What are the Pros and Cons of being a Respiratory Therapist?

Should I become a Respiratory Therapist?

• I am trying to find out what I want to do at college, I want to do something in medical, but can't decide between Nursing, X-Ray Tech, or Respiratory Therapist. So right now I am asking about Respiratory Therapists. How much do they make starting out, what can they make up to after getting more years of experience? I am trying to get someone who is a Respiratory Therapist to answer this, unless you just know about them. I would be taking the course at a Career Technical College, what would be the pros and cons about that? Is a Career Technical College a place that I should want to do that at? It is the only one around me that offers it, that I know of. Are Respiratory Therapists in high demand? The Technical College course would only give me an Associates Occupational Studies Degree.

• Answer:

  Definitely do not get a Respiratory Therapist degree at any private Career Tech College. Even if it is accredited by CoARC the credits may not transfer to any other college so you would be very limited for advancement and would have to start all over on a degree elsewhere. This type of college is also very, very expensive and you will be in debt for many years. Respiratory Therapists are not in demand right now. My hospital just laid off half of the department (22 RTs) so RNs and a few Paramedics can take over their jobs. Other hospitals in the area already have cut their RT departments considerably in size. It is not a career I would advise anyone going into. I saw on a Paramedic forum where Oklahoma has now created the Hospital Paramedic title to replace Respiratory Therapists. That has gotta hurt in that state. Minnesota did the same thing through actual legislation. I heard Kansas and Colorado will be doing the same thing shortly.