Respiratory Therapy

For thousands of Americans who suffer from breathing problems, each breath is a major accomplishment. These people include patients with chronic lung problems, such as emphysema, asthma, and bronchitis, but they also include heart attack and accident victims; premature infants; and people with cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, or AIDS. In each case, the person will most likely receive treatment from a Respiratory therapist under the direction of a physician. Respiratory therapists work to evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing disorders.

Diagnostic procedures performed by respiratory therapists include: obtaining and analyzing sputum specimens; obtaining and analyzing blood specimens to determine acid base balance and levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide; measuring the capacity of a patient’s lungs to determine the level of impairment and studying disruptive sleep disorders.Therapeutic procedures performed by respiratory therapists include: administration of supplemental oxygen, initiating and maintaining mechanical ventilation; monitoring and managing therapy that will help a patient recover lung function; administering medications in aerosol form and monitoring patient’s response to therapy; maintaining a patient’s artificial airway; and conducting smoking cessation programs.

The need for respiratory therapists is expected to grow in the coming years due to the large increase in the elderly population; the impact of environmental problems that have already contributed to the yearly rise in number of reported asthma cases; and technological advances in the treatment of heart attack, cancer, and accident victims, as well as premature babies.

While U.S. employment in general is forecast to increase by 15 percent, the need for Respiratory Therapists will grow by up to 26 percent!
With demand for Respiratory Therapists on the rise, salaries are following suit. According to the 2005 Human Resources study from the AARC, the projected average annual earnings of Respiratory Therapists working in the U.S. is $56,222. In this study, therapists just beginning their careers reported average annual earnings of $41,538.

• In hospitals giving breathing treatments to people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
• In intensive care units managing ventilators that keep the critically ill alive.
• In emergency rooms delivering life-saving treatments.
• In newborn and pediatric units helping kids with conditions ranging from premature birth to cystic fibrosis.
• In operating rooms working with anesthesiologists to monitor patients’ breathing during surgery.
• In patient’s homes providing regular check-ups and making sure people have what they need to stay out of the hospital.
• In sleep laboratories helping to diagnose disorders like sleep apnea.
• In skilled nursing facilities and pulmonary rehabilitation programs helping older people breathe easier and get more out of life.

The Houston Community College Respiratory Therapy program, CoARC program number 200095, Associate Degree, 1919 Pressler St. / Houston, TX 77030, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). 

CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.

Click here to view the latest programmatic outcomes data.

The Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist program graduates credentials are recognized by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Licensure to practice Respiratory Care is issued by the Texas Medical Board (TMB). Licensure to practice is only recognized by the state where it is issued. Moving out of state would require obtaining a license from the new state of residence.

If you have any questions or encounter problems contacting the appropriate licensing board, please contact your Program Director at 713.718.7385

2022-2023 Third-Party Licensure/Certification Exam Results 

Occupational licensure and/or certification pass rates reported by academic calendar year (Sept. 1–Aug. 31). Results for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022  academic years are provided for comparison.