How to become a Respiratory Therapist
Overview
Assess and treat patients with breathing disorders — from asthma and COPD to mechanical ventilation in the ICU.
Chronic respiratory disease prevalence is rising, and the pandemic permanently raised awareness of the need for respiratory therapists in both acute and home-based care.
What AI changes
What AI accelerates
Ventilator data trending, weaning-protocol prompts, arterial blood-gas analysis, and charting.
What stays human
Airway assessment and management, adapting ventilation settings to a crashing patient, patient coaching for breathing retraining, and code-team response.
AI monitors ventilator data and suggests weaning protocols; your real-time judgement on a patient's work of breathing, airway management skill, and ventilator-troubleshooting ability grow more valuable as technology extends capability.
Day to day
Administer breathing treatments, manage mechanical ventilators, perform arterial blood draws and analysis, conduct pulmonary function tests, educate patients on inhaler and home-oxygen use, and respond to codes.
Core skills
- Clinical assessment
- Clinical judgement under uncertainty
- Patient & family communication
Tools
- Mechanical ventilators (Drager / Puritan Bennett)
- ABG analyser
- EHR (Epic / Cerner)
How to get in
Entry routes
- Associate degree in respiratory therapy + RRT credential
- Bachelor's degree in respiratory care
Certifications
- RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist)
- ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
- NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist)
Seniority ladder
| Level | Title | Experience | Focus | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Respiratory Therapist / CRT | 0–2 yrs | Floor therapy, basic ventilator management | Entry of the US band |
| Mid | Registered Respiratory Therapist | 3–5 yrs | ICU ventilator management, ECMO support, code team | Around the role median |
| Senior | Senior Respiratory Therapist | 6–10 yrs | Mentoring, protocol development, transport team | Upper half of the US band |
| Lead | Respiratory Care Manager / Supervisor | 10+ yrs | Department operations, QA, staffing | Approaching the band high |
Where it can lead
Progresses to
- Respiratory Care Manager
- Clinical Specialist
Pivots to
- Pulmonary Function Technologist
- Sleep Technologist
Pay (US)
USD 65,000
USD 80,450
USD 100,000
Outlook
US Respiratory Therapists employment is projected to grow 12% (2024–34) — faster than average.
Prove it
No proof tasks available for this role yet.
Interview prep
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Your path into Respiratory Therapist
See how your experience lines up — skill gaps, salary fit, and a personalised seniority match. No invented claims, just your real career mapped against this role.
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