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Respiratory issues or diseases may require respiratory therapy—a medical/healthcare technique that should only be performed by well-educated and highly trained individuals. While professionals may be required to obtain a license to practice, the first step toward a career in respiratory therapy is an online associate program.
An Associate in Respiratory Therapy degree allows you to work with people who have breathing problems. It is your springboard to becoming a certified respiratory therapist who deals with patients of all ages and health backgrounds—from premature babies to elderly patients—suffering from respiratory problems and cardiopulmonary diseases.
A career in respiratory therapy offers lucrative salaries, stable employment, and a growing job market. Information from the Labor Statistics Bureau shows respiratory therapist jobs will grow by 13% in the next decade.
The Lowdown
Patients with breathing disorders or other cardiopulmonary disorders turn to respiratory therapists. Before becoming licensed to help treat patients, professionals need to have a college degree. An online associate program is an excellent place to start!
The courses in Respiratory Therapy associate programs entail practical and theoretical learning. The natural sciences often make up a large portion of the curriculum, with courses in anatomy, microbiology, chemistry, and physiology.
Start Your Respiratory Therapist Career with an Online Associate Degree
Future professionals can prepare for a career in respiratory therapy with an associate’s degree! They become equipped with the fundamental technical and soft skills that qualify them for work right after graduation. It takes about two years to gain proficiency in this role. Eventually, graduates can sit in for the certification exam to be certified respiratory therapists.
An online Associate in Respiratory Therapy can help you prepare for the future through coursework and learning opportunities within the program. Besides the fundamental technical skills, students also learn compassion, patience, genuine service, and interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
Methodology
An associate degree in Respiratory Therapy is typically sufficient for many employers in healthcare. The key is to ensure you enroll in the best online associate program. We came up with our list of the top Respiratory Therapy Associate programs to help you make that decision!
We used these parameters to pick each top-quality associate’s degree in Respiratory Therapy:
- Available in online or hybrid format,
- Educates students on a broad range of topics in respiratory therapy, featuring the basic theories, applications, and practices,
- Offers fundamental training in dealing with basic breathing or respiratory issues, preparing students to pursue specialization options,
- Ensures a smooth transition to a bachelor’s degree by building a solid foundational knowledge of the discipline,
- Readies degree holders for work in entry-level settings,
- Taught by experienced, tenured professors and experts in respiratory therapy,
- Offers federal aid and other financial assistance programs to online students who qualify,
- Assists students in obtaining experience through internships and accessing the right opportunities through networking programs,
- Accredited institutionally and regionally,
- Maintains a strong reputation in the respiratory therapy healthcare industry.
Visit our Methodology page for information about our ranking.
10 Best Online Associates in Respiratory Therapy
Seminole State College
Seminole State College offers an online Associate of Science in Respiratory Care. With this recognized degree, you may help ease your patients’ breathing by learning a wide variety of fundamental sciences and taking advanced courses that are sufficient to sharpen your respiratory knowledge and skills.
After graduation, you can be qualified to sit for Registered Respiratory Therapist or Certified Respiratory Therapist examinations.
- One thing that makes this online degree stand out is its affordable tuition fee. It’s priced at half compared to other state universities.
- Comes with small-sized classes, improving the learning environment.
- Allows you to proceed to a bachelor’s degree seamlessly as graduates can earn credits and transfer them to their higher study of choice.
- This online degree comes with an on-campus option for some classes.
- After completing all requirements, you’ll have a high chance of being employed as their work placements are above 90 percent.
The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care approved Seminole State’s Associate in Science in Respiratory Care degree. Students who are admitted into this exclusive program study a wide range of topics, from elementary sciences to advanced classes in pediatrics, critical care medicine, and cardiopulmonary physiology.
Here are some courses to expect in this associate degree:
- Foundations of Respiratory Care Lab
- Cardiopulmonary Physiology
- Pediatric Respiratory Care
- Advanced Respiratory Care Lab
- Intro to Pharmacology
- Advanced Respiratory Pharmacology
- Life Support
- Basic Physiological Monitoring
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences
If you want to become a respiratory therapist, your initial step is to enroll in an online Associate Degree in Respiratory Care. Respiratory therapists help diagnose and treat lung disorders in patients of all ages. Nurse practitioners play crucial roles in hospitals, subacute care facilities, and home care. The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care acknowledges its curriculum design.
