The short version. A Respiratory Therapist resume is screened on credential, license, and unit acuity before anything else. Lead with a summary that names your setting (adult ICU, NICU, PICU, ED, step-down, general floor, sleep lab, or home care), your RRT or CRT credential, and a headline outcome tied to the airway. Then prove impact the RT way: ventilator patients per shift, weaning and extubation success, reintubation and ventilator-associated event reductions, and code-blue and rapid-response coverage. Mirror the real RT keywords the ATS searches for (mechanical ventilation, arterial blood gas, airway management, BiPAP/CPAP, high-flow nasal cannula, therapist-driven protocols) and name your EMR and ventilator platforms. Keep it to one page until you have charge or clinical-educator scope. Typical US pay runs roughly $65,000–$90,000, median near $77,000.
What a Respiratory Therapist actually does
A Respiratory Therapist (RT) is a licensed clinician who owns the breathing for the sickest patients in the building. When a patient can't move enough air on their own — from COPD or asthma, pneumonia or ARDS, trauma, sepsis, a premature birth, or the recovery room after major surgery — the RT is the one who sets up and runs the ventilator, draws and reads the arterial blood gas, manages the airway, and titrates oxygen and medication until the lungs can do the work again. RTs hold an associate or bachelor's degree from a CoARC-accredited program, pass the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exams to earn the CRT or, more commonly today, the advanced RRT credential, and practice under a state RCP (Respiratory Care Practitioner) license.
The work changes shape with the unit — a NICU therapist nursing a 900-gram baby on high-frequency oscillation and a home-care RT setting up a CPAP share a credential but almost nothing else day to day — but the core responsibilities hold across settings:
- Mechanical ventilation. Initiate, manage, and adjust invasive and non-invasive ventilation — choosing modes and settings (tidal volume, PEEP, FiO2, pressure support), running lung-protective and ARDS protocols, and troubleshooting alarms and patient-ventilator dyssynchrony.
- Weaning and extubation. Run spontaneous breathing trials, assess readiness, wean support, and extubate — then watch for failure and escalate fast if the patient deteriorates.
- Airway management. Assist with intubation, manage and suction artificial airways and tracheostomies, perform bag-mask ventilation, and maintain a patent airway during transport and procedures.
- Arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling and interpretation. Draw arterial samples, run and interpret blood gases, and adjust ventilation and oxygenation based on acid-base and oxygenation status.
- Oxygen and aerosol therapy. Deliver and titrate oxygen, high-flow nasal cannula, and non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP/CPAP); administer aerosolized and nebulized bronchodilators and other respiratory medications; and provide bronchial hygiene and chest physiotherapy.
- Emergency response. Respond to code blues, rapid responses, and trauma activations as the airway and ventilation expert on the team — often the person at the head of the bed.
- Diagnostics. Perform and assist with pulmonary function testing (PFT), bronchoscopy, EKGs, and overnight sleep studies depending on the role.
- Assessment, protocols, and documentation. Assess breath sounds and work of breathing, drive care through therapist-driven protocols, chart in the EMR, and educate patients and families on inhalers, home oxygen, and airway clearance.
The throughline is ownership of a patient's oxygenation and ventilation under acute, time-critical conditions. That is exactly what your resume has to prove — not that you "provided respiratory care," but that you ran ventilators independently, weaned patients to extubation, drew and read gases, and held your own in a code.
What recruiters & ATS look for
A Respiratory Therapist resume gets read in two passes. First, an applicant tracking system (or a clinical recruiter running a keyword search) checks for the non-negotiables: an active RCP license, the RRT or CRT credential with NBRC certification, and current life-support cards. A resume missing a clear credentials line is one of the fastest things to get filtered out, because credentialing can't proceed without it. Then a hiring manager — an ICU or respiratory-care director, or a clinical coordinator — spends about ten seconds deciding whether you can run a vent independently at the acuity they staff for, and whether you can be trusted at the head of the bed in a code.
