Guide to Online Respiratory Therapy Programs

What Nurses Recommend When Choosing a Respiratory Therapy Program

Respiratory therapists work in some of the most demanding clinical environments in healthcare, and the programs ranked in this guide are all well-equipped to prepare you for that. What they can’t tell you is whether a specific program fits your life. Clinical site access, schedule flexibility, and whether a program leans toward hospital or critical care settings are all worth evaluating. Our experts share their guidance.

Aim for the RRT Credential

The difference between the CRT and RRT credentials is huge, and which one you have determines where you can work. Some programs prepare you to sit for both exams and some don’t. Before enrolling, I’d confirm the curriculum meets the requirements for the RRT exam, not just the entry-level CRT certification, to give yourself maximum flexibility down the road.

Cody DeBos, RN, BSN

Confirm Program Is Exam-Current

The respiratory therapists I worked with in the hospital were some of the most composed people in the building. This field can be an excellent career for someone who enjoys both technology and hands-on patient care, but it’s also a role that requires critical thinking, a completely cool head under extreme pressure, and strong communication skills. The NBRC is changing its exam structure soon, so make sure any program you enroll in is already preparing students for that new format.

Maggie Aime, RN, MSN, CPC

FAQs About Online Respiratory Therapist Schools & Programs

As you learn about the spectrum of online respiratory therapy programs available, it’s natural to have questions about things like the curriculum, learning outcomes, career paths, and average salaries. Because the best decision is an informed decision, we’ve gathered the answers to some of your most commonly asked questions in the following section.

What are the different types of respiratory therapy programs?

Online respiratory therapy programs exist at several different academic levels, making it important for prospective students to consider which degree best serves their professional goals. Many departments also offer concentrations to help you specialize your services. Here are the degree types and specializations you can expect.

Degree Types

• Respiratory Therapy Associate Degree: As the minimum educational requirement for working respiratory therapists, these programs require two years of full-time study and allow you to sit for the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) certification exam after graduating. You can find associate in respiratory degrees through both online and campus-based options.
• Respiratory Therapy Bachelor’s Degree: As the discipline grows, more and more employers prefer candidates who possess a bachelor’s degree. Offered as both degree completion programs and full degrees, these programs take between one and four years to complete. In addition to coursework, they also include a practicum component.
• Respiratory Therapy Master’s Degree: Pursuing a master’s degree in respiratory therapy is a great option if you want to work in a managerial role. It also supports individuals who aspire to research and teaching positions. Most programs take between 18-24 months to complete and include a practicum option.
• Graduate Certificate in Respiratory Therapy: Respiratory therapy certificates at the graduate level help working professionals gain the training needed to become board certified in a specialty area. Many universities provide these programs online and they typically require between 6-12 months to finish.

Specializations

• Neonatal-Pediatrics: Pursuing this specialization allows you to work with patients from birth through adolescence to address breathing and pulmonary issues. Respiratory therapists working in a neonatal unit may support premature babies strengthening their breathing while those in pediatrics can help address issues related to asthma or other respiratory issues.
• Long-Term Care: Long-term care therapists work in nursing homes, acute care facilities, and rehabilitation centers to help those facing serious and/or chronic respiratory problems address their issues. They work with patients across the lifespan and typically possess some general experience before moving into this area.
• Surface & Air Transport: Whether working in a helicopter, airplane, or ambulance, these specialty therapists help stabilize and treat patients en route to emergency and/or critical care centers. They may work in for-profit, nonprofit, or military roles. When not in transport they frequently work in intensive care or emergency facilities.
• Pulmonary Rehab: With a focus on filling the need for professionals in pulmonary rehabilitation facilities, this specialization prepares you to help those with chronic breathing issues such as bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, or pulmonary fibrosis. When not caring for patients, they teach them how to care for themselves once back at home.
• Polysomnography: This specialized area of the field focuses on conducting sleep studies to identify sleeping disorders, including those such as sleep apnea which affect breathing. Completing this specialization can help familiarize you with the more than 75 sleep disorders currently identified and how to use testing equipment.
• Critical Care: If you do well working under pressure and thrive in constantly-moving environments, critical care could be a great specialization for you. This puts you on the frontlines of respiratory therapy, working with those facing the most serious breathing issues.
• Case Management: Rather than working in hospital or critical care settings, those who choose the case management specialization spend their days developing plans to help their clients move from hospital and/or rehabilitative settings back to their homes. They coordinate care providers, ensure patients have the right equipment, and check on them regularly.
• Home Care: If you want to work with patients facing long-term chronic breathing issues, home care could provide a great fit. Professionals in this area of the discipline go into the homes of patients with emphysema and other pulmonary issues to provide therapeutic treatments.
• Pulmonary Diagnostics: Selecting this specialization means you work with physicians to help diagnose potential lung and breathing problems. You may work in a hospital or physician office and will spend your days using various diagnostic tools and testing equipment to isolate potential issues.
• Management: After working in direct care for several years, you may decide to progress your career into management. Whether managing a rehabilitation center, pulmonary wing of a hospital, or physician’s office, you will likely be responsible for a mix of both administrative and clinical tasks.

