The advanced practice respiratory therapist plays a growing role across the health care system as facilities respond to complex cardiopulmonary needs and ongoing workforce gaps. Hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care centers, and specialty programs now rely on advanced practice respiratory professionals to expand access, support physicians, and improve patient care. This role builds on the foundation of the registered respiratory therapist and extends into diagnostic, management, and treatment responsibilities across multiple settings.
As the physician shortage continues, especially in pulmonology and cardiology, facilities need respiratory care providers who can operate at a higher clinical level while remaining part of a physician-led team. Advanced practice respiratory roles address this need by combining deep respiratory therapy expertise with graduate-level academic and clinical education.
An advanced practice respiratory therapist, also referred to as a practice respiratory therapist APRT, is a licensed respiratory care professional trained to deliver a scope of practice beyond the current role of the registered respiratory therapist. This role functions as an advanced practice provider within respiratory therapy, with responsibilities that include diagnosis support, disease management, and treatment planning under physician supervision.
Advanced practice respiratory professionals focus on patients with cardiopulmonary disease across the full health care spectrum. Their work centers on therapeutic clinical practice, evidence-based protocols, and continuity of care in acute and chronic conditions while remaining firmly grounded in respiratory therapy expertise.
Demand for advanced practice respiratory professionals is closely tied to physician supply constraints across cardiopulmonary specialties. Workforce projections from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) show a growing national physician shortage that includes pulmonology, cardiology, and hospital-based critical care roles. These shortages affect patient access, follow-up capacity, and care coordination, particularly for patients with complex respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders who require ongoing management across multiple care settings.
At the same time, facilities are managing higher volumes of chronic respiratory disease, sleep-related breathing disorders, and acute respiratory failure. These pressures strain existing care teams in both inpatient and outpatient environments. APRTs help relieve this strain by providing diagnostic support, managing respiratory treatment plans, and supporting continuity of care, while remaining integrated within physician-led supervision models.
Across facilities working with respiratory care staffing organizations such as Flagstar Rehab in New York, many are reviewing how advanced practice respiratory roles fit into existing physician-led care models. This often includes evaluating scope alignment, supervision structure, and long-term coverage needs across clinical settings.
The APRT role builds on the skills of the registered respiratory therapist but expands the scope of practice into advanced clinical responsibilities. Understanding this distinction helps facilities align staffing models with patient needs.
Advanced practice respiratory professionals support diagnosis, disease management, and care planning under supervision, while registered respiratory therapists focus on implementing prescribed respiratory treatments and bedside care.
Key differences between APRT and registered respiratory therapist roles include:
Both roles remain essential, and facilities often benefit most when APRTs and RRTs work together within defined care teams.
Becoming an advanced practice respiratory therapist requires structured academic and clinical preparation. This pathway ensures APRTs enter practice with consistent knowledge, skills, and professional standards.
An aspiring APRT begins with a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy or respiratory care. The next step is earning the NBRC RRT credential through the national board examination process. After gaining clinical experience, candidates must successfully complete a graduate-level APRT training program.
Graduate programs emphasize academic and clinical education focused on cardiopulmonary disease, diagnostic reasoning, and patient management across settings. Clinical education includes supervised patient care, advanced assessment training, and exposure to multiple care environments.
Advanced practice respiratory programs follow accreditation for respiratory care standards established by recognized accrediting bodies. Accreditation confirms that programs meet expectations for curriculum quality, clinical hours, and graduate outcomes.
Facilities hiring APRTs often review:
Graduates of accredited programs enter the workforce prepared for advanced practice within defined supervision models.
APRTs practice as part of a physician-led team, maintaining a clear structure of supervision and accountability. This model protects patient safety while allowing APRTs to contribute meaningfully to patient care delivery.
Supervising physicians delegate responsibilities based on clinical protocols and facility policy. APRTs then provide diagnostic support, manage treatment plans, and monitor patient progress. Communication between APRTs and physicians remains central to this relationship.
In daily practice, APRTs support physicians by reducing workload related to routine follow-up, chronic disease management, and respiratory-focused diagnostics. This collaboration improves efficiency while maintaining physician oversight in complex cases.
Advanced practice respiratory therapists work across multiple settings, each with distinct workflows and patient needs. Their flexibility allows facilities to deploy expertise where respiratory demand is highest.
In critical care, APRTs support patients with respiratory failure, severe infections, and complex ventilator needs. They assist with ventilator management, weaning strategies, and rapid assessment during respiratory emergencies.
