Whether you have spent time in a hospital or have a friend or relative who struggled to breathe, you likely encountered a respiratory therapist. Respiratory therapists help patients with breathing problems, whether it is a premature newborn learning to breathe on their own, a grown adult living with chronic lung conditions, or someone in the intensive care unit fighting for every breath. This includes a career that blends science, empathy, and technical ability. Some people can enter the workforce in two years, while others will take four-plus years. Program completion time varies based on the degree you get, how quickly you can finish school, and/or if you have college credits before you start.
Respiratory therapy programs offer you a combination of lecture hours as well as hands-on skills. You may spend time learning about the human body, understanding how the lungs work, and learning about complex respiratory conditions, but you will also be exposed to clinical work in hospitals or clinics under the supervision of licensed respiratory therapists.
The associate degree path
For many, the fastest way to get into the field is by earning an associate degree in respiratory therapy. These programs are typically offered at community colleges or technical schools and are designed to take about two years in a full-time program.
Typically, the education is not just learning medical terminology. You will learn about the process of breathing, how diseases affect the lung, and how different treatments can be used. For most of the courses you will take the material usually relates to anatomy, physiology, pharmacology or treatment techniques in patient airway management. As mentioned previously, it also carries a lot of significance in lab classes for simulated practice simulation on actual patients in clinical rotations.
After completing your education you will need to schedule and take the tests that provide you with your license. These tests will attest to your ability to work safely with patients with respect to your knowledge, skills and abilities. Usually, most students prefer the associate degree because it allows them to start work and generate an income relatively quickly—quite often in two and a half to three years from the time the person started their education.
The bachelor’s degree option
Some students choose to go through an extended route and pursue the career with a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy. A bachelor’s degree is typically four years of full time study offered at universities or colleges that have health-related programs.
A bachelor’s degree usually has a first part that is primarily focused on general education courses like English, math, and general sciences, and usually takes two years of time. The latter part of the bachelor’s will be focused more on advanced respiratory care, research methods, and maybe even some leadership or management studies. Clinical rotation will still occur but it may be more varied so you will have time in different kinds of patient populations and healthcare facilities.
When it comes to a bachelor’s degree, it typically presents opportunities for higher-level positions to individuals later. While those with an associate degree can certainly have rewarding careers in the field, those with a bachelor’s degree may seek supervisory roles, teaching positions, or professional specialty options in advanced respiratory care.
Shorter and longer routes
Not every respiratory therapist will take the two-year or four-year route. In the past, there were programs offered through some hospitals and career or technical schools that awarded a certificate in about one year. These programs were heavily focused on preparing students to enter the workplace. However, these time-frames are getting rare, and in a lot of states do not meet licensing requirements.
Some respiratory therapists may take a step farther than the bachelor’s and pursue a master’s; however, a master’s degree is only useful for someone intending to perform research, teach at a post-secondary institution, or move into a senior management position. A master’s usually adds another two years of education after a bachelor’s so that makes a total of six years or more of schooling.
Your personal plans will also determine how many years to expect to be in school. Part-time students, or those that take breaks between semesters, will be in school for more years. Conversely, a few schools have accelerated programs, where you can graduate in a more convenient time-frame, by taking more credits per semester or taking classes year-round.
Conclusion
The time you will spend getting an education as a respiratory therapist will vary depending on which direction you go and your own personal situation. Most people follow the path of a two-year associate degree which will allow you to work sooner rather than later. A bachelor’s degree will take around four years, but you will have more and better job opportunities. In very rare cases, a certificate program can take less time, and a master’s degree has the potential for more time to your education journey but more opportunities to advance to a higher level.
Your time frame will also have to deal with some other variables, such as prerequisite courses, availability of programs, and whether you are in school full time or part time. For some individuals, they will complete their education in a little more than two years! Others, will spend five or six years separately in their training and additional advanced degrees.