The program concludes with a placement period that is guaranteed with one of their clinical affiliates. In many clinical settings, you will learn about the most cutting-edge respiratory therapies from the most experienced and approachable educators.
Another option is to proceed to a bachelor’s degree in respiratory or related studies, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Sciences in particular.
After receiving your associate degree and beginning your career in healthcare, many companies will pay your tuition if you decide to return to school for your next level of degree. Benefit from this chance to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences.
The following courses are included in this online associate program:
- Human Anatomy & Physiology
- General Chemistry
- Respiratory Care Procedures
- Respiratory Care Procedures and Diagnostics
- Respiratory Care Lab
- General Psychology
- Respiratory Care Procedures
- Advanced Level Respiratory Care Review
Keiser University
Keiser University offers an Associate of Science (AS) in Respiratory Therapy degree program. This online degree program prepares students for careers as respiratory therapists, and they can work alongside practicing doctors.
A respiratory therapist helps people manage illnesses related to breathing and lung problems. Some of these diseases include respiratory failure, pneumonia, or asthma. The Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy offered by Keiser University is designed to prepare individuals to practice under the supervision of a licensed physician.
As a respiratory therapist student, you’ll be trained to diagnose and treat respiratory disorders. You will respond to emergencies and urgent medications. You’ll learn to determine oxygen levels in the blood, tissues, and breath of patients. You may learn to perform lung and chest physical exams with the doctor’s supervision.
Finally, graduates who complete this associate online program are entitled to apply for state licensure as a respiratory therapist, obtain an Associate of Science degree, and sit for national accreditation examinations leading to the designation of Registered Respiratory Therapist.
Here are the courses to expect in this online degree:
- Pharmacology for Respiratory Care
- Special Topics in Respiratory Therapy
- Respiratory Therapy Management
- Clinical Practicum
- Introduction to Psychology
- Speech Communications
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Microbiology
- General Chemistry
Southern Maine Community College
Southern Maine Community College offers a Respiratory Therapy Associate Degree program that is Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care-accredited. Respiratory therapists are part of the allied health professionals who are in charge of assessing, managing, and treating cardiopulmonary disorders. No matter what age group, they are willing to help treat diverse patients in healthcare.
What makes this online respiratory therapy program stand out is that they have numerous clinical affiliates all over different states. Accreditation for the program is provided by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care. After graduation, you can find employment in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, home healthcare companies, sleep clinics, research centers, and pulmonary laboratories.
Some example courses of this online degree are below:
- Respiratory Therapy Patient Care
- Clinical Practicum
- Respiratory Care Senior Seminar
- Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation
- Pulmonary Assessment
- Neonatology and Pediatrics
- Gas, Humidity, and Aerosol Therapy
- Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
Pueblo Community College
Pueblo Community College offers an online Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy. In this online degree, you will learn all the techniques and methods to increase breathing capabilities among patients.
Aside from the coursework in this online program, it comes with a clinical component in which students gain hands-on experience treating cardiopulmonary patients. A student must possess soft skills such as interpersonal skills, compassion, integrity, initiative, and exceptional physical dexterity.
Additionally, they should have a strong academic background in science and general studies. Pueblo Community College supports student intellectual development, imparts high-quality patient care knowledge, and advances the respiratory care profession on the highest ethical and professional levels.
Their teachers possess a legitimate accreditation to teach in post-secondary education and have many years of combined clinical expertise in all facets of respiratory therapy. Also, they’re proud to say that they continue to have a good working relationship with the respiratory therapy departments of the neighboring hospitals. This program comes with an accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.
Here are some courses included in this associate degree in Respiratory Therapy:
- General Psychology
- Human Growth and Development
- Introduction to Respiratory Care
- Application of Science in Respiratory Care
- Basic Techniques in Respiratory Care
- Mechanical Ventilation
- Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care
- Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology
Pennsylvania Western University
Pennsylvania Western University offers an online Associate of Science in Respiratory Care degree program that prepares students for advanced respiratory care practitioner roles. In addition to a liberal arts education that will benefit them in their roles and functions as healthcare professionals, the curriculum gives students the chance to acquire a clinical knowledge foundation in respiratory care.
