What courses are required to become an RT? Do high school courses count for those required courses? How many years will it take to take the required courses and complete the RT course?
think twice about this choice of career. respiratory therapy is a dead end job. after working in the field there is no place for you to go but into management within a resp dept. if that is what you want then you'll need a four year degree. however, if your choice is to be a floor therapist then an associate degree in applied science from a college that offers a respiratory program. this will take appx two years. i have found after working in a hospital as an rrt for 10 years i am burned out. there is not place for me to go with these credentials. unlike nursing they have many doors open for them if and when they choose to make a change from the hospital scene. nurses can find many opportunities to work.
also i advise you to talk to resp therapist more than one and go do a walk along with them (shadowing) to see if this is a field you want to get into. remember there are those who only work on the floor a (neb txs only)---(boring) and then there are those who never go up to the floor and they work in the critical care units, and very few will ever get to work in the er. i highly advise you to research your decision and don't be pulled into this field by hype. if you want to work in the health field do your research and shadow in areas of radiology and even with nuclear meds. aleast in this field you can advance into sonography which by the way pays double what rt does. take it from someone who knows. good luck!
Here's a website for general career info -- US occupational outlook handbook: www.bls.gov/oco and can type into search 'respiratory therapist'.
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