Respiratory Therapy Technician

Career Description

Certiﬁed respiratory therapy technicians (CRTT) work with respiratory therapists to aid in the care of patients with lung or breathing disorders. They have less freedom and independence in working with patients directly and may simply assist the respiratory therapist during actual treatment.

Annual Salary

Entry: $27,518	Mean: $34,424	Experienced: $41,350
Source: Kansas City Metropolitan Healthcare Council, 2006 Salary Data

Hourly Wage

Entry: $13.23	Mean: $16.55	Experienced: $19.88
Source: Kansas City Metropolitan Healthcare Council, 2006 Salary Data

Academic Requirements

Respiratory technician programs generally last from 12 months to 18 months and award a certiﬁcate of completion. The National Board for Respiratory Care offers a certiﬁcation examination for technicians. Often, respiratory therapy technicians ﬁrst take the technician certiﬁcation exam and then complete two more years of clinical work before they become eligible to take the respiratory therapist certiﬁcation exam.

Schools

Concorde Career College
816/531-5223

Johnson County Community College
913/469-2583

Professional Associations

National
American Association for Respiratory Care
The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)

State
Missouri Society for Respiratory Care
Missouri State Board for Respiratory Care

Additional Information

Learn More About Therapy and Rehabilitation
Read Personal Accounts of Current Respiratory Therapists