you the option of transferring to a four-year program if you change your mind later.

Though programs may allow applicants to apply directly from high school, those applicants will often be competing with many applicants who have some post-secondary education.

"To be honest, you need to be an A honor student to get into our program," says Marlene Zahn. She is a training consultant for an RT program.

Students must also provide proof of a medical examination and immunization schedule.

In Zahn's two-year program, the first year consists of an anatomy and physiology core. In the second year, students experience an extensive clinical period in an affiliated hospital emergency department, intensive care unit, nursery, trauma ward, pulmonary function lab, research lab or home care lab.

"Be well prepared when you come for your interview," says Zahn. "Attempt to visit a respiratory therapy department in a hospital to ensure you are familiar with the duties and what it is like to work with the sick and dying."

In the U.S., programs are accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Contact them for a complete list of programs.

High school students should take courses in English, math, social sciences, natural sciences, a foreign language and the visual or performing arts.

It can also be useful to have some leadership experience and experience working with people in a service role, says F. Herbert Douce. He is director of the respiratory therapy division at Ohio State University.

Besides tuition, you'll have to pay for books, supplies, liability insurance, travel and health insurance.


Links

Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field of study, see: Respiratory Therapists

Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
List of accredited programs

Respiratory Care Links
An extensive collection of links to sites related to respiratory therapy

World Health Organization
Read about respiratory-related conditions

What's New in Respiratory Care
Read the latest news from the NBRC