What do you learn in an online respiratory therapy program?

While every online respiratory therapy program will look different, many also share overlapping learning outcomes and courses. We look at some of the major learning outcomes of an online respiratory therapy program below.

• Best Practices: An understanding of best practices for patient care within the field of respiratory therapy and a commitment to continued learning to maintain their services.
• Diversity Appreciation: An appreciation for the diverse array of populations seeking respiratory therapy and the ability to respect different cultures and perspectives while providing care.
• Assessment: An awareness of and ability to use various assessment and diagnostic tools to gather necessary clinical information and make informed decisions about treatment plans.
• Ventilation: An understanding of mechanical ventilation tools, when they should be used, not to perform intubations, and how to care for patients while on a ventilator.
• Equipment Management: The ability to use and maintain common equipment needed to provide therapies and an awareness of when those tools are not working properly.

As you look at multiple degree options, you will likely see similar class options, but it’s also important to look closely to find the program that best matches with your career interests.

Can you earn a respiratory therapy degree completely online?

While all theoretical coursework can be done via distance learning, programs with practicum will require on-site visits. If you already work in a respiratory therapy capacity, you may be able to complete clinical hours at the facility where you already work.

How long does it take to earn a respiratory therapy degree online?

How long you spend in school depends on several important factors. For starters, it matters which degree you want to attain. While associate and master’s degrees usually take two years, a bachelor’s degree takes four years. It also depends on whether you decide to devote all your focus to a full-time program or pursue a part-time option while working.

Lastly, some schools provide accelerated degrees that allow you to complete all requirements in a shorter amount of time. Not all institutions have accelerated programs, so you should ask program administrators about offerings if this appeals to you.

How much does an online respiratory therapy degree cost?

One of the biggest decisions you need to make when picking an online respiratory therapy program is how much you’re able to pay. The cost of these degrees can vary substantially based on the type of school you attend, as private institutions typically cost more than public ones. Studying on a part-time basis also means that you’re more likely to pay more in semester-based fees.

Lastly, you need to consider how much funding you’ve secured and how it will lower your costs. Below we look at the cost of three different online respiratory therapy programs to give you an idea of what to expect.

UT Health at
San Antonio

M.S. in Respiratory Care

Total Credits: 33 credits

$302/credit

Southeast
Community College

A.A.S. in Respiratory Therapy

Total Credits: 69.5 credits

$102/credit (resident); $123/credit (non-resident)

University of
Missouri

Bachelor of Health Science in Clinical and Diagnostic Science with an emphasis in Respiratory Therapy

Total Credits: 130 credits

$306/credit (resident); $391/credit (non-resident)

How do I get into an online respiratory therapist school?

Admission requirements depend both on individual schools and the level of degree you’re seeking. For instance, an associate degree won’t require an RRT qualification since it’s a foundational degree whereas bachelor’s and master’s programs will. Some other common components include:

• Completed application and application fee
• Official transcripts from an accredited school
• Minimum GPA
• Letters of recommendation
• CV/Resume
• Personal statement/statement of goals
• RRT certification
• Some competitive programs may require an admissions interview
• International students must provide passing TOEFL scores

Paying for Your Online Respiratory Therapy Degree

Finding ways to lower the tuition price tag of your online respiratory therapy degree is one of the most important things you can do. Lining up scholarships, grants, fellowships, and other funding sources can mean the difference between graduating debt-free or paying student loans for years. Learn about some of the most common funding sources available to students.

