Occupations: Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory Therapists
Overview of the profession:
Respiratory Therapists (RTs) play a crucial role in healthcare by assessing, treating, and managing patients with respiratory issues such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia. RTs perform diagnostic tests, monitor patients' respiratory status, and collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals to create tailored treatment plans. To become a licensed RT, individuals must complete an associate or bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy/care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care from an institute accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Then, RTs must earn a credential through the National Board for Respiratory Care to be eligible for licensure through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Entry-level RTs can test for a Certified Respiratory Therapist credential by passing the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) examination. Once licensed, RTs work in hospitals, cardiopulmonary clinics, nursing homes, and physician offices. RTs are crucial in stabilizing patients and ensuring proper respiratory function, making them indispensable in the healthcare system.
Policy Highlights
Includes recent proposed legislation.
Current Workforce Data
We've provided the latest data from Lightcast below. Click on the images to enlarge them and review them in further detail.
2024 Hourly Wages
10th Percent | 25th Percent | Median | 75th Percent | 90th Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$28.80 | $30.99 | $34.35 | $38.01 | $39.77 |
Top Posted Job Titles
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Travel Respiratory Therapists
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Registered Respiratory Therapists
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Respiratory Therapists
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Travel Registered Respiratory Therapists
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Hospital Respiratory Therapists
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NICU Respiratory Therapists
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Respiratory Care Practitioners
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Pediatric Respiratory Therapists
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Neurodiagnostic Technicians
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Respiratory Therapy Managers
Index Ranking
Ranked 14th (out of 36) "healthiest" profession according to the 2024 Michigan Healthcare Workforce Index.
Learn more here.
2024 Employment: 4,747
Projected 2034 Employment: 5,225 (+10%)
Highlighted Workforce Initiatives
Name: Respiratory Therapy Program Collaboration
Prosperity Region: 2
Description: Northwestern Michigan College is partnering with Muskegon Community College and Munson Medical Center in Traverse City to offer a respiratory therapy program. The goal of the partnership is to increase the number of respiratory therapists in the Traverse City area without students having to complete a degree program at an out-of-district community college. All liberal arts classes are offered at NMC, and most other classes, including clinical, are taken onsite at Munson Medical Center. The respiratory therapy classes are taught via live interactive television from Muskegon Community College at Munson Medical Center. (Note Dane: Maybe add in the time to complete the Associate's Degree - 2 & 1/2 years)
Name: McLaren Flint Tuition/Loan Forgiveness Program
Prosperity Region: 6
Description: McLaren Flint has a $1.5 million tuition payment / loan forgiveness program to provide student loan repayment benefits to more than 100 of its employees who work in high-demand healthcare occupations. The student loan benefit is applied like a 401(k) contribution. Goodly, a platform that helps companies make contributions to student loan debt, takes an amount from McLaren Flint to apply toward student loans every month. This is on top of the employee's student loan payment. A maximum of $15,000 of funding may be applied toward the employees' student loans for up to 3 years. The goals of the program are to retain current McLaren Flint employees by helping them pay off their education debt faster and attract new employees.
Name: FirstChoice
Prosperity Region: 10
Description: FirstChoice is Trinity Health's internal travel nurse program. Having an in-house travel nurse program has been extremely helpful for Trinity Health because they have had more control over staff turnover. Trinity Health System has nearly 90 hospitals in 26 states so FirstChoice allows Trinity to have better control over its contract nursing costs and also helps them maintain ties with nurses who can help them maintain a consistent quality of care. Trinity is also able to increase full-time staff salaries from not using a 3rd party staffing agency.
Career Pathway
What is needed to become a licensed Respiratory Therapist (RT) in Michigan?
First, Individuals must complete an associate or bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy/care from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care from an institute accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Finally, RTs must earn a credential through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) to be eligible for licensure through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Entry-level RTs
can test for a Certified Respiratory Therapist credential by passing the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) examination.
Does Michigan recognize the difference between a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)?
No, similar to having one license for an associate and bachelor’s trained RT, Michigan does not offer a different license for entry-level CRTs vs. more advanced RRTs. However, bachelor-trained individuals and/or those who earn an RRT credential may be more competitive and earn higher wages.
Latest Respiratory Therapist News
