Exploring your options for online respiratory therapy classes? As you examine your choices, you might wonder if you can complete a respiratory therapy program entirely online. While coursework can be completed online, becoming a respiratory therapist requires in-person clinical training, which is why many accredited respiratory therapy programs follow a blended learning format.
Respiratory therapy is a hands-on healthcare career, which means you need real-world clinical experience to deliver proper patient care. If you’re looking to become a respiratory therapist, developing essential patient-care skills is a key part of your training. This includes skills such as:
- Analyzing patients’ blood and sputum samples in a lab
- Assessing patients’ breathing and lung function
- Assisting doctors with responding to critical, life-threatening emergencies
- Determining the appropriate therapy and treatment options with doctors
- Educating patients and families about lung diseases and breathing disorders
- Managing ventilators and other life-support equipment
Although your online coursework can cover foundational knowledge such as anatomy, physiology, and medical ethics, you can’t master practical skills through virtual learning alone. Unlike careers such as medical coding or health information management — which you can successfully study entirely online — this profession demands in-person clinical training.
If you’re considering a program that offers respiratory therapy classes online, make sure it incorporates in-person clinical experiences and is accredited by a well-recognized organization, such as the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Can You Become a Respiratory Therapist Through Online Classes?
While respiratory therapy requires hands-on clinical training, online coursework plays a valuable role in preparing students for the field. A well-structured, accredited program covers key topics such as pulmonary function, patient assessment, and treatment protocols. Online learning allows students to build this theoretical understanding before transitioning to in-person clinical practice.
Digital resources, such as recorded lectures and virtual case studies, strengthen coursework by reinforcing complex concepts outside of a traditional classroom setting. Taking respiratory therapy classes online also offers vital flexibility for students balancing their education with work or family commitments.
However, becoming a licensed respiratory therapist requires more than just theoretical knowledge. Students must complete an accredited program and pass certification exams, which include both written and clinical simulation components.
For example, graduates of American Career College’s (ACC) associate degree in Respiratory Therapy program are eligible to sit for the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) exams offered through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
Since these certifications assess both academic knowledge and hands-on skills, in-person clinical training is a critical part of any accredited respiratory therapy program. This is why a blended learning format — which combines online coursework with in-person clinical training — is so valuable. Students can complete theoretical lessons online at their own pace while still gaining the supervised, hands-on experience necessary for certification.
Why Respiratory Therapists Require Hands-On Training
Respiratory therapy is a direct patient-care profession that requires extensive hands-on clinical experience. While online coursework can provide a strong foundation in theoretical concepts, practical training is what allows students to develop these skills to work confidently in a healthcare setting.
Accredited respiratory therapy programs naturally include clinical rotations in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, where students gain supervised experience. Many of them even allow students to practice in simulation labs that replicate real-world healthcare settings. These labs give students hands-on practice operating respiratory equipment and ample time to develop critical decision-making skills before transitioning to actual patient care.
Hands-on training is particularly important for mastering routine respiratory therapy procedures, such as administering oxygen therapy or performing breathing tests. Without these in-person learning experiences, students may struggle to perform procedures effectively in a real healthcare setting.
Is Accreditation Important for Respiratory Therapy Programs?
Accreditation is a key factor when choosing a respiratory therapy program, as it confirms that the curriculum meets industry standards. Respiratory therapy programs accredited by the CoARC follow strict guidelines that are designed to develop students into competent, compassionate healthcare professionals.
Beyond qualifying respiratory therapy students to sit for their certification exams, accreditation can potentially impact career opportunities. Many healthcare institutions prefer — or even require — candidates to graduate from an accredited program, as it demonstrates they have received a standardized, high-quality education.
Enroll in an Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program at ACC
Choosing the right respiratory therapy program is the first step toward your healthcare vocation. You need a program that offers flexibility, real-world experience, and the credentials to take you where you want to go.
At American Career College, you can take advantage of a blended learning format that offers respiratory therapy classes online while you gain hands-on experience in a real healthcare setting. To best prepare you for your career, you start out practicing in a simulation lab modeled after a real-world setting before you ever undergo your clinical trials. Plus, with CoARC accreditation and industry-experienced instructors, you’ll have the resources to build both your knowledge and confidence from day one.
If you’re ready to start building a future where you make a meaningful impact on people’s lives, learn more about ACC’s associate degree in Respiratory Therapy program today.
