are you considering a career as a respiratory therapist
if so you're probably wondering whether or not it's hard to get into respiratory therapy school
the short answer is yes it can be quite difficult to get accepted however there are several things
you can do to improve your chances which is exactly what we're going to discuss in this
video by breaking down the most common admission requirements so if you're ready let's get into it
first and foremost is it difficult to get accepted into respiratory therapy school
the field of respiratory care is expected to grow significantly over the next decade
this means that there will be many job openings for respiratory therapists in the coming years
however this also means the competition for spots and respiratory therapy programs will be increased
therefore to increase your chances of being accepted it's important to understand the
admissions process and what schools are looking for in applicants as previously mentioned there
is several requirements that you need to know in order to increase your chances of getting accepted
the first step in the admission process is to obtain a high school diploma
or equivalent if you haven't already completed high school you'll need to do so before you can
apply to a respiratory therapy program this means finishing all high school requirements completing
a ged program or taking the necessary courses at a local community college
the next step is to complete the required prerequisite courses to become eligible to apply
to respiratory therapy school there are certain prerequisite courses that you'll need to complete
some typical requirements include 1 a and p1 2 a and p2 3 college algebra 4 english composition
and 5 general psychology keep in mind that most respiratory therapy programs will require you
to complete these courses with a c or better however the exact requirements
will vary from school to school the next requirement is to maintain a competitive gpa
your gpa is one of the most important factors in the respiratory therapy school admissions process
most schools require a minimum gpa of 2.5 in order to be eligible to apply however the average
gpa of accepted students is often much higher therefore if your gpa is below the average it's
important to take steps to improve it before you apply this may include taking additional
courses or retaking classes you gotta low-grade in in addition schools will often look at your
gpa over the last two years of college when making their decision therefore it's important
to maintain a strong gpa throughout your entire college career the next step in the process is
to submit an application to the colleges or universities that you're interested in
when completing your application be sure to fill it out completely and accurately in addition be
sure to include all required information and documents and in order to be eligible to apply
to respiratory therapy school you may need to submit proof of clinical experience or observation
hours this requirement is typically fulfilled by completing an internship or externship at a
local hospital or medical facility if you haven't previously worked in the medical field it may be
a good idea to spend time shadowing a respiratory therapist or volunteering in a hospital before you
apply this will give you a better understanding of the job and help you decide if it's the right
career for you the next requirement is to submit previous college transcripts if you've taken any
college courses in the past you'll need to submit your transcripts when applying to rt school
this is important because schools need to see what types of grades you've been getting to determine
if you're eligible for admission if you've taken courses at multiple schools be sure to
request transcripts from each college that you've attended and in addition to your transcripts you
may also need to submit your act or sat scores when applying the exact requirements will vary
from school to school but most require a minimum score of 18 on the act or 950 on the sat if you
don't meet the minimum score requirements you may still be able to apply if you have a strong gpa
however your chances of being accepted will be lower in addition to the items listed above you
may also need to submit letters of recommendation when applying to respiratory therapy school
these letters should be from people who can speak to your character and abilities such as
a teacher coach or employer if you have any family members or friends who are respiratory therapists
they may also be able to write you a letter of recommendation once you've met all requirements
and are prepared to submit your application next you'll need to pay the required application fees
most schools charge an application fee of around 50 however the exact amount will vary
from school to school be sure to check with each program to find out their specific requirements
after you've paid the necessary fees your application will be reviewed by the admissions
committee if they determine that you're eligible for admission you'll be contacted for an interview
the interview is your opportunity to show the committee why you're the best candidate for the
program be sure to dress professionally and arrive prepared to answer any questions they may have
once you've officially been accepted into an accredited respiratory therapy program
next it's time to enroll and begin completing the required coursework
congratulations on taking the first step towards a rewarding career as a respiratory therapist
and now you may be wondering is respiratory therapy school worth it for me personally the
answer is a resounding yes respiratory therapists play a vital role in the healthcare industry
and there is a high demand for qualified professionals by enrolling in an accredited
program you'll gain the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this rewarding career
however respiratory therapy is not for everyone the admission requirements are rigorous and the
coursework can be difficult but if you're up for the challenge i believe it's definitely worth it
which brings us back to the initial question is it hard to get into respiratory therapy school
yes the application process can be competitive and challenging
however by meeting all the requirements and following the steps outlined in this video
you'll increase your chances of being accepted into the program of your choice
if you want to support the channel be sure to like and subscribe i would greatly appreciate
it and there should be some other helpful videos popping up on your screen right about now that i
think you will enjoy and just a quick reminder we are not doctors this video is for informational
purposes only thank you so much for watching have a blessed day and as always breathe easy my friend