This respiratory care program can be done in two years. You will need to partake in a 14-month clinical study in their affiliated clinical sites. A total of 79 credits are required for this online associate degree in respiratory care.
Graduates of the program are qualified to take the certification tests offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, and they may work in a variety of healthcare settings as advanced-level respiratory therapists.
Respiratory therapists will have to diagnose and treat patients with breathing problems and other cardiovascular conditions ranging from mild to life-threatening. Practitioners in respiratory care collaborate closely with other medical specialists to offer patients a variety of diagnostic and treatment services. You will play a crucial part in saving and enhancing lives as a respiratory therapist.
Check out these courses that are part of an associate program in respiratory therapy:
- Introduction to Respiratory Care
- Mechanical Ventilation
- Respiratory Care Simulations
- EBM in Respiratory Care
- Advanced Cardio Patho Physiology
- General Psychology
- Health Education
Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College offers an Associate Degree in Respiratory Care. These academic degree programs prepare students to work on highly technical life-support teams. You will play a crucial role as a respiratory care specialist. Hence, it’s important to go through intensive training. Students gain knowledge and skills in treating, preventing, and rehabbing people with breathing disorders and traumas as part of the program.
Respiratory care deals with the diagnosis, therapy, education, preventative care, and rehabilitation of people whose breathing is affected by injuries, accidents, and disorders. As part of training, you’ll be exposed to rehabilitation environments and diagnostic laboratories.
Upon graduation, students can take the National Board of Respiratory Care or take the Clinical Simulation Examination. Finally, after passing, you can work as a registered respiratory therapist. Upon completion of the program, graduates may also apply for state licensing with the South Carolina State Board of Medical Examiners.
This online associate degree is organized in a way that gives the students the most freedom in pursuing their professional objectives. Despite being listed separately, the programs are really integrated into a special sequencing structure.
Students can enroll at any time and partake in the following required courses:
- Basic Anatomy and Physiology
- Respiratory Skills I
- Introduction to Respiratory Care
- Integrated Science
- Neonatal/Pediatric Care
- Pathophysiology
- Respiratory Therapeutics
- Respiratory Diagnostics
Ivy Tech Community College
The Ivy Tech Community College offers an online Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy program. Students in this online degree program use the same equipment they’ll use in the workplace after graduation. Among the skills and knowledge they acquire are communication skills with workmates and patients. They also learn to diagnose and treat breathing disorders in patients of all ages.
This online associate degree comes with laboratory training that actual professional respiratory therapists use in work settings. You can gain hands-on experience in this degree. In this program, students learn how to diagnose, treat, and manage conditions related to the lungs.
As a Respiratory Therapy student, you can seamlessly transfer between two schools without losing credits or time. You can attend Indiana Wesleyan University or Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and use up your transfer credits from this degree. Learn more about how you can continue your education after graduating from Ivy Tech by speaking to their transfer advocates.
Below are some courses required in this associate program:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Introduction to Psychology
- Concepts in Adult Critical Care
- General Microbiology
- Advanced Emergency Management
- Pediatric and Neonatal Advanced Critical Care
- Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology
- Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology
Skyline College
Skyline Colleges’s Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Care is taught by devoted professors with real-world expertise in the field. This online associate degree prepares graduates to become Certified Respiratory Therapists as well as Registered Respiratory Therapists.
After completing Skyline’s Respiratory Care program, students are qualified to sit for the NBRC Exam; if they pass, they must next apply to the state of California for a professional Respiratory Care Practitioner license. These conditions must be fulfilled in order to apply for a job. This associate degree combines both training and clinical experience so you can be an experienced respiratory therapist at the end of the program.
What makes this program unique is the Simulation Laboratory that’s situated in Skyline College Allied Health Sciences department. This facility is equipped with a complete system of patient monitors and beds, as well as a video recording system and standard clinical supplies.