Before outlining specific tasks, it is helpful to understand how APRTs integrate into ICU teams.
Common APRT responsibilities in critical care include:
These responsibilities help stabilize patient care during high-acuity situations.
In acute care and sub-acute units, APRTs help manage respiratory exacerbations and post-critical recovery. They support early intervention and coordinate respiratory care services during transitions between levels of care.
APRTs also practice in ambulatory settings, including pulmonology clinics and chronic care programs. Their role focuses on disease management, follow-up, and patient education across the health care spectrum.
In sleep medicine, APRTs support diagnostic testing, therapy adherence, and long-term management of sleep-related breathing disorders. They coordinate care with physicians while maintaining consistent patient contact.
Some APRTs specialize in pediatrics, providing age-specific respiratory care under physician supervision. Pediatric APRTs adjust assessment and treatment approaches based on developmental needs and family education.
The daily work of an advanced practice respiratory therapist centers on direct patient interaction, clinical decision-making, and care coordination.
APRTs conduct patient evaluations, review histories, and assist in diagnosing respiratory conditions. Their training supports accurate assessment while maintaining physician involvement in final diagnosis decisions.
Therapeutic clinical practice includes selecting and adjusting respiratory treatments, monitoring response, and managing chronic respiratory conditions. APRTs guide patients through treatment plans and reinforce adherence.
APRTs play a role in prevention and long-term management. They help reduce readmissions through structured follow-up, education, and early intervention strategies.
Evidence-based practice guides APRT clinical decisions. APRTs rely on established protocols, clinical research, and quality improvement initiatives to support patient care.
Facilities often track outcomes related to APRT integration, such as:
These metrics help facilities measure improvement tied to advanced respiratory staffing.
Facilities introducing APRTs benefit from clear role definitions and structured onboarding. APRTs create the most value in service lines with high respiratory demand and frequent physician coverage gaps.
Before hiring, facilities typically review:
Flagstar Rehab works with facilities to match APRT expertise to specific clinical needs, supporting efficient integration and long-term staffing stability. Facilities seeking respiratory staffing support often benefit from partnering with a specialized agency familiar with advanced respiratory roles.
Advanced practice offers respiratory therapists a defined clinical growth path within the profession. Therapists interested in APRT roles often build experience in acute care, chronic disease management, and interdisciplinary team settings before moving into graduate-level education.
Students and recent graduates planning this path typically focus on strengthening core respiratory care skills, gaining exposure to complex cardiopulmonary cases, and selecting graduate programs with structured clinical education. Working in varied medical settings can also help therapists develop the experience needed for advanced practice roles while maintaining flexibility early in their careers.
Advanced practice respiratory therapists strengthen respiratory care delivery across the health care system by expanding access, supporting physician-led teams, and improving patient outcomes. Their training allows them to manage complex cardiopulmonary conditions across acute, chronic, and ambulatory settings while maintaining defined supervision. As respiratory care demands increase, these roles help facilities maintain continuity of care and consistent clinical standards.
Facilities and respiratory professionals seeking reliable respiratory staffing support often work with specialized organizations. Flagstar Rehab in New York focuses on aligning respiratory therapists and advanced practice respiratory providers’ expertise with specific clinical needs across diverse medical settings. To learn more or discuss staffing needs, facilities, and providers, contact Flagstar Rehab directly for additional information.
The highest degree for a respiratory therapist is a graduate degree, such as a master’s degree in respiratory care or advanced practice respiratory therapy. These programs prepare therapists for expanded clinical responsibilities, leadership roles, and advanced patient care. Graduates may qualify for advanced practice positions depending on program accreditation and state regulations.
The RRT credential is generally preferred over the CRT credential. RRTs complete higher-level testing through the national board and qualify for a broader scope of practice and more job opportunities. Many advanced respiratory roles and specialty settings require or strongly prefer the RRT credential.
RCP stands for respiratory care practitioner and is a licensure term used by many states. RT or respiratory therapist describes the professional role and is commonly used in clinical settings. In most cases, both terms refer to the same licensed profession, though title usage varies by state.
RRT pay varies by location, setting, and level of experience. Higher compensation is often associated with critical care roles, specialty units, and advanced practice training. Respiratory therapists exploring higher-paying opportunities may benefit from reviewing roles across different medical settings or regions through specialized staffing organizations such as Flagstar Rehab.