A Respiratory Therapist specializes in the assessment, treatment, and education of patients with respiratory or cardiac problems. In this profession, the type of patient cared for ranges from premature infants needing life support to the elderly patient trying to remain independent at home. Hospitals are just one of many healthcare facilities that employ Respiratory Therapists; others include pulmonary rehabilitation centers, doctor offices, emergency transport companies, medical sales, and home health care companies. The highly specialized technical training earns the Respiratory Therapist a vital role on the healthcare team. 

Overview of the Program

The Respiratory Care Program is a stand alone eighteen-month Associate of Applied Science degree. The program is designed to meet the standards as outlined by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credentialing exam offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Upon successful attainment of the CRT credential, the graduate can be licensed by the West Virginia Board of Respiratory Care (WVBORC), and be legally eligible for employment as a Licensed Respiratory Therapist in the state of West Virginia. The graduate will also be eligible to work elsewhere by fulfilling the licensing requirements for that state or country.

Employment Opportunities

Job opportunities are expected to be very good for respiratory therapists with cardiopulmonary care skills or experience working with infants. Employment of respiratory therapists is expected to increase approximately twice as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2012, because of substantial growth in numbers of the middle-aged and elderly population—a development that will heighten the incidence of cardiopulmonary disease.

The median annual salary for a Registered Respiratory Therapist was $40,220 in 2002 according to the Bureau for Labor Statistics. The middle 50 percent earned between $34,430 and $46,130. In general, respiratory therapists working at medical and surgical hospitals earned $40,390 in 2002. In West Virginia the median salary is slightly lower, but the need for therapists continues to grow and the salaries continue to climb.

In the northern West Virginia area, hospitals in particular are experiencing a shortage of qualified respiratory therapists. Because of the unique eighteen-month structure of this program, graduate therapists will be available for work at a time most needed by employers.