Best institutions to study Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant
A program that prepares individuals to administer general respiratory care procedures under the supervision of respiratory therapists in a variety of clinical settings.
19 U.S. institutions graduated 258 Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.0812, a specialization of Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (CIP 51.08), and leads most directly to the Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 29-2099).
About Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant programs
A program that prepares individuals to administer general respiratory care procedures under the supervision of respiratory therapists in a variety of clinical settings. Includes instruction in patient data collection and monitoring, airway management, installation of nebulizers and other respiratory assistance devices, application and monitoring of breathing gases, equipment operation and maintenance, safety and sanitation procedures, and applicable regulations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant program prepares individuals to provide essential respiratory care under the supervision of licensed respiratory therapists. This program is ideal for those interested in a healthcare career focused on patient care and respiratory health in various clinical settings. Students will gain practical skills and knowledge necessary for effective patient support.
Core coursework includes patient data collection, airway management, and the operation of respiratory assistance devices. Students will also learn about safety and sanitation procedures, as well as applicable regulations related to respiratory care.
Credentials awarded
What Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree170 graduates / yr · 14 institutions66%
- Bachelor's degree54 graduates / yr · 4 institutions21%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years34 graduates / yr · 2 institutions13%
Graduates over time
Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,111 |
| 2013 | 909 |
| 2014 | 639 |
| 2015 | 612 |
| 2016 | 804 |
| 2017 | 566 |
| 2018 | 532 |
| 2019 | 392 |
| 2020 | 427 |
| 2021 | 365 |
| 2022 | 375 |
| 2023 | 454 |
| 2024 | 431 |
| 2025 | 258 |
Top 19 institutions for Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carrington College - Pleasant Hill Campus Pleasant Hill, CAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 31 | 59% | $32,161 | $61,881 |
| 2 | Mandl School - The College of Allied Health New York, NYPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 29 | 48% | $33,742 | $33,679 |
| 3 | Francis Tuttle Technology Center Oklahoma City, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 27 | 52% | — | — |
| 4 | Newberry College Newberry, SCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 23 | 45% | $20,306 | — |
| 5 | Spokane Community College Spokane, WAPublicBachelor's | 16 | 33% | — | $36,003 |
| 6 | Genesee Community College Batavia, NYPublicAssociate's | 15 | 31% | — | $44,442 |
| 7 | Muskegon Community College Muskegon, MIPublicAssociate's | 14 | 28% | — | $28,808 |
| 8 | Dalton State College Dalton, GAPublicAssociate's | 13 | 25% | — | $58,734 |
| 9 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WAPublicAssociate's | 13 | 32% | — | $32,779 |
| 10 | Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UTPublicAssociate's | 12 | 29% | — | $34,862 |
| 11 | Laurel Technical Institute Hermitage, PAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 11 | 73% | $10,212 | $26,872 |
| 12 | Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Dover, DEPublicAssociate's | 10 | 22% | — | $38,769 |
| 13 | Eastern Oklahoma State College Wilburton, OKPublicAssociate's | 10 | 27% | — | — |
| 14 | Highline College Des Moines, WAPublicBachelor'sAssociate's | 9 | 35% | — | $50,468 |
| 15 | Kettering College Kettering, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 65% | $15,131 | — |
| 16 | Autry Technology Center Enid, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 75% | — | — |
| 17 | Vermont State University Randolph, VTPublicAssociate's | 6 | 47% | — | — |
| 18 | University of the District of Columbia Washington, DCPublicAssociate's | 3 | 33% | — | — |
| 19 | Mercyhurst University Erie, PAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 2 | 60% | $25,987 | $32,656 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services field (CIP 51.08) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 13 states
Where Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant graduates come from. Each state links to all Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 3 | 44 | Francis Tuttle Technology Center27 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 44 | Mandl School - The College of Allied Health29 / yr |
| Washington | 3 | 38 | Spokane Community College16 / yr |
| California | 1 | 31 | Carrington College - Pleasant Hill Campus31 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 23 | Newberry College23 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 14 | Muskegon Community College14 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 13 | Laurel Technical Institute11 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 13 | Dalton State College13 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 12 | Salt Lake Community College12 / yr |
| Delaware | 1 | 10 | Delaware Technical Community College - Terry10 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 7 | Kettering College7 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 6 | Vermont State University6 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 3 | University of the District of Columbia3 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-2099, Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant program can pursue careers as health technologists and technicians. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 5.2% and approximately 13,600 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $48,790, typically requiring a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.0812
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Otherprimary SOC 29-2099 | $50,290 | +5.2% Faster than average | ~13,600 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Related careers
Other Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services specializations
The 13 other 6-digit CIP codes under Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (CIP 51.08).
- Medical/CIP 51.0801
Clinical Assistant 55,276 graduates / yr1,057 institutions - Pharmacy Technician/CIP 51.0805
Assistant 8,060 graduates / yr353 institutions - Physical Therapy AssistantCIP 51.08065,489 graduates / yr360 institutions
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesCIP 51.08994,386 graduates / yr75 institutions
- Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance)CIP 51.08104,277 graduates / yr79 institutions
- Occupational Therapist AssistantCIP 51.08033,204 graduates / yr213 institutions
- Radiologist AssistantCIP 51.0814partial data1,676 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Clinical/CIP 51.0802
Medical Laboratory Assistant 663 graduates / yr34 institutions - Anesthesiologist AssistantCIP 51.0809497 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Speech-Language Pathology AssistantCIP 51.0816304 graduates / yr21 institutions
- Pathology/CIP 51.0811
Pathologist Assistant 178 graduates / yr13 institutions - Lactation ConsultantCIP 51.0815partial data47 graduates / yr4 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Chiropractic Technician/
Assistant51.0813
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services programs →
Common questions
What is the typical duration of the program?+
The program typically awards an Associate's degree, which usually takes two years to complete.
What kind of jobs can I get after graduation?+
Graduates can work as health technologists and technicians in various healthcare settings.
Is there a demand for respiratory therapy technicians?+
Yes, the job outlook is faster than average, with significant annual openings.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will learn patient data collection, airway management, and the operation of respiratory devices.
What is the CIP code for Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant?+
Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant is CIP 51.0812 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (CIP 51.08). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to administer general respiratory care procedures under the supervision of respiratory therapists in a variety of clinical settings. Includes instruction in patient data collection and monitoring, airway management, installation of nebulizers and other respiratory assistance devices, application and monitoring of breathing gases, equipment operation and maintenance, safety and sanitation procedures, and applicable regulations.
How many institutions offer Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant programs?+
19 U.S. institutions reported Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 13 states, awarding 258 credentials in the year. That is 0.3% of all Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services graduates.
How much do Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other occupation, which Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant most directly leads to, pays a median of $50,290 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services field report median earnings of $36,003 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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