Courses necessary for a degree in respiratory therapy include not only pulmonary (lung) anatomy and physiology and medical gas therapy, but also therapeutic procedures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. For this reason, online schools that offer a degree in respiratory therapy require that a student already have an associate degree from an accredited college. Online schools typically offer a bachelor's, master's or a certificate in a specific course.
A respiratory therapy student must attend a school that is accredited to ensure proper education and training. One such nationally recognized accreditation organization is the American Association for Respiratory Care, or AARC. The AARC provides detailed information on accredited colleges, job outlook, continuing education and more. If a person decides to attain an associate degree from a college and a bachelor's from an online school, it is recommended that the online school be accredited in order for the person to find proper employment.
Online schools require self-motivation as there is very little to no face-to-face interaction with the instructors. For this reason, prospective students must be able to work on their own and have the drive to move forward without the guidance of teachers or classmates. If a student lacks this willingness to motivate himself, he should consider attending a regular brick-and-mortar college.
A student of respiratory therapy should first attain an associate degree from a regular college, which normally takes one and a half to three years, depending on the person's schedule. Upon graduation, many students find work before continuing their educations and acquiring a bachelor's or a master's. It can take another two to four years to earn an online bachelor's degree for a person who works and/or has a family to care for, and one and a half to two years if a student studies full time.
Online schools have flexible courses and time schedules, which is helpful to those who have jobs and/or families. Certain online schools will work with a student to accommodate his needs, allowing the student to take as many or as few courses as he can manage.