A respiratory technician program prepares students to work in health care settings that support patients with breathing disorders, cardiopulmonary disease, or related conditions. The field of respiratory care continues to grow as more hospitals, emergency rooms, outpatient clinics, and pulmonary rehabilitation centers expand their need for qualified respiratory therapists.
Many students begin with little exposure to respiratory care practice and gain interest after learning how respiratory therapists work with patients of all ages. The information below explains how respiratory therapy education programs are structured, what students learn, how credentialing works, and how graduates build careers across different health professions.
A respiratory technician program introduces students to the academic and clinical training needed to support patient care in a respiratory care program. Students learn how to assist with assessing a patient’s condition, preparing equipment, providing breathing treatments, and supporting respiratory care practitioners in fast-paced clinical environments. Many individuals enroll because they want a direct role in treating patients who experience breathing disorders and related conditions.
Respiratory therapy is needed across hospitals, long-term care facilities, pediatric units, critical care teams, and intensive care units. These settings rely on skilled graduates who understand the domains of respiratory care and can work safely with patients who need oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, medical gases, and airway support.
Respiratory therapy education programs vary, but they all focus on teaching clinical and technical skills for patient care. Schools may offer an associate degree program, an applied science degree, or a science degree with respiratory care coursework. These programs introduce students to respiratory care practice, disease management, and patient support. Respiratory therapy program structures may include both classroom instruction and clinical experience.
Respiratory care technology program options also exist for students interested in a broader technical foundation. These programs include respiratory care technology coursework, airway management skills, and instruction on treating patients with cardiopulmonary disease. Students learn about oxygen delivery systems, ventilator management, pulmonary rehabilitation, and diagnostic testing.
Accreditation for respiratory care programs is an important part of reviewing training quality. The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care reviews programs and accredits respiratory therapy education. When CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education, it assigns a CoARC program number and monitors programmatic outcomes. Accredited programs meet standards that show program effectiveness is documented and reviewed. Performance indicators and outcomes data may include exam pass rates, employer satisfaction, job placement, and graduate performance.
Programmatic outcomes and performance indicators that reflect program goals help students understand training quality before enrollment. These indicators support transparency and help applicants compare programs across regions.
The admissions process varies by school, but most programs require transcripts, basic science coursework, immunization records, and a criminal background check. Some programs require interviews with the program director or program faculty.
The educational goals of a respiratory technician program focus on preparing students for patient care roles through structured learning domains. Programs aim to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence across cognitive knowledge, psychomotor skills, and affective behavior learning domains. These learning domains guide all respiratory care education.
Most programs teach students to analyze a patient’s condition, apply critical thinking skills, and operate life-support equipment. Learning domains of respiratory care include physiology, pharmacology, airway management, and respiratory care practice. The respiratory care program goal is to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence so they can support respiratory care practitioners and registered respiratory therapists, or RRTs, in many environments.
Students complete coursework on cardiopulmonary disease, infection control, respiratory assessment, and the use of medical gases. Training also covers breathing treatments, airway equipment, and respiratory care technology used in health care.
Hands-on training is a core part of every respiratory therapy program. Clinical experience helps students apply classroom instruction in real health care settings. Programs place students in hospitals, emergency rooms, intensive care units, outpatient labs, and long-term care facilities. This exposure helps students understand how respiratory therapists work in different environments.
During clinical rotations, students learn how to provide breathing treatments, manage oxygen equipment, observe mechanical ventilation, and support patients who need airway stabilization. Students also learn how respiratory care practice changes when treating patients in critical care or pulmonary rehabilitation settings.
Clinical experience also helps students practice communication skills, document patient care, and work with interdisciplinary teams. These skills support graduates of the program as they enter the workforce and work alongside experienced respiratory care practitioners.
If you are preparing for clinical work and want support in finding placements or future employment, respiratory therapist staffing services can help you access high-quality opportunities across multiple health care settings. Learn more at Flagstar Rehab’s respiratory therapist staffing page.
Respiratory therapy education programs prepare students for credentialing exams through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The NBRC sets standards for certification and professional development. After successful completion of an accredited respiratory therapy program, students may take the entry exam through the board for respiratory care.
