The Profession

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) are specially trained and licensed respiratory health care professionals assisting physicians in diagnosis, treatment, and management of respiratory diseases. RTs provide care in hospitals, outpatient centers, physicians' offices, skilled nursing facilities, and patients' homes. 

For a history of the profession, please go to:  http://www.aarc.org/member_services/history.html

 Ventilator Lab

Respiratory care professional associations of interest may include:

• American Association for Respiratory Care (The professional association)
• Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care 
• Tennessee Society for Respiratory Care
• Arkansas Society for Respiratory Care
• Mississippi Society for Respiratory Care

Respiratory care professional credentialing and licensing agencies of local interest:

• National Board for Respiratory Care
• Tennessee Board for Respiratory Care

For information about the projected job outlook for the profession, please go to:  http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos084.htm#outlook