Respiratory Therapy CareersRespiratory Therapy Careers

CTAE Resource NetworkCreated by Caleb Allred and Dr. Frank Flanders

2010

ObjectivesObjectives

MSHS7-HS-4:MSHS7-HS-4: Students will differentiate careers available in Students will differentiate careers available in thethe field of respiratory care.field of respiratory care.

a. Compare and contrast the roles and responsibilities of a. Compare and contrast the roles and responsibilities of pulmonologists, certified respiratory therapists, registered respiratory pulmonologists, certified respiratory therapists, registered respiratory therapists, and pulmonary function technologists, along with their therapists, and pulmonary function technologists, along with their education and training requirements, salary ranges, job outlooks, and education and training requirements, salary ranges, job outlooks, and facilities in which they work.facilities in which they work.

Careers in Respiratory HealthcareCareers in Respiratory Healthcare

• PulmonologistPulmonologist

• Respiratory TherapistRespiratory Therapist

• Pulmonary Function Pulmonary Function TechnologistTechnologist

PulmonologistPulmonologist

• Conducts tests on pulmonary and/or Conducts tests on pulmonary and/or cardiovascular systems of patients for cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic purposes. diagnostic purposes.

• Conducts or assists in electrocardiograms, Conducts or assists in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary function, lung capacity, and similar tests. function, lung capacity, and similar tests. 

• Must possess specialized knowledge and Must possess specialized knowledge and skill in the diagnosis and treatment of skill in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions and diseases.pulmonary (lung) conditions and diseases.

Where Do Pulmonologists Work?Where Do Pulmonologists Work?

• HospitalsHospitals• Pediatric CentersPediatric Centers• Alongside EMTs in Alongside EMTs in

AmbulancesAmbulances• Pulmonology Pulmonology

FacilitiesFacilities• Sleep Study CentersSleep Study Centers

Pulmonologist Training Pulmonologist Training RequirementsRequirements

• Graduation from an approved medical school.Graduation from an approved medical school.• Completion of an ACGME (American Council for Completion of an ACGME (American Council for

Graduate Medical Education) accredited internal Graduate Medical Education) accredited internal medicine residency program. medicine residency program.

• Minimum of 2 years of meaningful patient Minimum of 2 years of meaningful patient contact and responsibility. contact and responsibility.

• Minimum of 2 years of full-time graduate training Minimum of 2 years of full-time graduate training in pulmonary studies. in pulmonary studies. (More may be required for critical care training (More may be required for critical care training and certification.)and certification.)

Pulmonologist Salary and OutlookPulmonologist Salary and Outlook

• $150,000+ per year $150,000+ per year salary.salary.

• This field is expected This field is expected to grow more quickly to grow more quickly than average through than average through 2014.2014.

Respiratory TherapistRespiratory Therapist

• Evaluates, treats, and cares for patients with Evaluates, treats, and cares for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders.

• Interviews patients, performs limited physical Interviews patients, performs limited physical examinations, and conducts diagnostic tests. examinations, and conducts diagnostic tests.

• Operates medical devices, such as ventilators, Operates medical devices, such as ventilators, and gas regulators. and gas regulators.

• Monitors patient's responses to therapy, such as Monitors patient's responses to therapy, such as vital signs, blood-oxygen levels, and blood vital signs, blood-oxygen levels, and blood chemistry changes.chemistry changes.

Where Do Respiratory Therapists Where Do Respiratory Therapists Work?Work?

• HospitalsHospitals• Doctor’s OfficesDoctor’s Offices• Pediatric CentersPediatric Centers• Pulmonology Pulmonology

FacilitiesFacilities

Respiratory Therapist Training Respiratory Therapist Training RequirementsRequirements

• Minimum of an Associate Degree.Minimum of an Associate Degree.• Licensure from the National Board for Licensure from the National Board for

Respiratory Care (required in all states Respiratory Care (required in all states except Alaska and Hawaii) to become a except Alaska and Hawaii) to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT).Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT).

• Graduation from advanced programs and Graduation from advanced programs and successful completion of two separate successful completion of two separate examinations to become a Registered examinations to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Respiratory Therapist Salary and Respiratory Therapist Salary and OutlookOutlook

• Average CRT starting Average CRT starting salary: $40,000salary: $40,000

• Average RRT starting Average RRT starting salary: $55,000salary: $55,000

• This field is expected This field is expected to grow more quickly to grow more quickly than average through than average through 2014.2014.

Pulmonary Function TechnologistPulmonary Function Technologist

• Performs pulmonary-function, lung-Performs pulmonary-function, lung-capacity, diffusion capacity, and blood-capacity, diffusion capacity, and blood-and-oxygen tests to gather data for use by and-oxygen tests to gather data for use by physician(s).physician(s).

• Discusses test procedures with patients.Discusses test procedures with patients.• Observes and records readings on Observes and records readings on

metering devices of analysis equipment metering devices of analysis equipment and relays this information to the physician and relays this information to the physician for interpretation. for interpretation.

Where Do Pulmonary Function Where Do Pulmonary Function Technologists Work?Technologists Work?

• HospitalsHospitals• Doctor’s OfficesDoctor’s Offices• Pulmonology Pulmonology

FacilitiesFacilities• Pediatric CentersPediatric Centers

Pulmonary Function Technologist Pulmonary Function Technologist Training RequirementsTraining Requirements

• Must already be a CRT or RRT.Must already be a CRT or RRT.OROR

• Must have a high school degree and two or Must have a high school degree and two or more years of clinical experience in pulmonary more years of clinical experience in pulmonary function technology.function technology.

• Take and pass an accreditation exam from the Take and pass an accreditation exam from the National Board for Respiratory Care.National Board for Respiratory Care.

• CRT becomes Certified Pulmonary Function CRT becomes Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT).Technologist (CPFT).

• RRT becomes Registered Pulmonary Function RRT becomes Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT).Technologist (RPFT).

Pulmonary Function Technologist Pulmonary Function Technologist Salary and OutlookSalary and Outlook

• Average CPFT Average CPFT starting salary: starting salary: $55,000$55,000

• Average RPFT Average RPFT starting salary: starting salary: $65,000$65,000

• This field is expected This field is expected to grow more quickly to grow more quickly than average through than average through 2014.2014.