Respiratory Therapy
Respiratory Therapy gains accreditation for hybrid model
Congratulations to the respiratory therapy program faculty on their recent accreditation from CoARC for a hybrid program! With this accreditation, students will only need to be on campus one day per week for hands-on laboratory experiences and attend clinicals two days per week. Online learning with some synchronous lectures will comprise the majority of courses. This will allow flexible scheduling for students who want to work full-time while completing the program.
A Respiratory Therapist (RT) is a credentialed medical professional who specializes in cardiopulmonary issues. They work primarily in hospitals and assist in the evaluation, diagnosis, and care of patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary problems. RT’s are responsible for life support systems such as operating noninvasive and traditional mechanical ventilators, administering oxygen therapy, assessing cardiopulmonary health, performing pulmonary function and cardiovascular diagnostic testing, and administering pulmonary medications. Respiratory Therapists are an integral part of today’s multidisciplinary health teams. They must enjoy working with people and providing direct patient care of all ages from neonatal to geriatric.
Program Application (pdf)
Jackson College Offers the following program options:
Respiratory Therapy at Jackson College
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Jackson College offers an associate degree in respiratory therapy , which prepares students to sit for board exams in the field. An associate degree and licensure are required for entry into the profession. Respiratory therapy is a second-admit program, meaning students must take certain general studies and prerequisite classes and then apply for admission to the program. All respiratory therapists will participate in clinical experiences at various hospitals as part of their program. Upon successful completion, students are eligible to write the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exams. Satisfactory completion of the NBRC board certifying exams allow the respiratory therapy practitioner to use the initials of RRT, Registered Respiratory Therapist.
Pay
- Median annual wages of wage-and-salary respiratory therapists were $61,330 in 2019.
- The lowest 10 percent earned less than $44,850 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $86,980.
Career Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates employment growth of about 19 percent between 2012 and 2022, faster than the average for all occupations, and 22,700 positions will need to be filled. Job prospects will be best for those willing to travel to look for opportunities.