Accreditation Standards for Online Respiratory Therapist Programs

When it comes to choosing a school and a program for your respiratory therapy education, finding institutions with proper accreditation is one of the most important factors.

At the institutional level, you should look for colleges and universities that hold regional accreditation. At the programmatic level, the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care is the name to know. CARC is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and currently accredits 433 programs across the country. When in doubt, search the Database of Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to learn about the status of a particular school or program.

Getting Your Professional License & Certification

Because respiratory therapists sit on the clinical side of healthcare, it’s no surprise that the vast majority of states require these professionals to hold licensure. All 50 states except for Alaska mandate this step; Alaska recommends national certification but doesn’t require it.

The rules for gaining licensure vary according to where you live; for the most up to date information, you can check with your state board. In the majority of cases plan to pass a state and/or national certifying examination and demonstrate completion of all education and clinical practicum requirements.

In terms of certification, the National Board for Respiratory Care provides several qualifying certifications to support respiratory therapists at different educational levels, areas of focus, and points in their careers. Qualifications currently provided by the NBRC include:

• Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
• Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT)
• Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT)
• Adult Critical Care Specialist (ACCS)
• Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist (NPS)
• Sleep Disorder Specialist (SDS)

Career & Salary Outlook for Respiratory Therapists

Continuing Education & Related Degrees

The field of respiratory therapy continues to grow and evolve as emerging research shapes treatments and therapies. Whether you’re looking to grow your career or expand your talents into a specialty area, continuing education and related degree programs can help you be a lifelong learner and an increasingly expert practitioner. Take a look at continuing education requirements and degree options that may offer a good fit below.

Continuing Education

Continuing education requirements vary based on whether you’re looking to renew your state license or national credential. Individual states set requirements around continuing education mandates, so check with your state board of health.

Renewing your certification through the National Board for Respiratory Care must be done once every five years via the Credential Maintenance Program. Therapists also undertake quarterly online assessments. These determine how many continuing education credits they must take to renew, with the maximum being 30 units.

Related Degrees

Master’s in Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists work with their patients to help them increase mobility and expand their range of motion after an accident, illness, or disease. Master’s level programs take 24-30 months to complete and include coursework and clinical work. They can be done through distance learning or in person.

Master of Science in Nursing

If your interest is in respiratory care but you’re drawn more to the nursing profession, an MSN can provide the skills needed to become a pulmonary nurse practitioner. These programs typically take two years to complete and can be done either in-person or online with a clinical practicum.

Master’s in Speech Pathology

Like respiratory therapists, speech pathologists spend their days working one-on-one to help their patients. These professionals focus on communication disorders and swallowing issues. Programs usually last two years and include a clinical component. Graduates must seek licensure before starting to practice.

Additional Resources for Respiratory Therapy Students and Professionals

• American Association for Respiratory Care Joining the AARC provides access to educational opportunities, career support, advocacy, student resources, and industry resources.
• American Lung Association The ALA provides emerging research, publications, advocacy, and continuing education programming for professionals working with lungs.
• Breathe Easy The American Thoracic Society provides several podcasts devoted to pulmonary issues, sleep medicine, and critical care.
• Day in the Life of a Respiratory Therapist Concorde University offers this insider look at what to expect if you decide to follow this career path.
• National Board for Respiratory Care The NBRC provides the exams for both Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). It also provides exam prep materials.
• Respiratory Therapists This active Facebook group provides a membership of more than 40,000 students and professionals.
• r/respiratorytherapy Check out the subreddit for respiratory therapy to interact with others in the field and get your questions answered.
• Tips for Passing Respiratory Therapy School The Respiratory Therapy Zone provides this helpful YouTube video on how to make your life easier while in school.

Top Online Respiratory Therapy Programs