Respiratory Therapy (RT)

Pima Medical Institute's Respiratory Therapy associate degree program gives you the clinical and professional skills needed to begin your career as an entry-level registered respiratory therapist. The program prepares graduates with demonstrated competence across the cognitive, psychomotor and behavioral learning domains of respiratory care practice.

Through a curriculum that balances classroom instruction with hands-on clinical training, you will learn advanced respiratory care techniques, pharmacology, cardiopulmonary disease, patient assessment, therapeutic interventions and emergency care, including neonatal, pediatric and adult special care. You will also develop the professional traits needed to thrive in this role and care for patients across a wide range of clinical environments. Graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination (TMC). Following successful performance on the TMC, graduates are then eligible to sit for the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) for credentialing as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Program objective. To develop in students the intrapersonal and professional skills needed to perform as competent entry-level respiratory therapists through didactic instruction and hands-on laboratory and clinical experiences. Among the topics covered in the curriculum are skills in advanced respiratory care techniques including neonatal, pediatric, and adult special care procedures, general and advanced pharmacology, cardiopulmonary disease, patient assessment, and therapeutics. Graduates of the program receive an Associate of Applied Science Degree and are eligible to apply to take the National Board for Respiratory Care Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination. Those who meet the threshold on the TMC exam are eligible to take the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) to obtain the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.

Core skills you’ll develop.

• Ventilation: Managing mechanical ventilation and advanced airway support
• Pharmacology: Applying medication knowledge to respiratory treatment plans
• Diagnostics: Interpreting cardiopulmonary diagnostic tests and assessments
• Emergency Care: Responding to critical, life-threatening respiratory situations
• Pediatrics: Providing specialized respiratory care for neonatal and pediatric patients
• Patient Assessment: Evaluating patient conditions to guide therapeutic decisions

Continuing your education. Graduating with an associate degree is a vital pathway toward pursuing higher education later on. At Pima Medical Institute, we offer an online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy. This degree gives working respiratory therapy professionals the skills needed to move up within their field, with the flexibility of virtual instruction.

If you are interested in health care leadership or administration, Pima Medical Institute also offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration . Both programs offer the flexibility of online instruction so you can work toward your degree on your own schedule.

About Pima Medical Institute. Pima Medical Institute started changing lives in 1972, when Richard L. Luebke, Sr., and his wife, JoAnn, opened the first campus in Tucson, Arizona. Over 175,000 graduates have since advanced their education, and many are serving their communities through meaningful health care careers. The school’s mission is to improve the quality of people’s lives by providing the best value in medical career education.

Eligibility requirements.

• Possess a high school diploma or recognized equivalency
• Additional requirements may apply by campus

Program-specific requirements. In addition to the Admissions requirements listed in the Prospective Students section of this catalog, an interview with the program director and/or faculty is required. Refer to the program specific Prospective Student Handout for more information.

High school verification. Proof of valid high school completion or equivalent must be submitted (high school diploma or transcript, GED report and certificate, or an official associate or bachelor’s degree transcript). Pima Medical Institute does not enroll ability-to-benefit students, and applicants under the legal age must have written approval of a parent or legal guardian.

Entrance exams. Applicants for degree programs, excluding Nursing, are required to take the Wonderlic SLE and receive a minimum score of 20. Applicants for associate degree programs are also required to take a math admission test and receive a minimum of 80% (24 out of 30 correct); a calculator is allowed, the time limit is 45 minutes, and the test can be taken up to 3 times. The exam may be waived for applicants who submit official transcripts that document completion of an associate degree or higher.

Background check, drug testing and vaccinations. Depending on the program, a background check and/or drug screening may be required prior to enrollment, during the program, and/or prior to externship/clinical training; the cost of the background check/drug screen is an out-of-pocket expense. The cost of required vaccinations and titers is also an out-of-pocket expense, and students are required to follow all clinical experience vaccination requests and policies.

At a glance. Course length: 24 Months (approximate); Total credits: 85-88; Lab hours: 260; Class hours: 1,000-1,045; Externship hours: 696. Hybrid education options not available at all campuses. Credit totals and hours vary by location.

Houston, Albuquerque, Denver, Mesa and Tucson campuses. The 2026 tuition price list shows 85 semester credits and 1,956 clock hours over 96 weeks, including 14.5 externship credits (696 hours).

Houston class times. Morning classes 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, late morning classes 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM and afternoon classes 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday; night classes 5:50 PM - 10:10 PM. Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant, Veterinary Assistant, Veterinary Technology and Diagnostic Medical Sonography externships are 40 hours per week.

Hybrid learning options. For students who need more flexibility in their schedules, hybrid learning options are available at select campuses. Hybrid learning combines in-person instruction with online learning. Students can engage with course materials at times and in environments that suit their individual circumstances, such as balancing employment, family responsibilities or geographic constraints. However, externship hours must be completed entirely in person because hands-on clinical experience is essential for developing the practical skills and confidence needed for real-world patient care.

• Certification: Graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) to earn the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential. Students take RES 275, built to prepare for the certification exam.*
• Entry-level roles: Respiratory therapist, educator, sleep disorder specialist, or pulmonary function technologist.
• Career advancement: Graduates who score high enough on the TMC exam are also eligible to complete the NBRC's Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) to earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential, which is a more advanced credential often required for higher-acuity roles. Experienced RTs can also move into supervisory, specialty (such as neonatal/pediatric or sleep medicine) or educator positions.

Certification and state registration requirements vary.

Careers. The Respiratory Therapy associate degree program prepares students to apply for roles and other related career opportunities, including:

• Respiratory therapist
• Sleep disorder specialist
• Pulmonary function technologist
• Respiratory therapy educator

These careers exist in a variety of environments, including but not limited to hospitals; specialty clinics, including those focused on asthma and cystic fibrosis; long-term care facilities; pulmonologists' offices; sleep labs; and air and ground ambulance transport companies.

Job outlook. 9% Growth — The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this occupation to grow faster than average over the next 10 years with a median pay of $82,280 per year. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Respiratory Therapists, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/respiratory-therapists.htm (visited August 27, 2026).

Career Services. When you’re a Pima Medical Institute student, you get access to our Career Services team—here for you when you need extra help with finding the right job opportunities, building a resume, strengthening your interview skills or just looking for general guidance.

Clinical externships. At Pima Medical Institute, most programs allow students to work in their field through clinical externships—a chance to be mentored by full-time professionals and interface with real patients.

In addition to real-world experience, clinical externships offer students resume-worthy opportunities, letters of recommendation from supervisors and sometimes job placement directly after graduation.

Student Services. Our team of student service professionals are on hand to see students through the challenges they might face during their academic career. We offer guidance and resources to ultimately help build employable medical professionals.

Application process.

• Submit the form below. A few quick details so we can get to know you before we connect.
• Chat with our team. They'll ask about your goals, your background, and what's drawing you to healthcare. From there, they'll help you find the right program and campus for where you are in life right now.
• Attend your campus tour. Experience Pima Medical in person and picture yourself in a career that matters. We'll walk you through programs and what to expect.
• We help you complete your application. Our team guides you through every step, including enrollment and financial services, so nothing stands between you and getting started.