Respiratory therapists help individuals of all ages with diseases such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, etc. They also do such things as helping premature babies to breathe properly or helping to restore breathing in emergency situations. Working environments may include hospitals, home health, and physician offices.

Educational Requirements and Resources
In terms of education, this position requires a minimum of an associate?s degree (approximately two years in length) from a nationally accredited respiratory therapy program. After the education process, an individual may take a national examination to become a certified respiratory therapist. This certification is almost always required by employers. Certified respiratory therapists who have achieved additional amounts of education and experience may take additional examinations to become registered respiratory therapists. In the state of Ohio, individuals must be licensed to work as respiratory therapists. To view licensure information, please visit the Ohio Respiratory Care Board. To learn more about choosing respiratory therapy as a career, please visit the American Association For Respiratory Care. Please use the links provided below to learn more about specific educational programs pertaining to this field.