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Respiratory Therapist Education Requirements
Updated April 5, 2024
4 min read
The educational requirements for a respiratory therapist are primarily an Associate degree, with a small percentage needing a Bachelor's or Master's degree. According to the data, 82.75% of respiratory therapists have an Associate degree, 11.69% have a Bachelor's degree, and 0.41% have a Master's degree. Certifications such as Certified respiratory therapist, Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety, and Basic Life Support are often required or preferred. Common majors include Medical Technician, Business, Military Applied Sciences, Health Sciences and Services, and Nursing. Some of the top schools for respiratory therapy are Duke University, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Yale University, Cornell University, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
What education do you need to become a respiratory therapist?
What degree do you need to be a respiratory therapist?
- Associate, 70%
- Bachelor's, 22%
- Master's, 3%
- Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a respiratory therapist?
According to the education requirements, the best college majors for a respiratory therapist are typically an associate's degree in respiratory therapy from a program approved by the American Medical Association or a bachelor's degree. Relevant majors include medical technician, health sciences and services, nursing, biology, and health care administration.
- Medical Technician, 72%
- Business, 4%
- Other Majors, 18%
Most common colleges for respiratory therapists
| Respiratory Therapist Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Concorde Career College | 21.17% |
| Pima Medical Institute | 15.89% |
| San Joaquin Valley College | 8.14% |
| California College-San Diego | 6.34% |
| Independence University | 5.50% |
Best majors for respiratory therapists
According to the education requirements, the best college majors for a respiratory therapist are typically an associate's degree in respiratory therapy from a program approved by the American Medical Association or a bachelor's degree. Relevant majors include medical technician, health sciences and services, nursing, biology, and health care administration.
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical Technician | 71.8% |
| 2 | Business | 3.7% |
| 3 | Military Applied Sciences | 3.2% |
| 4 | Health Sciences And Services | 3.1% |
| 5 | Nursing | 2.7% |
Best colleges for respiratory therapists
Among the top colleges for respiratory therapists, Duke University, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and Yale University stand out. These institutions offer a range of programs suitable for respiratory therapists, from certificate to doctorate levels. With a strong emphasis on admissions and retention rates, mean earnings of graduates, and the ratio of working to non-working students, these colleges ensure a robust education for aspiring respiratory therapists.
1. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-State Tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
3. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,430
Enrollment
5,963
4. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
6. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
7. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,104
Enrollment
7,089
8. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
In-State Tuition
$49,816
Enrollment
6,840
9. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,381
Enrollment
34,564
10. Tufts University
Medford, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,382
Enrollment
5,597
20 best online courses for respiratory therapists
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1. Trauma Emergencies and Care
Welcome to Trauma Emergencies and Care. In this course, you will learn about some of the mechanics and physics of trauma on the human body, and how this can cause injury. You will continue to expand your new vocabulary with medical terminology, and learn how to describe the different injuries you may see. You will also learn about the trauma system itself- and when it is important to transport patients to a trauma center. Then we will dive into specific injuries based on what part of the body...
2. Pain Management: Easing Pain in Palliative Care
In this course, you will be able to develop a systems view for assessing and managing pain in the palliative care setting. By the end of the course, you will be able to: 1) Describe the pain problem in the palliative care setting; 2) Assess a person’s pain, 3) Explain the benefits of integrative therapies and pharmacologic strategies to manage pain...
3. Providing Trauma-Informed Care
Exploring psychological trauma and how to provide care and compassion to trauma survivors...
4. Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy
Learn Solution Focused Therapy To Empower Clients & Improve Outcomes Ideal For Social Workers, Coaches & Therapists...
5. Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children
Welcome to the final course of lectures in your quest to master EMT basics. In this course, we will cover some of the highest-stress patient populations: pregnant patients and kids, also known as pediatrics. To wrap up your EMT knowledge we will end this course with information about hazmat situations, extricating patients from tight spots and finally how you write a note about your patient care. You will learn to ensure it communicates what your assessment of the patient was, what...
6. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes
COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...
7. CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Therapists & Coaches
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8. Professional Cupping Therapy Massage Certificate Course 4 CE
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9. Palliative Care Always Capstone Course
The Palliative Care Always Capstone course is designed to let you test your knowledge about palliative and help others understand the value of palliative care, while showing your creative side. In this course, you will impact community awareness about palliative care, promote self-care and wellness, show-off your communication skills in a virtual environment, and finish the course off by proving your thoughts on ways to offer psychosocial support to a patient and family...
10. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...
11. The Complete EMDR Therapy Course - Accredited Certification
International EMDR Training for Self-Healing, Trauma Therapy, Childhood Healing, PTSD, Grief, and Counseling...
12. Art Therapy: Personal Development and Self Healing with Art
Arts Therapy heals ! Improve your Mental Health with 30 Art Therapy Exercises ...
13. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care
This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...
14. Health for All Through Primary Health Care
This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...
15. Introduction to CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Online Counselling & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Training Course...
16. Occupational Therapy Introduction - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
How to become occupational therapist, basic Psychology, Physiology & Anatomy, working with disabilities, children adults...
17. Anatomy: Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Urinary Systems
In this anatomy course, part of the Anatomy Specialization, you will explore the interactive relationships of the cardiovascular, respiratory and urinary systems, and the roles they play in your body. This course is a primer for the cardiovascular, respiratory, and urinary systems in which students learn the pertinent details of the structures and functions through a combination of lectures, videos, labeling activities and quizzes...
18. Introduction to Integrative Therapies and Healing Practices
This introductory course provides a framework for incorporating integrative therapies into your work with clients or patients. By the end of the course, you will be able to assess if integrative therapies are good options in specific situations, as well as educate patients and colleagues about benefits and risks. You will be confident discussing the evidence base for integrative therapies in general, with an understanding of some of the challenges of research in this area, and able to identify...
19. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale
Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...
20. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative
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Top 10 most affordable universities for respiratory therapists
The most affordable schools for respiratory therapists are Brigham Young University, minot state university, and florida international university.
If the best universities for respiratory therapists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for respiratory therapists.
1. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
2. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,064
Cost of Attendance
15,576
3. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,556
Cost of Attendance
19,434
4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$4,094
Cost of Attendance
14,302
5. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,656
Cost of Attendance
21,623
6. Augusta University
Augusta, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,604
Cost of Attendance
20,618
7. University of Colorado Denver
Denver, CO • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,283
Cost of Attendance
22,243
8. Maine College of Health Professions
Lewiston, ME • Private
In-State Tuition
$12,245
Cost of Attendance
18,826
9. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,625
Cost of Attendance
24,718
10. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo
Arecibo, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,872
Cost of Attendance
13,476
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for respiratory therapists
The hardest universities for respiratory therapists to get into are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Tulsa.
Some great schools for respiratory therapists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for respiratory therapists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
2. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions Rate
10%
SAT Average
1,514
3. University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
41%
SAT Average
1,321
4. Tufts University
Medford, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
15%
SAT Average
1,461
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
6. Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions Rate
58%
SAT Average
1,304
7. University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
59%
SAT Average
1,367
8. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
42%
SAT Average
1,326
9. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions Rate
6%
SAT Average
1,517
10. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
19%
SAT Average
1,466
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for respiratory therapists
The easiest schools for respiratory therapists to get into are AdventHealth University, life university, and d'youville college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a respiratory therapist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for respiratory therapists.
1. AdventHealth University
Orlando, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
87%
SAT Average
1,016
2. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions Rate
94%
SAT Average
979
3. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
100%
SAT Average
1,072
4. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
92%
SAT Average
1,031
5. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions Rate
84%
SAT Average
1,069
6. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
99%
SAT Average
1,008
7. Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Canton, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
75%
SAT Average
1,085
8. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
86%
SAT Average
991
9. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
1,099
10. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,006
Average respiratory therapist salary by education level
| Respiratory Therapist education level | Respiratory Therapist salary |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $64,105 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $57,715 |
Respiratory Therapist Education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
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Updated April 5, 2024
Updated April 5, 2024