To clear the screen, your resume needs the right keywords (covered below) in clean formatting: a single-column layout, standard section headings, real selectable text rather than skills baked into an image, the exact job title mirrored from the posting, and a credentials line that is impossible to miss. To win the human, it needs quantified, airway-centered ownership in the top third — ventilator caseload, unit acuity, weaning and extubation outcomes, and code coverage. The single biggest tell of a green or copied resume is listing "modalities provided" with no acuity, no vent numbers, and no outcomes — the language of a student checklist rather than a working ICU therapist.
| Signal they want | How it shows up on a strong RT resume |
|---|---|
| Credential & license | "RRT · NBCR-certified · RCP license (TX, active) · ACLS · BLS · PALS · NRP" — visible in the top third, not buried |
| Right unit & acuity | Adult ICU, NICU, PICU, ED, step-down, general floor, sleep lab, or home care named explicitly, with patient population |
| Ventilator independence | "Managed 6–8 ventilated ICU patients per shift across invasive and non-invasive support" — scope in one line |
| Weaning & airway outcomes | Weaning/extubation success rate, reintubation reduction, ventilator-day reduction, VAE/VAP rate |
| Emergency readiness | Code-blue, rapid-response, and trauma-activation coverage; intubation assists; transport experience |
| Equipment & systems | Ventilator platforms (Servo, Hamilton, Drager, Avea), high-flow and NIV devices, and the EMR (Epic or Cerner) |
Full Respiratory Therapist resume example
Here is a complete, realistic sample for an experienced adult-ICU and emergency-department RT. Notice that the credentials are impossible to miss, the summary names a unit and a headline metric, every experience bullet pairs an action with a quantified clinical result, and the skills line is dense with genuine, defensible RT keywords.
Marcus D. Reyes, RRT
Registered Respiratory Therapist — Adult ICU & Emergency Department
Houston, TX · marcus.reyes@email.com · (713) 555-0172 · linkedin.com/in/marcusreyes-rrt · NPI on request
Credentials & Certifications
RRT — Registered Respiratory Therapist (NBRC, active) · RCP license: Texas (#RC.0054321, active), Louisiana (active) · ACLS · BLS · PALS · NRP · ECMO-specialist trained · AARC member
Professional Summary
High-acuity Registered Respiratory Therapist with 7+ years across a 28-bed adult ICU and a Level I trauma emergency department, independently managing 6–8 ventilated patients per shift across invasive and non-invasive support. Drive care through therapist-driven protocols, lead the airway at code blues and rapid responses, and consistently wean and extubate post-op and medical patients ahead of ventilator-day targets. Charge therapist and new-grad preceptor.
Core Skills
Clinical: Mechanical ventilation (invasive & non-invasive) · Ventilator weaning & extubation · Airway management & intubation assist · ABG sampling & interpretation · High-flow nasal cannula · BiPAP/CPAP · Aerosolized medication · Bronchial hygiene & chest physiotherapy · ARDS & lung-protective protocols · ECMO support
Emergency: Code blue · Rapid response · Trauma activation · Intra-hospital transport · ACLS algorithms
Systems & equipment: Epic · Cerner · Servo-i · Hamilton-C6 · Drager Evita · Avea ventilators
Clinical Experience
Bayou City Medical Center — Adult ICU & Level I Trauma ED · Houston, TX
- Independently manage 6–8 ventilated ICU patients per 12-hour shift across ARDS, sepsis, COPD, and post-surgical populations, titrating modes and settings to lung-protective and weaning protocols.
- Weaned and extubated 90% of eligible post-op and medical patients within protocol targets, cutting average ventilator days by 1.4 across the unit.
- Reduced unplanned reintubations 22% by standardizing spontaneous-breathing-trial screening and extubation-readiness criteria with the intensivist team.
- Cover 100% of assigned code blues, rapid responses, and trauma activations as airway lead, assisting 60+ intubations per year.
- Serve as charge therapist for a 9-RT shift and precept 6+ new graduates and respiratory students on ventilator management and ABG interpretation.
