Career and School Info for Respiratory Therapists in Pennsylvania

Schools Concentrating On Respiratory Therapists

• Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Community College of Philadelphia, Delaware County Community College, Community College of Allegheny County, and Harrisburg Area Community College.

Fastest Response From Schools

• Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.

Student Body

• Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Mansfield, Clarion University, Lancaster General College of Nursing & Health Sciences, and Laurel Business Institute.
• Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Lancaster General College of Nursing & Health Sciences and Laurel Business Institute.
• Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Community College of Philadelphia.
• Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Lancaster General College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Community College of Philadelphia, Community College of Allegheny County, and Harrisburg Area Community College.

School Setting

• Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of York College Pennsylvania, Point Park University, Gannon, and La Roche.
• Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Mansfield, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, and York College Pennsylvania.

Excellence

• % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Lancaster General College of Nursing & Health Sciences, and York College Pennsylvania.
• Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Lancaster General College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Gannon, and Mansfield.

Working as a Respiratory Therapist in Pennsylvania

Respiratory therapists work with patients who have disorders of the heart or lungs that interfere with their ability to breathe. They provide direct care to patients of any age who cannot get the oxygen they need because of underdeveloped growth, damage or disease. Read a detailed Respiratory Therapist job description and schools overview.

The Pennsylvania Society for Respiratory Care can provide additional professional development resources.

State Requirements

Respiratory care practitioners must be certified to practice in Pennsylvania. The Department of State Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs Osteopathic Medicine Board's requirements for certification include:

• Graduation from a respiratory care program approved by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) and passed the CRT Examinations as determined by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
• Awarded credentials as a Registered Respiratory Therapist or Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician by the NBRC.
• Possession of a valid license, registration or certificate from another state as a respiratory care practitioner which was issued based on requirements, including the examination requirement, that are substantially the same as those required by the Commonwealth.
• Proof of having continuously provided respiratory care services for at least 12 months preceding December 28, 1993 and passing of the CRTT as determined by the NBRC.