Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory therapists care for patients that have trouble breathing. In particular, they provide emergency care to patients suffering from many different acute conditions including heart attacks, strokes, drowning, and shock. Their patients range from premature infants with underdeveloped lungs to elderly patients who have diseased lungs.
CAREER DESCRIPTION*
- National median salary: $80,450
- National projected career growth: 12%
- Many work in hospitals
- Treat patients using a variety of methods, including chest physiotherapy and aerosol medications
- Perform various tests to determine lung capacity and blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels
TYPICAL EDUCATION**
- Years of School (including undergraduate): 2-4
- Certification required: CRT or RRT
COMPETITIVE STUDENTS ALWAYS...
- Shadow professionals in the field
- Have strong academics in math & science courses
- Have Basic Life Support (BLS) certification before applying
NEARBY SCHOOLS
- Metropolitan Community College (associate’s degree)
- Nebraska Methodist College (associate’s & bachelor’s degrees)
- Southeast Community College (associate’s degree)
- University of Kansas Medical Center (bachelor’s degree)
Prerequisites vary by program. Students are responsible for ensuring all entrance requirements are met. Most schools prefer science classes to be taken in-person versus online.
NEBRASKA METHODIST COLLEGE TRANSFERRABLE COURSES
Biological Sciences (minimum credits: 12)
| Course | Credits | Semester | Prerequisites |
| BIOL 2440 The Biology of Microorganisms & Lab | 4 | F, S, M | High school Biology and Chemistry |
|
BIOL 2740 Human Anatomy & Physiology I & Lab |
4 | F, S, M | High school Biology and Chemistry |
|
BIOL 2840 Human Anatomy & Physiology II & Lab |
4 | F, S, M | BIOL 2740 |
Chemistry (minimum credits: 4)
| Course | Credits | Semester | Prerequisites |
| CHEM 1140 & 1144 Fund of College Chemistry & Lab | 5 | F, S, M | MATH 1300 or 1320 |
Mathematics (minimum credits: 3)
| Course | Credits | Semester | Prerequisites |
| MATH 1300 College Algebra with Support | 4 | F, S, M | |
|
OR MATH 1320 College Algebra |
3 | F, S, M | ACT 22 or ALEKS 4 |
Physics (minimum credits: 4)
| Course | Credits | Semester | Prerequisites |
| PHYS 1050 & 1054 Introduction to Physics & Lab | 5 | F, S, M | High School Algebra |
English Composition (minimum credits: 6)
| Course | Credits | Semester | Prerequisites |
| ENGL 1140 English Composition I with Support | 4 | F, S | ACT Composite score <13, SAT Composite score <760, High School GPA <2.3, or Last Known College GPA <2.0 |
|
OR ENGL 1150 English Composition I |
3 | F, S, M | AP Score 3, ACT 14-26, HS GPA 2.3+ |
| ENGL 1160 English Composition II | 3 | F, S, M | AP Score 4, ENGL 1140 or 1150, or ACT 27+ or Reading or English ACT score of 29+ |
Humanities (minimum credits: 9)
| Course | Credits | Semester | Prerequisites |
| May include Art, English Literature, History†, Humanities, Music, Philosophy, Religion, or Theatre. | |||
†One course must be a historical perspective.
Social Sciences (minimum credits: 3)
| Course | Credits | Semester | Prerequisites |
| PSYC 1010 Introduction to Psychology | 3 | F, S, M | N/A |
| PSYC 2500 Lifespan Psychology | 3 | F, S, M | PSYC 1010 |
Ethics (minimum credits: 3)
| Course | Credits | Semester |
| PHIL 2030 Introduction to Ethics | 3 | F, S |
| PHIL 2300 Biomedical Ethics | 3 | F, S |
Medical Terminology
| Course | Credits | Semester |
| BIOL 1160 Terminology of Human Health & Disease | 2 | F, S |
*Data and information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
**Data and information from Nebraska Methodist College
Last update: 9.2025