- Contributed to a ventilator-associated-event (VAE) bundle that lowered the unit VAP rate to below the national benchmark over two years.
Gulf Coast Regional Hospital — Medical-Surgical ICU & Step-Down · Galveston, TX
- Managed a mixed ICU and step-down assignment of 10–14 patients per shift, including invasive ventilation, high-flow nasal cannula, and BiPAP/CPAP initiation and titration.
- Cut readmission-related rapid responses on the COPD step-down unit 18% by leading inhaler and airway-clearance teaching before discharge.
- Drew and interpreted 25+ arterial blood gases per shift, adjusting ventilation and oxygenation and escalating acid-base derangements to the care team.
Lone Star Community Hospital · Texas City, TX
- Covered general-floor and ED respiratory care on night shift — nebulizer therapy, oxygen titration, EKGs, and rapid-response support — across a 110-bed community hospital.
Education
B.S., Respiratory Care — University of Texas Medical Branch (CoARC-accredited), 2016
A.A.S., Respiratory Therapy — San Jacinto College, 2014
Build a resume like this — free.
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Build yours free →Key hard & soft skills for Respiratory Therapists
Hiring managers weight a specific blend. The hard skills get you past the credentialing screen and prove you can run a vent safely; the soft skills are what make an RT effective in a fast-moving unit and at the head of the bed — and the best resumes demonstrate the soft skills inside bullets rather than just listing them.
Hard skills
- Mechanical ventilation — invasive and non-invasive, mode and setting management
- Ventilator weaning, spontaneous breathing trials, and extubation
- Airway management, intubation assist, and tracheostomy care
- Arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling and interpretation
- High-flow nasal cannula, BiPAP, and CPAP titration
- ARDS and lung-protective ventilation protocols
- Aerosolized/nebulized medication and bronchial hygiene
- Chest physiotherapy and airway clearance
- Code blue, rapid response, and ACLS algorithm execution
- Pulmonary function testing (PFT), EKG, and bronchoscopy assist
- Ventilator platforms (Servo, Hamilton, Drager, Avea) and EMR (Epic, Cerner)
Soft skills
- Calm, decisive judgment under code and rapid-response pressure
- Clear closed-loop communication with intensivists, nurses, and the care team
- Patient and family education on inhalers, home oxygen, and airway clearance
- Prioritization across a full, shifting assignment without missing a deteriorating patient
- Preceptorship and mentorship of students and new-grad therapists
- Attention to detail in titration, alarm management, and documentation
ATS keywords for a Respiratory Therapist resume
These are the terms recruiters and applicant tracking systems search for most often in RT hiring. Use the ones you genuinely have, mirror the posting's exact phrasing, and prove each inside an accomplishment rather than parking it in a list. Where a term has a common acronym, include both forms once.
Realistic salary range
Most US Respiratory Therapist roles pay roughly $65,000 to $90,000, with a national median near $77,000. New grads and general-floor or home-care RTs typically start around $58,000–$68,000; experienced ICU, NICU, and ED therapists cluster in the $75,000–$88,000 range; and lead, charge, ECMO, transport, and travel RT roles in higher-cost metros commonly reach $95,000–$120,000 or more. The biggest drivers of the spread are acuity and specialty (NICU, ECMO, and flight/transport pay a premium over general floor), geography (high-cost and shortage areas pay more), shift (night, weekend, and on-call differentials can add several dollars an hour), and whether the role is staff, per-diem, or travel. A specialty credential — NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty), ACCS (Adult Critical Care Specialist), or ECMO certification — and charge or educator duties can each add a meaningful premium. Treat any single number as a starting point and check it against current local data with our Salary Analyzer before you negotiate.
