If your goal is to work in the healthcare field, you’re going to want to pick a specialty as early in the process as possible. Many people go all the way through medical school without knowing exactly what they want to do. But if you want to avoid spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless years on education you won’t use, understanding the various applications is crucial. One of the fastest growing specializations in the healthcare field is respiratory therapy. Your goal will be to offer care to those who have cardiopulmonary and breathing difficulties. You’ll often work with elderly patients coping with chronic illnesses, or assisting in emergency situations where a heart attack, shock or asphyxiation is the culprit. With a much lower educational requirement than many other healthcare careers, a quality salary and a strong job outlook, this is an option you should absolutely consider. Here are some tips on how to prepare for a respiratory therapist career.
First of all, familiarize yourself with the duties of a respiratory therapist to make sure you are up for the challenge. You’ll deal with a large variety of patients, from younger people with chronic respiratory ailments, to premature babies and the elderly population. You could work inside a permanent care facility or a hospital, an emergency room or a trauma unit. Some respiratory therapists even work in outpatient care, and visit the homes of their patients. You’ll handle everything from the initial patient interview through regular monitoring of the treatment process and supervision of other therapy technicians.
If this sounds like just what you’re looking for, it’s time to prepare for your career. The work will start in high school, where you’ll need a basic grounding in biology, mathematics, science and basically any courses you can attend with a focus on healthcare. As you get closer to graduation, start to apply to schools that offer respiratory therapy majors. At the very least you’ll need to earn a two-year associate’s degree, although most hiring managers would prefer you go all the way through and earn your bachelor’s degree. If you’re not sure if the school you are considering qualifies to offer these degrees, check in with the National Board for Respiratory Care. They’ll take you through the two levels of certification, and recommend qualified programs.
While in school, make sure you pay close attention to your studies. Although the degree requirements for a respiratory therapist aren’t as stringent as they are for a medical doctor, strong performance in your major will help you advance more quickly in the field. There are two tracks you could follow, and either become a certified respiratory therapist or a registered respiratory therapist. The certification is the entry-level position in this field, and will be yours once you get the degree and pass an exam offered by the licensing board. The RRT is the higher end of the respiratory therapy career, and will require additional schooling and exams.
Whether you attend the University of Cincinnati or a community college you will have to achieve certification after graduation. That comes through taking the certified respiratory therapist exam. It’s a timed multiple choice test, and after you complete that you can move on to take the RRT exam as long as you pass. Then you’ll need to apply for a license in your state. Each state has different rules, so check with the department of health in your region to uncover the details.
