Respiratory Care

Home

Academics

Degrees

Associate Degrees

Respiratory Care

NC State Button Bar

Search Bar

Associate Degrees
Bachelor's Degrees Certificate Programs

respiratory care student

Accredited

Respiratory Care is a growing health profession dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. A respiratory therapist treats patients from newborns to the elderly using high tech/state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and life support systems. Skills needed for this field include critical thinking, creativity, mechanical aptitude, and problem-solving.

Clinical rotations for Respiratory Care students begin during the second term.

Where You Could Go

Employment settings include hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home care, physicians’ offices, education organizations, and research facilities. With further training, graduates can specialize in polysomnography, echocardiography, vascular studies, cardiac/exercise stress testing, ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), and transportation.

NC State has over 40 agreements with four-year colleges and universities, to provide a smooth transition for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Through university partnerships, some four-year courses are also offered on the NC State campus or online.

What You Could Earn

The average annual earnings of respiratory therapists range from $34,000 to $46,000, nationally. Salaries vary depending on education, experience, credentials, and location.

Job Demand

There is a high demand for graduates in respiratory care. Titles include respiratory therapist, cardiopulmonary technologist, respiratory care professional, and pulmonary function technologist.

NC State graduates in respiratory care consistently score very high on the state required licensure exam.

Licensure

While enrolled in the program, students can obtain limited permits to practice through the Ohio Respiratory Care Board, the state licensing board for this field. Students’ lab fees include membership in the Ohio Society for Respiratory Care (OSRC) and the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC).