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Respiratory Care
Technician/Therapist
Respiratory care therapists and respiratory care
technicians, referred to as respiratory care practitioners (RCPs), treat
patients who have difficulties with breathing because of cardiopulmonary
(heart-lung) problems. They conduct diagnostic tests of patients'
cardiopulmonary functions and give patients appropriate treatment, as ordered by
a physician.
Work Environment
The work setting is usually in a hospital. An increasing
number of respiratory care practitioners have branched out into nursing homes,
home health agencies, medical supply companies, and even physician offices.
RCPs may work days, evenings, nights, or weekends.
Job Outlook
The field of respiratory care is
growing rapidly. This career is expected to grow 36 percent by the year 2005
because of the growing middle-aged and elderly population.
Length of Training/
Requirements
Training for respiratory care technicians ranges from 12
to 18 months, respiratory care therapists require a two-year associate degree
or a four-year bachelor's degree.
Salary
Salary depends on education, geography, job setting, and experience. Current salaries range from $39,000 - $47,000.
Educational Programs
Certificate/Associate/
Bachelor's Degrees
Alvin
Community College
Amarillo College
Angelina
College
Brooke Army Medical Center
Collin County
Community College District
Dallas
County Community College District
El Centro College
Del Mar College
El Paso County
Community College District
Houston
Community College System
Howard College
Kilgore College
Lamar University
Lamar
University Institute of Technology
McLennan
Community College
Midland
College
Midwestern State
University
Kingwood College
North
Harris Montgomery Community College
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Odessa
College
San Jacinto
Central Campus
St. Philip's College
South Plains
College
Southwest Texas
State University
Tarrant
County J.C. Northeast Campus
Temple College
Texarkana
College
Texas
Southern University
Texas Southmost
College
The University
of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
The University
of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
The University of
Texas Health Science Center at Tyler
The University of
Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
The University
of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Tyler
Junior College
Victoria
College, The
Professional Associations
American Association
for Respiratory Care
11030 Ables Lane
Dallas, TX 75229-4593
972/243-2272
American Lung
Association
1740 Broadway
New York, NY 10019-4374
212/315-8700
American Lung Association of Texas
P.O. Box 26460
Austin, TX 78755-0460
512/467-6753
American Respiratory Care Foundation
11030 Ables Lane
Dallas, TX 75229-4593
972/243-2272
The National Board for
Respiratory Care, Inc.(certification association)
8310
Nieman Rd.
Lenexa, KS 66214-1579
913/599-4200
Respiratory
Care Practitioners Certification Program
Texas Department of Health
1100 West 49th St.
Austin, TX 78756-3183
512/834-6677
The Texas Society for
Respiratory Care
P.O. Box 515239
Dallas, TX 75251
902/680-2455
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