Respiratory Therapists are essential members of the healthcare field, needed in hospitals, long-term care facilities, physician’s offices, and clinical practices across the nation. If you are looking to become a Respiratory Therapist (RT), know that you are choosing one of the fastest-growing, most rewarding, and highly-demanded careers in medicine today.
Respiratory Therapists are required globally, due to their specialized skillsets in breathing problems and respirational technology and care. But those skillsets don’t just air in on their own. There are several preliminary requirements that go into a successful RT career. In Connecticut, there are also specific Respiratory Therapist educational requirements you must fulfill before actively practicing in the field.
To become a respiratory therapist in Connecticut today, it is required that you:
1. Obtain an associate degree.
In every state including Connecticut, Respiratory Therapists need at least an associate-level degree. This level of educational equips aspiring RTs with the knowledge and clinical training needed to be successful in the field. An associate degree in Respiratory Care also makes graduates eligible to pursue their RT license – that is, of course, if the degree in received from an accredited respiratory therapy school.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health states that, in order to apply for licensure, Respiratory Therapists must complete an educational program for either Respiratory Therapists or Respiratory Therapy Technicians. This program must be accredited by one of the following organizations:
- Committee on Allied Health and Accreditation or
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs with
- The Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education or
- The Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
Goodwin College’s Respiratory Care program, for example, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
2. Earn your RT license.
In addition to program completion, CT.gov states that Respiratory Therapist educational requirements also involve successfully passing the license exam administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). You must then maintain your credential as a Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician or a Registered Respiratory Therapist. Again, in order to take this exam, you must have an associate degree.
To earn your associate degree in Respiratory Therapy in Connecticut, you might consider Goodwin College’s flexible Respiratory Care program. In our associate degree program, you will learn how to administer medications to help relieve breathlessness; obtain and analyze blood and sputum specimens; use ventilators to help patients who cannot breathe on their own; and perform diagnostic tests for patients with sleep disorders. You will also gain real-world work experience in a hospital, health center, and other possible clinical practices in Connecticut. Clinical rotations are an educational requirement of our RT program.
Respiratory Therapist Educational Requirements: Getting into an RT Program
To apply to the Respiratory Care program at Goodwin College, you must complete several prerequisite courses and other educational requirements. All requirements must be completed before enrolling in the first respiratory care course, RSP 112. Here’s a breakdown of requirements, at a high-level:
- Complete the application for admission into Goodwin College. You must first meet the requirements for admission and be accepted into Goodwin College before enrolling in the Respiratory Care program.
- Complete the Respiratory Care Program Application. This should include an official high school transcript (or GED) and official college transcripts. In addition, a signed verification that you possess the ability to perform the tasks as stated in the Essential Functions of a Respiratory Therapist must also be included.
- Earn a minimum GPA of 2.7 in your most recent coursework.
- Complete the required College placement evaluations.
- Complete the any necessary prerequisite courses with a “C+” or better. These include basic chemistry, math, biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology courses.
- Interview with the Respiratory Care Program Director.
To complete your degree in Respiratory Therapy, and to become a Respiratory Therapist in Connecticut, you must also complete the major course requirements. These compose 40-total credits towards your degree, and include courses such as Medical Physics, Cardiopulmnary Anatomy and Physiology, Respiratory Diagnostics, Critical Care, and more. Your RT major requirements also include four, hands-on clinical experiences with trained Respiratory Therapists in CT. View the entire Respiratory Care curriculum here.
For more information about the Respiratory Therapist educational requirements at Goodwin College, or to learn more about our program, please do not hesitate to reach out. Call 800-889-3282 or simply apply today!
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.