Most associate degree programs prepare graduates for the Certified Respiratory Therapist exam. After passing, candidates may continue toward Registered Respiratory Therapists certification. Registered respiratory therapists represent a higher level of training and responsibility in patient care. Many employers prefer registered respiratory therapists RRTS for intensive care units, emergency rooms, and pulmonary rehabilitation centers.
Some programs also prepare students for the clinical simulation exam, which evaluates advanced decision-making during patient care scenarios. Passing the clinical simulation exam is part of becoming a fully credentialed respiratory care practitioner in many states.
A respiratory therapy program builds technical and clinical skills needed to support respiratory care practitioners. Students gain experience in:
Skills and affective behavior development occur throughout clinical and classroom training. Students practice communication, teamwork, and patient education while building critical thinking skills needed for fast-paced environments. Psychomotor skills and affective skills help graduates apply theory in real situations and support safe patient care.
These skills support care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists and help graduates work effectively in different health care settings.
Respiratory therapists work in many patient care environments. Hospitals rely on respiratory therapy for ventilator management, airway support, and care for patients with cardiopulmonary disease. Other job settings include emergency rooms, outpatient clinics, neonatal care units, and pulmonary rehabilitation centers.
Common job roles include:
Many graduates pursue additional training for advancement. Some move from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree to expand their role in health care. Programs that prepare graduates for credentialing allow individuals to increase responsibility in critical care or diagnostic testing.
If you plan to enter the workforce after graduation and want support in finding contract, travel, or permanent roles, respiratory therapist staffing services can connect you with positions that match your skills and career goals. Flagstar Rehab supports new graduates and experienced professionals seeking flexible opportunities.
After successful completion of a respiratory therapy program, graduates usually begin clinical practice under supervision. Employers look for competence in the cognitive domain, strong psychomotor skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with team members. Graduates with demonstrated competence can progress quickly into independent roles.
Employers also review outcomes data from accredited programs when hiring. Accredited programs train graduates to perform safe and accurate patient care, adjust ventilators, interpret diagnostic results, and educate patients about treatment plans. Program effectiveness is documented through performance indicators that reflect long-term success. Many employers value programs that receive strong feedback from clinical partners.
Graduates often gain experience in specialty areas after gaining foundational skills. Some shift into pulmonary rehabilitation, sleep diagnostics, or outpatient diagnostics.
Selecting a respiratory technician program requires reviewing training structure, accreditation status, access to clinical sites, and program faculty qualifications. Programs with strong learning domains and structured clinical rotations help students build confidence before graduating.
Before applying, students should evaluate faculty experience, simulation labs, and available health care partnerships. The admissions process may include interviews with a program director, skill assessments, and background reviews.
Questions directed to program faculty may include:
Programs with strong performance indicators and positive programmatic outcomes often provide better long-term career value.
A respiratory technician program offers a structured pathway into respiratory care practice, clinical training, and credentialing through national board examinations. Students gain cognitive knowledge, psychomotor skills, and affective behavior training that prepares them for jobs in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation environments. Graduates can enter the field quickly and advance through specialty training, credentialing, and continued education in health professions.
If you are preparing for a career in respiratory care and want support finding work in hospitals, home health, outpatient clinics, or intensive care units, Flagstar Rehab in New York can help you access high-quality roles that match your skills and goals. Our respiratory therapist staffing services support new graduates and experienced respiratory therapy professionals across many health care settings. Visit our respiratory therapist staffing page to explore flexible and rewarding opportunities.
Several colleges and universities in New York offer respiratory therapy programs, including institutions recognized for strong clinical training and accredited respiratory therapy education programs. Students should compare accreditation status, faculty experience, and clinical partnerships when selecting a school.
A Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy in New York generally follows a four-year structure that includes general education coursework, major respiratory care subjects, and clinical experience requirements.
Yes. Respiratory therapists remain in high demand due to increased need for respiratory care across hospitals, critical care units, and outpatient health care services.
The difference between RT and RN is that respiratory therapists specialize in respiratory care practice and airway management, while registered nurses provide broader patient care across multiple medical areas. Both roles work together to support patient care.