Respiratory Therapist

Setting up and checking ventilators and oxygen equipment; giving oxygen therapy and airway care; running breathing tests; helping doctors and nurses with critically ill patients; teaching patients and families how to manage breathing problems at home.

A day in the work
A shift often starts with a handover from the night team about each patient's oxygen level and ventilator settings. You check the machines, adjust oxygen or ventilator settings with the doctor's orders, and suction airways. You also do breathing tests, calm frightened families, and note every change in the chart. Emergencies can come at any hour, so the day can change quickly.

1. Step 1 · Class 10–12Choose the science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Build a steady habit in Biology, since the human body and lungs are central to the course.
2. Step 2 · Class 12Get the marks needed for the college you want. Check each college's own entrance test or merit list, and whether it follows the NCAHP curriculum.
3. Step 3 · Years 1–3Classroom and lab study of anatomy, physiology, pulmonary function tests, airway care and ventilator use. The course is set by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) framework. (reported — check with the official body)
4. Step 4 · Year 4A compulsory rotating internship in hospital ICUs, emergency wards and chest or pulmonary units. This is where most hands-on ventilator work is learned. (reported — check with the official body)
5. Step 5 · After the degreeLook for jobs in hospital ICUs and respiratory units. Check with your state allied and healthcare council whether any registration is needed for your state. (reported — check with the official body)

Fees from: Vistas (Chennai) B.Sc Respiratory Care Technology fee table, 2024–25 · Amrita Center for Allied Health Sciences - B.Sc Respiratory Technology fee structure (official university page). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

Pay depends on experience, the city, and whether you work in a government, private or corporate hospital. Entry-level jobs are often modest, while ICU specialists and senior staff usually earn more.

• Class 7–9Learn how the lungs and breathing work. Draw and label the lungs and airways in your Biology notebook, then explain it to a family member.
• Class 10–12Take a free online course on human physiology from NPTEL, then note how the heart and lungs work together.Open link ↗
• College or afterAsk a local hospital if you can volunteer in a patient-help or family-support role, with permission. Watch how the respiratory team works on a ward.

• You may see the course called B.Sc Respiratory Care Technology, B.Sc Respiratory Technology or B.RT. The name matters less than the curriculum, so check that the college follows the NCAHP curriculum released for 2026–27.
• NCAHP has asked colleges to use its new competency-based curriculum for this course from the 2026–27 session.
• Many colleges are private and charge much more than government seats, if there are any. Ask for the full fee list, including lab, hospital and exam charges, before you commit.