The demand for respiratory therapists in Washington is projected to increase steadily for years to come. Washington offers both significantly higher salaries and a higher projected job growth rate for RTs when compared with its neighboring states. Most recently the average salary for Washington’s 1,820 respiratory therapists was calculated to be $65,040.
A steady income is not the only benefit this field offers. Washington’s respiratory therapists consistently report a high level of job satisfaction knowing they provide a valuable medical service.
To become a respiratory therapist in Washington you will need to be licensed through the state Department of Health as a Respiratory Care Practitioner:
Step 1. Earn a Degree in Respiratory Therapy
As the first step to becoming a respiratory therapist in Washington you will need to earn at least an associate’s of science degree specific to this field. You must earn your degree through an institution that is approved by CoARC (Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care). There are five such respiratory therapist schools in Washington State, in addition to those available throughout the country.
Typical respiratory therapist training programs in Washington include courses such as:
- Respiratory therapy professionalism and ethics
- Respiratory pharmacology
- Arterial blood gasses
- Mechanical ventilation
- Respiratory orientation, assessment, and diagnosis
- Respiratory care in children and the elderly
- Assistance in specialized respiratory care procedures
- Respiratory therapy critical care, long term care, rehabilitation, and home care
- Respiratory therapist clinical studies
Although an associate’s degree meets the state’s minimum licensing requirements, you may elect to complete a bachelor’s of science program. Going beyond the minimum requirements for licensure is a good way to stay competitive in the field.
As part of the requirements for licensure in Washington State, you must also complete a seven-hour approved HIV/AIDS training course.
Step 2. Consider Obtaining a Temporary Permit
In some circumstances you may find it advantageous to practice under a temporary permit.
Once you graduate from a CoARC-approved respiratory therapy program and submit an application for licensure you can practice with a temporary permit under the close observation of a supervising RT. Eligibility for a temporary permit is dependent upon completing all requirements for licensure, with the exception of the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam.
If you pass this exam you may continue practicing as a respiratory therapist until you are issued a license. However if you do not pass the CRT exam your permit is considered to be immediately invalidated.
As a licensed respiratory therapist in a different state, you would be eligible for a temporary permit if you have completed all requirements for licensure in Washington except the seven-hour HIV/AIDS training course. Obtaining a temporary permit will allow you to work for up to six months in Washington before completing the required HIV/AIDS course.
Step 3. Pass the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) Exam
Besides graduating from a two-year respiratory therapy academic program, Washington State law also mandates that all respiratory therapists pass the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination leading to the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential. To be eligible to take the exam, candidates must be at least 18 years of age and hold a degree from a CoARC-approved respiratory therapy program.
You will have up to three hours to complete the exam, which is comprised of 160 multiple-choice questions covering three primary subject areas:
- Patient data evaluations and recommendations:
- Patient record and data review
- Collection and evaluation of clinical data
- Procedures to obtain additional patient information
- Quality control, equipment manipulation, and infection control for:
- Oxygen devices
- CPAP devices
- Ventilators
- Artificial airways
- Modification and initiation of therapeutic procedures:
- Records and communication of information
- Care of artificial airways
- Maintenance of patient airway
- Removal of broncho-pulmonary secretions
Remember that you must pass the exam within 90 days of graduation from your respiratory therapist education program. You can register online to take the CRT, which is offered at Applied Measurement Professionals testing centers located throughout the state:
- In East Wenatchee at 636 Valley Mall Parkway, Suite A4
- In Everett at 7010 Evergreen Way
- In Kennewick at 4018a West Clearwater Avenue
- At Kirkland’s Regus Business Center at 11335 Northeast 122nd, Suite 105
- In Lakewood at 9132 Veteran’s Drive Southwest
- In Bellevue at 15015 Main Street, Suite 111B
- In Seattle at 113 1st Avenue North
- In Spokane at 1601 North Division, Suite i
- In Spanaway at 15633 Pacific Avenue South
- In Tacoma at 7626 South Tacoma Way
- In Vancouver at 10000 Northeast 7th Avenue, Suite 400
- In Yakima at 1115 West Lincoln, Suite 107
Step 4. Apply for Licensure with the Washington State Department of Health
By the time you have completed education and exam requirements, you should be ready to complete an application packet for licensure. This will include:
- Application fee, currently $210
- Personal questions aimed at determining your suitability to practice as a respiratory therapist
- Request for your respiratory therapist school to send the Department of Health your official transcripts
- Complete work history
- Confirmation that you have received at least seven hours of HIV/AIDS training
- Score from your CRT exam
If you are already licensed in a different state and applying for licensure in Washington, you will also need to fill out a Verification of Licensure form.
The Department of Health will review applications for Respiratory Care Practitioner Licenses in the order they are received, and you can check the status of your application online. Once you receive your license you can begin the search for respiratory therapist jobs in Washington as a fully-credentialed professional.
Step 5. Renew Your Washington Respiratory Therapist License
Your Washington State Respiratory Care Practitioner License is valid for two years and expires on your birthday. To renew it, you must complete at least thirty hours of continuing education before it expires and pay a $165 license renewal fee.
Continuing education is considered to be any activity that relates to your advancement and education in the field of respiratory therapy:
- Category I in-service training approved by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
- Respiratory care courses that are approved by the:
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
- American Nurses Association (ANA)
- Advanced cardiac life support
- Pediatric advanced life support
- Neonatal resuscitation program
- Courses dealing with:
- Teaching, lecturing, or making presentations about respiratory therapy
- Self-study courses
- Respiratory care courses from any accredited college or university
At least 10 hours of your continuing education must be approved by the AARC. If you happen to be audited by the Washington State Department of Health, you will need to provide documented proof that you have completed the requisite amount of continuing education.
Many respiratory therapists in Washington choose to pursue a course of college and university study when completing their continuing education requirements, earning a more advanced degree in a relevant subject area. Bachelor’s or master’s of science degrees in fields that are closely related to respiratory therapy can prove to be valuable for both the short and long term career prospects. Having at least a four-year degree can allow candidates to stand out competitively in the initial application process as well as increase future career possibilities.
As you prepare for a future career as a respiratory therapist in Washington it is advisable to start researching prospective employers early on in the licensure process. Some of the largest Washington-based employers of professionals in this field include:
- University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle
- Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital in Spokane
- Evergreen Health Medical Center in Kirkland
- Harborview Medical Center in Seattle
- Providence Saint Peter Hospital in Olympia
- Virgin Mason Medical Center in Seattle
- Northwest Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle
- PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver
- Providence Holy Family Hospital in Spokane
- Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett
- Tacoma General Hospital
- PeaceHealth Saint Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham
- Swedish Medical Centers in Seattle