How to Get a Master's Degree in Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory therapy is one of the fastest-growing career opportunities within the health care industry. Students earn degrees in respiratory therapy ranging from associate degrees and continuing education certification courses to master's degree programs. Master's degree graduates in respiratory therapy are found in:

• Hospitals
• Rehabilitation facilities
• Home care agencies
• Pharmaceutical and equipment manufacturing firms

This rewarding career gives you primary responsibility for life-saving tools and techniques. Whether you find yourself in an intensive-care unit or a private rehabilitation care facility, you are known as the expert on cardiovascular and life-support procedures.

How to Earn a Master's Degree in Respiratory Therapy

Before you begin the application process, you need to learn more about the the master's degree in respiratory therapy, decide whether you'd like to earn a master's degree online or on campus, and compile a list of potential schools.

Once you're ready to look into specific respiratory therapy degree programs, begin by understanding the different types of respiratory therapy master's degrees you can earn.

Step 1: Learn More About Respiratory Therapy Degree Types & Coursework Requirements

A master's degree in respiratory therapy typically requires two years of full-time study and culminates in a master of science (MS) degree. Consider two of the major programs within respiratory therapy master's degree programs:

• Respiratory Therapy: Designed to prepare students with or without some respiratory therapy background for work in the field. An intensive course of research and laboratory courses offers the training you need to operate with confidence in the field.
• Respiratory Care Leadership: If you already have an advanced respiratory therapy degree, consider degree programs that combine respiratory care and leadership. Coursework can include discussions on the evolving roles of respiratory care professionals along with research design and advanced coursework in respiratory therapy.

Each degree is considered academically equivalent, meaning there is no inherent benefit to choosing one type of respiratory therapy master's degree over the other. The type of degree path you choose should reflect your individual education and career goals.

Respiratory Therapy Master's Degree Coursework

Respiratory therapy master's degree programs offer an intensive course of study. About two years of full-time study are typically required. Take a look at some common coursework in respiratory therapy master's degree programs:

• Principles of Respiratory Care
• Critical Care Laboratory
• Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology
• Emergency Medicine
• Mechanical Ventilation

Each school can offer different coursework and and have different requirements for students. Some programs require an internship or laboratory research, while others deliver coursework online without external requirements. Next, compile a list of potential master's degree programs in respiratory therapy in order to learn more about individual schools.

Step 2: Create a List of Respiratory Therapy Master's Degree Programs

Create a list of potential respiratory therapy master's degree programs. Seek out resources online to create your list. As you research, you learn more about potential specializations and other offerings from online and campus respiratory therapy schools. Use the following resources to begin your research:

• Professional Organizations: Learn more about respiratory therapy as a career and explore colleges and universities that maintain membership in professional organizations within the field. Browse organizations like the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC).

• Accredited Lists: Look for lists of accredited respiratory therapy degree programs and to eliminate the step of having to look up accredited schools yourself. Try the AARC's listings of accredited respiratory therapy degree programs.
• School Listings: Browse listings at WorldWideLearn.com and use the site to simplify the process of contacting schools for more information. See listings for online degrees in respiratory therapy, continuing education classes in respiratory therapy, and campus-based respiratory therapy degrees.

Compile a list of both campus and online respiratory therapy degree programs. Once you've created a list of master's degree programs, you can begin to understand the range of degrees and specializations available to you. Next, think about whether you would rather earn a master's degree online or on campus.

Step 3: Consider Campus and Online Respiratory Therapy Master's Degrees

Consider how you would prefer to earn your respiratory therapy master's degree. Because you typically don't need to complete hands-on research to earn a master's degree in respiratory therapy, you should see a lot of options for online master's degrees along with campus programs.

Choose the way in which you pursue your education and you can customize your degree program to your needs. Adult learners, students with full-time jobs, and independent students thrive in online degree programs. Your personality and practical needs can help determine which type of master's degree program is right for you.

Whether you're interested in the hands-on, face-to-face interaction of campus classrooms or the accessibility and independence of online degree programs, your choice reflects your needs as a respiratory therapy master's degree student.

