A Respiratory Therapist (RT) is a licensed medical professional specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. The profession is in high demand across the healthcare landscape. A travel respiratory therapist fills specialized staffing gaps by moving to facilities with urgent, short-term needs. This track transforms a clinical career into a mobile one, requiring strong clinical skill and adaptability while offering professional challenge and financial reward.
The Core Responsibilities of a Respiratory Therapist
The daily work of a respiratory therapist centers on managing the breathing and cardiopulmonary health of patients, primarily in acute and critical care settings like Intensive Care Units (ICU), Emergency Departments (ED), and Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). A primary responsibility involves the initiation and management of mechanical ventilation, requiring constant monitoring and adjustment of settings to synchronize with a patient’s needs.
RTs are experts in advanced airway management and rapidly respond to emergency situations, such as code blues, to secure a patient’s airway. They administer specialized treatments, including inhaled medications via nebulizers and therapeutic medical gases like nitric oxide or heliox. They also perform and analyze arterial blood gas (ABG) samples, which measure a patient’s oxygenation, ventilation, and acid-base balance, guiding treatment decisions in real time.
Educational Pathways and Professional Licensure
The path to becoming a licensed respiratory therapist begins with formal education, typically requiring an Associate of Science (AS) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Graduates must then obtain professional credentials from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The entry-level certification is the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), earned by passing the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination.
The preferred and often required credential for travel therapy positions is the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), which signifies an advanced level of expertise. Achieving the RRT requires a higher score on the TMC examination and successful completion of the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE), a scenario-based test of advanced clinical judgment. Nearly all states require respiratory therapists to hold a state-level license to practice, which is contingent upon holding a minimum of the NBRC’s CRT credential.
How Travel Respiratory Therapy Differs
The travel therapist differs from a permanent staff RT primarily in the employment structure and the nature of the assignment. Travel RTs are employed by third-party staffing agencies and contracted to facilities experiencing staffing shortages or surges in patient volume. Most agencies require a minimum of one to two years of recent, direct clinical experience, specifically in high-acuity areas like the ICU, before accepting a contract.
Travel assignments place a premium on immediate clinical competency and adaptability, as the therapist is expected to function independently almost immediately upon arrival. These roles are often crisis-driven, requiring the therapist to step into a high-stakes environment with minimal orientation, sometimes as short as a single shift. This model necessitates the ability to quickly assimilate into a new team and workflow, often managing complex or demanding patient caseloads.
Understanding Travel Contract Logistics
Travel respiratory therapy contracts operate on a defined timeline, with the standard assignment duration being 13 weeks, though contracts can range from four to 26 weeks. Before starting a contract, a traveler must complete a compliance process, which involves preparing documentation, including:
Proof of current state licenses.
Specialized certifications such as Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS).
Up-to-date health screenings and immunization records.
A significant logistical challenge is the need to rapidly master different Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, such as Epic, Cerner, or Meditech, as documentation protocols vary widely. The traveler must also quickly understand facility-specific emergency protocols and the location and function of various respiratory devices.
Compensation and Financial Incentives
The compensation for a travel respiratory therapist is structured to provide a higher net income than a traditional staff position. Total weekly pay is composed of a lower, taxable hourly wage and a significant tax-free stipend. This structure is enabled by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules for temporary workers who “duplicate expenses.” To qualify for the stipends, the therapist must maintain a permanent tax home from which they are traveling and must incur lodging and meal expenses in both their home city and the assignment city.
The stipends are paid as a non-taxable per diem for housing and Meals and Incidental Expenses (M&IE), based on federal General Services Administration (GSA) rates for the assignment location. By shifting a large portion of the compensation from the taxable hourly wage to these stipends, the therapist reduces their overall tax burden, resulting in a higher take-home pay.
The Travel Respiratory Therapist Lifestyle
The lifestyle of a travel respiratory therapist is defined by constant movement and professional flexibility. The ability to select assignments in different geographic locations offers the advantage of exploring the country and experiencing diverse clinical environments. While often selected for the financial rewards, this career path requires a tolerance for instability and a proactive approach to managing personal logistics.
Therapists must frequently secure temporary housing, which can be challenging in unfamiliar cities. The constant rotation through new facilities can lead to professional isolation, as the traveler must repeatedly build rapport with new teams and adapt to varied hospital cultures. Furthermore, the work often involves high-demand, high-stress environments, contributing to the emotional toll and potential for burnout.