How Long Does It Take to Become a Respiratory Therapist?

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We know that numerous people are fond of careers that involve helping others, but the majority of them are not so glad to hear that they have to spend years in medical school so as to be allowed to enter the healthcare industry.

If you are an aspiring healer who wants to attend flexible fast-track healthcare degree programs, we are here to support and help you find the right one for you.

Respiratory Therapy Creer is the one that can be reached in just a few months and the great news is that it is ranked among the best healthcare jobs in the USA.

This is an ideal profession for a person who is compassionate, motivated, and who always wants to advance and learn new staff.

The role of the Respiratory Therapist (RT) is definitely not for everyone, and it is good to get familiar with this profession prior to deciding whether to start getting educated towards it.

Now, you may be wondering what the job of a Respiratory Therapist is.


What Do Respiratory Therapists Do?

Respiratory Therapists’ main concern is patients who have trouble breathing and they can be of all ages and a variety of health issues.

They may have asthma, emphysema, chronic respiratory disease, or heart disease, and they will all be in need of a Respiratory Therapist.

It is a fact that the number of these patients is rising so these professionals should not worry about their employment.

How long does it take to become a Respiratory Therapist?

In the majority of cases, it takes two years to finish the studies, meaning that you will need to meet the standard requirements set for modern RTs, including an associate degree and licensure.

On the other hand, there are also available some flexible and faster-paced programs that require a shorter period of time to get a degree.

For those interested in bachelor’s degree options, more time and effort will need to be invested in Respiratory Therapist education.

Respiratory Therapist Career Paths

Respiratory Therapist careers nationwide are growing faster than average and this is one of the main reasons why you should consider gaining this education.

According to the Labor of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expectations, the number of new job opportunities in this field will grow 23 percent over the next several years.

Due to the fact that patients of Respiratory Therapists are of various kinds, work settings can be numerous, including:

  • Acute care hospitals
  • Homecare settings
  • Life Star air ambulance
  • Rehabilitation and long term care facilities

The only way to become a Respiratory Therapist is to reach an associate degree and it usually takes two years to complete.

If you choose Goodwin College as your future educational institution, you will need to complete 70 credits in the RT program to graduate.

It is worth mentioning that Goodwin’s full-time students can complete their Respiratory Care degree in less than three years’ time.

In case you want to reach an even higher degree and become suitable for employers who prefer applicants who have a bachelor’s degree, you will need to devote four years to your studies.

Another way is to earn an associate degree as it is required so that you can start working, then gain some experience in the field, go back to your studies, and get your bachelor’s degree.

Besides your postsecondary degree, as a Respiratory Therapist, you are also required to be licensed and that is a requirement in every state.

Successful completion of the entry-level exam and the advanced practitioner level exam for Respiratory Care Practitioners is necessary so that you can get your license.

The exams are administered by the National Board of Respiratory Care and are designed so that applicants can demonstrate their proficiency as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Each and every Respiratory Therapist school has programs that prepare students for this licensing examination and upon gaining licensure, they will possess the skills and knowledge needed to find a job as a Respiratory Care Practitioner.


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