Step 4: Confirm Accreditation in Each Respiratory Therapy Master's Degree Program

Take control of the quality of your own education. By determining the accreditation of each respiratory therapy school on your list, you help ensure that your degree meets the standards set by schools across the country. A third-party agency evaluates schools for overall quality, based on factors like:

• Academic records & admissions
• Student recruitment practices
• Course content

It's important to make sure that both campus and online master's degree programs are accredited. Check to make sure a school is accredited even if you think you recognize that school's name. By making sure your respiratory therapy institution is accredited, you enjoy a range of benefits:

• Financial Aid: Only students at accredited schools are eligible for federal financial aid
• Employment: Potential employers recognize the quality of accredited schools
• Credit Transfer: Accredited schools only accept credits from other accredited schools

Search the U.S. Department of Education's accreditation database for the respiratory therapy schools on your list. While this step does take time and effort, this simple search helps you reap the benefits of the accreditation process. For basic information on accreditation, see WorldWideLearn.com's guide.

Step 5: Narrow Your Respiratory Therapy Master's Degree Options

By now, you should have a comprehensive list of accredited online and campus master's degree programs in respiratory therapy. Next, focus your list by considering each school in terms of your personal preferences. Allow the following criteria to guide your choices as you begin eliminating potential schools:

• Admission: Each master's degree program in respiratory therapy has its own specific standards for admission. Schools may require professional resumes, school transcripts, letters of recommendation, test scores, and more.

• Accessibility: If you think you'd like to earn a master's degree online, consider the technical profile of each school. One school may offer a respiratory therapy reference library online, while another could present course material in a different way. Remember that no two online colleges are alike; think about what you value most in terms of accessible technology.

• Location: If you're considering attending a respiratory therapy program on a traditional campus, consider location. Learn more about local costs, like cost of living and employment statistics. If you plan to look for an internship or job during your time in school, seek out areas with the best job opportunities for respiratory therapy workers.

• Costs: Take a look at potential costs associated with your respiratory therapy master's degree program. Balance costs like tuition and living expenses with financial aid such as loans, federal grants, and scholarships. Think about how your salary after graduation will stack up against any potential debt. Learn more about financial aid in the U.S. by checking out WorldWideLearn.com's guide.

• Reputation: Your respiratory therapy master's degree program's reputation can greatly affect your own career future. Reputation is important; make sure you balance rankings and reputations with the price tag attached. The respiratory therapy programs on the top of your list may come with a much higher tuition price, pushing a big-name school beyond your budget.

• Faculty: Find out more about faculty members at respiratory therapy master's degree program. Browse department websites to learn which professors are publishing and researching, and look for departments where the research interests of professors match your own. Seek out strong, active publishing teams of faculty members; you are more likely to learn the most current information on respiratory therapy tools and techniques.

• Extra Perks: Think about potential perks at each respiratory therapy program. You might be required to complete an internship, network with members of professional organizations like the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), or volunteer or work in the community. Think about these extra perks once you only need to cut a few schools from your list.

Create your final preferences for strong respiratory therapy by working your way through these criteria. Once you've researched each school, you can express more distinct preferences. Your shorter list should give you confidence that you have learned more about the respiratory therapy degree itself, learned about the different respiratory programs and schools that meet your basic criteria, you should be ready to take the next step--beginning the application process, sending your application information to only your strongest respiratory therapy school choices.

How to Apply for Respiratory Therapy Master's Degree Programs

Your research pays off when the time comes to apply. Because you're working with a short list of only your most preferred schools, you can save time and money on the application process. You will be submitting a different application to each school. As you begin the application process, keep the following in mind:

• Meet Requirements: From transcripts to test scores, each degree program has different application requirements. Find out more information by contacting each respiratory therapy program individually. Be prepared to request recommendation letters from individuals and transcripts from your undergraduate school.

• Observe Deadlines: Along with unique requirements, each master's degree program application also has different deadlines. Organize your process by using a calendar to observe deadlines for test scores, transcripts, and completed applications.

• Get Educated: Learn more about respiratory therapy as a career as you apply to schools. Browse professional organizations like the American Association for Respiratory Care for more information on the professional respiratory therapy world.

In the end, your research pays off. This process takes time and effort, but you benefit from learning more about the respiratory therapy degree itself along with the application process required by each school. When the time comes to apply to your top schools, you can complete the process with confidence and less stress.

Sources

• Accreditation Search, U.S. Department of Education
• Accredited Programs American Association for Respiratory Care
• Master of Respiratory Therapy, Northeastern University