Common Respiratory Therapist resume mistakes
Frequently asked questions
Lead with a summary that names your setting (adult ICU, NICU, PICU, ED, step-down, general floor, sleep lab, or home care), your credential level, and a headline outcome tied to the airway. Make your RRT or CRT credential, NBRC certification, active RCP state license, and life-support cards (BLS, ACLS, plus PALS or NRP for peds/NICU) impossible to miss. Prove impact through quantified bullets centered on ventilation: ventilator patients managed per shift, weaning and extubation success, reintubation and ventilator-associated event reductions, code-blue and rapid-response coverage, and therapist-driven-protocol work. Include a skills line with genuine RT keywords — mechanical ventilation, arterial blood gas, airway management, BiPAP/CPAP, high-flow nasal cannula, aerosolized medication, bronchial hygiene — plus your EMR and ventilator platforms. Recruiters screen first for an active license and the right unit, then for evidence you can run a vent independently and perform in a code.
Both are credentials from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) is the entry-level credential earned by passing the Therapist Multiple-Choice exam. RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) is the advanced credential, earned by passing both the multiple-choice exam at the higher cut score and the Clinical Simulation Exam. Most hospitals, and nearly all ICU, NICU, and trauma roles, now require or strongly prefer the RRT, and many academic and magnet centers hire RRT only. On a resume, list whichever you hold exactly as the NBRC issues it, plus your state RCP (Respiratory Care Practitioner) license. If you are RRT, make sure it is the first credential after your name.
The terms recruiters and applicant tracking systems search for most are: RRT, CRT, NBRC, respiratory care practitioner (RCP), mechanical ventilation, ventilator management, arterial blood gas (ABG), airway management, intubation and extubation, ventilator weaning, BiPAP and CPAP, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), non-invasive ventilation (NIV), aerosolized and nebulized medication, bronchial hygiene, chest physiotherapy, ACLS, BLS, PALS, NRP, code blue and rapid response, therapist-driven protocols, pulmonary function testing (PFT), and your EMR (Epic or Cerner). Setting keywords matter too — ICU, NICU, PICU, emergency department, step-down, sleep lab, and home care. Add equipment you run, such as Servo, Hamilton, Drager, or Avea ventilators. Mirror the posting's exact phrasing and prove each term inside a bullet.
One page for new grads and most therapists with under ten years of experience; two pages only once you have lead, charge, clinical-educator, or supervisor scope plus protocol-development, ECMO, or transport work worth detailing. Credential, license, and unit must be visible in the top third either way. Density beats length — a tight one-page resume of ventilator caseload, weaning outcomes, and current life-support cards outperforms two pages of generic duties.
Tie each bullet to a number a clinical manager cares about: ventilator patients managed per shift, successful weaning or extubation percentage, reintubation or ventilator-associated event (VAE/VAP) reduction, code-blue and rapid-response calls covered, ABGs drawn and interpreted, therapist-driven-protocol volume, and patient or unit throughput. Use the format "achieved [clinical outcome] by [number] through [action]" — for example, "Weaned and extubated 90% of post-op vented patients within protocol targets, cutting average ventilator days by 1.4." If you can't share exact figures, use credible relative measures or ranges, but never ship a bullet with no result.
Most US Respiratory Therapist roles pay roughly $65,000 to $90,000, with a national median near $77,000. New grads and general-floor or home-care RTs often start around $58,000–$68,000; experienced ICU, NICU, and ED therapists cluster in the $75,000–$88,000 range; and lead, charge, ECMO, transport, and travel RT roles in higher-cost metros commonly reach $95,000–$120,000 or more. Shift differentials for nights, weekends, and on-call can add several dollars an hour, and high-acuity specialties (NICU, ECMO, transport) plus geography drive most of the remaining spread.
Yes. List your RRT or CRT credential, your NBRC certification, your state RCP (respiratory care practitioner) license and the states where it is active, and your life-support cards — BLS, ACLS, and PALS or NRP if you cover pediatrics or the NICU. Recruiters and credentialing teams screen for an active, unencumbered license and current cards before anything else, and a missing or expired-looking credentials line is one of the fastest ways to get filtered out. Put a clear credentials line in the top third and keep expiration dates current.
Keep going
Related resume examples and guides to build out your respiratory-care application:
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