RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONER
Do you pay attention to detail? Can you follow instructions and be part of a team? Perhaps a career as a respiratory care practitioner is the right one for you.
Respiratory care practitioners evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. They practice under the direction of a physician and evaluate and treat all types of patients, ranging from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people whose lungs are diseased. Respiratory care involves basic mathematical problem solving and an understanding of chemical and physical principles. For example, respiratory care workers must be able to compute dosages of medication and calculate gas concentrations.
Watch a video on the Day in the Life of a Respiratory Therapist.
First Steps:
High school students interested in respiratory therapy should take courses in health, biology, mathematics, chemistry, and physics.
Earnings:
Listed below are hourly/annual wages for both entry level and experienced respiratory care practitioners and the annual median hourly/annual wage.**
| Entry Wage |
Median Wage |
Experienced Wage |
| Hourly |
Annual |
Hourly |
Annual |
Hourly |
Annual |
| $19.34 |
$40,236 |
$24.38 |
$50,712 |
$26.82 |
$55,781 |
**Wage Data 2009, State of Illinois Department of Employment Security
Work Environment:
Because hospitals operate around the clock, respiratory care practitioners may work evenings, nights or weekends. They spend long periods standing and walking between patients' rooms. Respiratory care practitioners are trained to work with gases stored under pressure. Adherence to safety precautions and regular maintenance and testing of equipment minimize the risk of injury.
Job Outlook:
Job opportunities are expected to be very good. The vast majority of job openings will continue to be in hospitals.
Education:
- College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn (Associate Degree)
- Illinois Central College, East Peoria (Associate Degree)
- Kankakee Community College, Kankakee (Associate Degree)
- Kaskaskia College, Centralia (Associate Degree)
- Malcolm X College, Chicago (Associate Degree)
- Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills (Associate Degree)
- Olive-Harvey College, Chicago (Associate Degree)
- Parkland College, Champaign (Associate Degree)
- Rock Valley College, Rockford (Associate Degree)
- Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville (Associate Degree)
- St. Augustine College, Chicago (Associate Degree)
- St. John's Hospital, Springfield (Associate Degree)
- Triton College, River Grove (Associate Degree)
Licensure Requirements:
To apply for a license as a respiratory care practitioner, applicants must file with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Division of Professional Regulation, a completed, signed application, on forms supplied by the Division that includes:
- Verification of successful completion of an approved respiratory therapy program.
- Proof of passage of the Entry Level Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) Examination or the Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) Examination of the National Board of Respiratory Care.
- The required fee of $100.
Professional Organization: