You must work well as a member of a team. You need superior communication skills to deal with other members of the health care team, your patients, and their families. The ability to pay close attention to detail and to follow instructions carefully are prerequisites for practitioners. Since much of your work will center on the equipment you use, you should have an interest in learning the mechanics of medical technology. Working with gas concentrators and computing medication dosages are examples of the kinds of job skills you will acquire.
Respiratory therapists complete two to four years of education.
Most respiratory therapy programs are based at community colleges or universities and lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree. Respiratory therapy technician programs vary in length from 12 to 18 months. Graduates are awarded certificates of completion. In today's rapidly changing health care delivery system, the AARC highly recommends that practitioners entering the profession have at least an associate degree. The examinations that lead to the designations of the RRT or CRTT credentials are voluntary.