Frequently Asked Questions
- What does
a respiratory care practitioner do?
- There are more than 100,000 respiratory therapists in the United
States. They are members of the health care team that provides respiratory
care for patients with heart and lung disorders. Typically, respiratory
therapists are a vital part of a hospital's life saving response
team that answers patient emergencies. Respiratory therapists work
with patients of all ages in all areas of the hospital and are qualified
to perform critical care and neonatal procedures. While most respiratory
therapists work in hospitals, an increasing number of them have
branched out into alternate care settings, such as nursing homes,
rehabilitation programs, physicians' offices, home health agencies,
specialized care hospitals, medical equipment supply companies,
and patients' homes. Respiratory therapists perform procedures that
are both diagnostic and therapeutic including lung capacity, management
of ventilator care, treatment of lung problems such as asthma, croup
and cystic fibrosis.
- What is the average salary for a respiratory
care practitioner?
- The projected average salary of respiratory therapists working
in the United States is over $56,000 per year. According to the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of respiratory therapists
is expected to increase faster than average over the next decade,
primarily because the aging baby boom generation will increase the
number of older people, who tend to suffer the most from respiratory
conditions like pneumonia and COPD. The need for RTs is expected
to grow by up to 26 percent. According to the 2009 Human Resources
study from the AARC, the projected average annual earnings of RTs
working in the U.S. is $62,223. In this study, and depending on
the area of the country, therapists just beginning their careers
reported average annual earnings ranging from $42,078-$47,297. In
Rhode Island, CCRI graduates start at $22-25 per hour, and can earn
as high as $30 per hour. An extra hourly rate (shift differential)
is paid above the base rate for weekend and evening work.
- What type of training
is required, and where might I go to get this training?
- CCRI offers a two-year, fully accredited respiratory therapist
program (six semesters) which includes classes and clinical practice.
Graduates of the Respiratory Therapy Program earn an Associate in
Applied Science Degree (AAS), and must pass a national entry-level
(CRT) examination in order to obtain a state license to practice
respiratory care. They are eligible to sit for advanced-level national
examinations (RRT). Some students elect to expand their program
to three years. Permission of the Program Director is required to
ensure that courses are taken in the proper sequence.
- What are the necessary high school
courses I need to take in order to be accepted?
- Students should take science and math courses. The specific
courses that will be beneficial are algebra, general science (including
chemistry and biology). Students should also have good reading and
communication skills.
- What does the education program
consist of at CCRI?
- Students take courses in the classroom and laboratory such as
biology, chemistry, algebra, and respiratory courses. The students
will also practice their skills by caring for patients in the hospital.
- What is the typical costof this program?
- The typical cost of the program for a full-time student is the
current CCRI tuition plus laboratory fees, books, uniforms and travel
expenses to the clinical sites. The total cost of a two-year program
is approximately $9,000.
- Whom may I contact for more information?
- Contact Admissions Officer Ruby Morris-Jones or Program Director
Joanne Jacobs
Ruby
Morris-Jones
Office of Enrollment Services
Flanagan Campus
Community College of Rhode Island
1762 Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, RI 02865
Tel: (401) 333-7172
Joanne
Jacobs
Allied Health Department
Flanagan Campus
Community College of Rhode Island
Allied Health Department
1762 Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, RI 02865
Tel: (401) 333-7024
Admissions procedures and specific program admissions guidelines
for Health Science students can be found on the Office of Enrollment
Services website at www.ccri.edu/oes
- What online resources would you recommend?
- American Association for Respiratory Care -
www.aarc.org
This is the professional organization for Respiratory Therapists.
Click on Career and scroll down for more - see Life and Breath
Video: This exciting video shows respiratory therapist at work.
It requires Real Player download to view.
Community College of Rhode Island website -
www.ccri.edu
Official website of Community College of RI
National Board for Respiratory Care -
www.nbrc.org
This website contains information on national testing and credentials
that can be earned in respiratory therapy.
US Department of Labor; Bureau of Labor Statistics -
www.bls.gov/
Information on Respiratory Therapists from the Occupational
Outlook Handbook.
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