Patient simulators, including heart and respiratory rate, pulse, lung sounds, pupil response, oxygen saturation, and pupil response, can provide all vital signs. This is a helpful experience for students.
Here are some courses to take in this online associate degree:
- Respiratory Diseases
- Introduction to Respiratory Therapeutics
- Respiratory Critical Care
- Diagnostic Testing and Outpatient Respiratory Care
- Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care
- Clinical Clerkship IV
- Respiratory Critical Care
Madison College
Madison College’s Associate in Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy degree can be finished in two full years. This program is intended to provide graduates with the tech and soft skills necessary for future respiratory therapists. Clinical practice at local hospital affiliates is integrated into the program, along with classroom and lab instruction.
After graduation, you will be equipped to maneuver roles for respiratory therapists, such as assessing, managing, and treating patients with respiratory diseases and other cardiopulmonary abnormalities in a wide range of clinical settings.
In addition to carrying out respiratory care processes, including patient assessment, therapy selection, and treatment evaluation, respiratory therapists also take part in clinical decision-making and patient education.
Among the courses you need to take are the following:
- Speech
- Microbiology-University Medical
- General Chemistry
- Respiratory Survey
- General Anatomy and Physiology
- Respiratory Disease
- Respiratory Life Support
- Psychology of Human Relations
- Respiratory Airway Management
Benefits of an Online Associate in Respiratory Therapy
Promote good health.
If you want to play a significant part in a patient’s recovery, earning an Associate in Respiratory Therapy is perfect for you. You can promote good health in many ways. And if you’re fascinated with how the body works and how to improve lung function, respiratory therapy is surely a solid foundation for your career. Graduates utilize cutting-edge technology and provide treatment for patients of all ages in a range of medical settings.
Get exposed to better opportunities.
Aside from the core courses in an associate degree in respiratory therapy, there are general education courses that provide you the chance to hone your other skills like communication, leadership, project management, and analytical thinking skills, which makes you a standout candidate for a leadership role. Many competent respiratory therapists go on to work as senior respiratory therapists or medical practice managers, which entitles them to better salaries and more demanding duties.
Get hired faster.
You may be able to find employment opportunities right away after completing this degree. An associate degree is sufficient for many employers in healthcare. If you’re planning to explore actual work settings as soon as you graduate, this associate degree is best matched with your goals. You can be employed in clinics, hospitals, and laboratories.
Courses in an Online Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy
General Microbiology
The general microbiology course explains the underlying architecture of microbes, their metabolism, categorization, and interactions with other living entities. They also use laboratory methods in this coursework. Professors in this course introduce clinically relevant areas of bacterial, fungal, and parasitic involvement as well as industrial and clinical applications of microbiology.
Anatomy and Physiology
The anatomy and physiology course develops a thorough grasp of the intricate interactions between anatomy and physiology as they are displayed in the human body. This course introduces students to the cell, which is the most basic structural and functional unit of living things. It also discusses the body’s tissues, integument, skeleton, muscular system, and neurological system as a whole.
Introduction to Respiratory Therapeutics
In this course, you’ll start learning about respiratory therapeutics. Students and teachers study and practice fundamental respiratory care techniques in a lab. Some of the subtopics included are airway clearing techniques, advanced airway management, alveolar recruitment therapy, and oxygen and aerosol treatment.
Concepts in Adult Critical Care
The Concepts in Adult Critical Care course describes how to treat severely ill adults. In this course, a variety of artificial airways and mechanical ventilation are used to improve the oxygenation and ventilation of critically ill patients. The students will learn how to assess and recommend testing for a critically ill patient, as well as how to analyze blood gas results. In addition, students will learn to recognize when patients need to be taken off ventilators.
Respiratory Diseases
In addition to learning disease terminology and disease classification in this respiratory diseases course, students will also learn how to take a history and perform a physical examination. Some other subjects included are basic radiologic, clinical, and pulmonary diagnostics.
Assessment and Caring for a Respiratory Patient
This course explains the basics of respiratory treatment, including how to assess patient records’ data and suggest lab testing. Students will learn the process of speaking with the patient and evaluating them through non-invasive procedures, for instance.
