Respiratory Care is an allied health profession practiced pursuant to physician direction. It is concerned with the performance of diagnostic cardiopulmonary evaluation and respiratory therapy treatment applied to patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system. It includes related education of the patient, family and public.

Professional Credentialing

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) along with the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Thoracic Society sponsor a national credentialing body, the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The NBRC administers a two-tier national examination system for respiratory care practitioners:

1. The Entry Level Examination is administered to new graduates of accredited training programs. Those candidates who successfully complete this examination are awarded the credential of Certified Respiratory Therapist – CRT.

2. Certified Respiratory Therapists with appropriate education and clinical experience are eligible for the two-part Registry Examination. Successful completion of this advanced practitioner exam earns the candidate the credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist - RRT. 

The NBRC also offers specialty examinations for practitioners in the Pulmonary Function and Neonatal/Pediatric areas of interest.

Professional Association

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is the professional association for respiratory care practitioners dedicated to the development and advancement of the field and maintenance of high professional standards. This national organization is sponsored by the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Thoracic Society.

Educational Programs

Two-year, associate degree, therapist-level training programs entitle graduates to sit for both the entry-level exam and the advanced practitioner, or 'registry' examination. Four-year bachelor's degree programs in respiratory care or cardiorespiratory sciences are also available, for those desiring an advanced degree. Entry-level job opportunities and salary, however, are comparable for graduates of two-year and four-year training programs.

New York State Licensure & Federal Employment Requirements

To be employed in New York State (NYS) as a respiratory therapist upon graduation from the Respiratory Care Program, student-graduates must be licensed and registered to practice by the NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions.  In order to obtain a NYS license, applicants must pass an approved examination and be of “good moral character” as determined under the NYS Education Law.  Applicants for NYS licensure must reveal whether they have a criminal record (felony or misdemeanor), whether any criminal charges are pending against them, whether any licensing or disciplinary authority has ever taken any negative action against them, whether any hospital or licensed facility ever restricted or terminated professional training, employment, or privileges and whether the applicant ever voluntarily or involuntarily resigned or withdrew from such association to avoid imposition of such measures. In addition, every New York State applicant for a professional license, permit, or registration, or any renewal thereof, must file a written statement that as of the date of the filing, she or he is or is not under an obligation to pay child support. Individuals who are four months or more in arrears in child support may be subject to suspension of their business, professional and/or driver’s licenses. NBRC administered examinations are currently used by the New York State Board for Respiratory Care for the purpose of issuing New York State licenses.

Federal law limits the issuance of professional licenses, registrations and limited permits to United States citizens or qualified aliens.  Accordingly, NYS applicants are required to provide information regarding their citizenship or alien status.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands: 
Respiratory therapists work in acute care hospital settings with a focus on the critical care/ICU environment as well as in sub-acute and home care settings. Hospital and sub-acute care settings are generally associated with a moderate noise level. Respiratory therapists work with electric, electronic and microprocessor controlled respiratory and critical care equipment and devices as well as compressed medical gases, blood gas analyzer reagents and exposure to aerosolized medications. Patients requiring respiratory care may expose health care workers to airborne and/or bloodborne pathogens.  Electric/pneumatic respiratory care equipment exposes workers to moderate noise and vibration, risk of physical injury, chemical exposure, electric shock and/or burns from heating devices.
Incident to the clinical practice of respiratory care, respiratory therapists must possess the ability to:

• Hear, understand, converse in, read and write the English language in order to effectively understand and communicate with patients, family, colleagues, supervisors, physicians, nurses and other Medical Center staff;
• See, identify, lift and/or move, set-up, assemble, test, operate, monitor, disassemble, clean and store respiratory care equipment and devices including mechanical ventilators, circuits, monitors, compressors, carts, disposables, blood gas analyzers, reagents and related hoses, tubes, cables, fittings, connections, etc. 
• See, feel and smell sufficiently to conduct limited physical examinations of the chest and respiratory system and acquire arterial blood samples;
• Simultaneously use and/or appose two hands to firmly grasp, assemble, manipulate and operate equipment and perform patient assessment, airway management, ventilation and respiratory care treatment techniques; 
• See computer displays and operate computer information systems and computerized respiratory care equipment and monitors;
• Hear and respond to public address announcements, telephones, electronic pagers, alarms on equipment and instructions from supervisors and/or physicians;
• Stand for long periods of time, climb stairs and otherwise move rapidly to the location(s) of alarms and/or emergency situations involving life-support equipment and techniques, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Employment Opportunities

Career opportunities in respiratory care remain attractive, with steady demand for qualified therapists projected. Local entry-level annual salaries are in generally in excess of $50,000. Most hospitals offer comprehensive employee benefits, with many offering three-day work schedules and other incentives.

For more information about career opportunities in Respiratory Care contact: