In-demand career
A person cannot survive more than a few minutes without oxygen, so it's no surprise that respiratory therapists play a critical role in healthcare by helping people breathe.
Not only do respiratory therapists help treat chronic respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD, but they're also seeing an increase in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome - a condition that can happen as a result of COVID-19.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of respiratory therapists will grow 23% between 2020 and 2030, which is much faster than average. That's 10,100 job openings projected each year.