This course also covers fundamental lung expansion treatment, airway control, and a number of airway-clearing procedures. There will also be a discussion of infection management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and opening a blocked or obstructed airway.
Respiratory Critical Care
Techniques for providing respiratory therapy to patients in adult critical care settings will be studied and discussed thoroughly in this core course. Communicating effectively, managing advanced airways, ventilator care, and monitoring and managing respiratory conditions are all part of the process.
Introduction to Sociology
In this course, students will tackle the basics of sociology. You will cover the key theoretical paradigms of the science of human society and learn about social institutions, social change, and social stratification.
Pediatric and Neonatal Advanced Critical Care
This course provides advanced techniques for mechanical breathing for neonates and pediatric patients in the neonatal intensive care unit. Some more topics covered in this course are treatment strategies, fetal development and evaluation, neonatal and pediatric assessment, and equipment.
Job Responsibilities of a Respiratory Therapist
A respiratory therapist’s day may include seeing and evaluating new patients as well as treating and following up with current patients. These healthcare professionals can be found in various work settings like hospitals, clinics, healthcare facilities, patients’ homes, or emergency rooms.
Here are some of the job responsibilities that they perform on a daily basis:
- Observes, notes, and evaluates patient progress in respiratory therapy treatment and recommends adjustments.
- Interviews patients and notes their diagnosis, disorder information, and treatment plans.
- Participates in patient care conferences with physicians, nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals.
- Plan and administer medically prescribed respiratory therapy to restore pulmonary function, relieve pain, and support life.
- Provides patients, families, and caregivers with instructions on how to continue the therapeutic plan after discharge.
- Assists in performing pulmonary function tests, evaluating and interpreting assessments and test findings, and deciding on respiratory therapy treatment plans.
- Assist doctors in any way possible for respiratory care and therapies.
- Delivers inhalants to patients as part of their treatment plan, operates mechanical ventilators, administers therapeutic gases, and controls their environment.
- Trains or helps patients with breathing exercises and keeps track of physiological reactions to therapy.
- Oversees the treatments performed by doctors and other healthcare providers to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an online Associate in Respiratory Therapy right for me?
Patients of all ages, newborns and older adults included, who suffer from any lung or breathing problems are treated by respiratory therapists. In addition, they care for people with long-term respiratory diseases such as emphysema and asthma. If you have the passion to care for people’s health and want to specialize in the respiratory system, then this associate degree is your cup of tea.
Successful students and professionals often excel in science and communication after graduating from this degree online. Also, this Associate in Respiratory Therapy program prepares students to take national board examinations. If this aligns with your goals, then you know it’s right for you.
Why is accreditation important when looking for the best online Associate in Respiratory Therapy?
The most important consideration when choosing the best online program for your online Respiratory Therapy degree is accreditation. Numerous organizations or firms won’t accept your degrees if they don’t have accreditation status. Therefore, it is wiser to spend money on an approved institution’s online associate in respiratory degree.
The accreditation status of a school or program assures prospective employers that the student’s program has met the highest requirements. Additionally, it shows that graduates are in great demand and have received enough training in their fields of study. Also, this makes it easier for you to proceed to higher study in case you want to.
What does a respiratory therapist do?
Respiratory therapists often provide treatment for patients with respiratory disorders in a range of medical facilities, like hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare institutions. To guarantee that patients receive high-quality treatment, they collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers.
To treat respiratory ailments, it is their responsibility to deliver drugs and respiratory therapies. They also guide patients on how to medicate at home after getting discharged.
Key Takeaways
- A smart strategy to advance your career in this industry is to earn an associate’s degree in respiratory therapy or respiratory care. This degree is a fantastic way to start a career in the medical industry, but it’s also a path that someone with a bachelor’s degree in the medical industry might follow to increase their employability and skill set.
- In addition to hospitals, there are several other medical environments where one might find employment, such as clinics, doctor’s offices, and long-term nursing homes. Compared to some other occupations, RTs might work long days and spend a lot more time on their feet, although their work schedules are generally flexible.
- Respiratory therapists, like most healthcare workers, require a special combination of skills that enable them to multitask while maintaining a laser-like concentration on the requirements and circumstances of their patients.
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