Respiratory Therapist Resume—Sample & 25+ Writing Tips

You’re about to see an exemplary respiratory therapist resume sample. But hang on. To get a job, you’ll have to write your own resume that will actually get you hired.

Don’t stress about it, everything you need to know is in this article.

In this guide: 

• A respiratory therapist resume that guarantees more interviews.
• Steps to write a resume for respiratory therapist jobs that wow employers.
• How to format your resume so it looks professional.
• Tricks how to target your respiratory therapist resume to the job you want.

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Looking for a different resume example in the healthcare industry? Check out these guides:

• CNA Resume Sample
• Medical Assistant Resume Sample
• Nursing Resume Sample
• Caregiver Resume Sample
• Healthcare Resume Sample
• LPN Resume Sample
• Medical Surgical Nurse Resume Sample
• Nursing Student Resume Sample
• Physical Therapy Resume Sample
• Pharmacist Resume Sample
• Physical Therapy Cover Letter Sample
• RN Resume Sample
• Doctor Resume Sample
• Medical Resume Sample
• Paramedic / EMT Resume Sample
• ICU Nurse Resume Sample
• Phlebotomist Resume Sample
• Best Resume Examples for All Jobs

First, let’s take a look at a great respiratory therapist resume example.

Respiratory Therapist Resume Sample

Want to find out how to write the best resume for respiratory therapist jobs? Read on!

1. Choose a Clean and Professional Respiratory Therapist Resume Format

Charts, medical records, reports, test results, catalogs… the amount of documents you deal with on a day-to-day basis is huge. What about them?

Well, you wouldn’t be able to read them nor take out valuable information from them if they weren’t properly formatted. And that’s exactly what you have to do with your resume. Make your resume layout professional, readable, and more recruiter-friendly, and then move on to inserting your details. 

Here’s how to properly format your resume:

Respiratory Therapist Resume Format

Most importantly, choose a modern resume template that employers love.

Expert hint: Save your resume as a PDF file to make sure it retains its formatting.

2. Start With a Persuasive Resume Objective or Summary That Will Stand Out

Take the employer’s breath away with a resume profile summary that serves as a narrative about your career and gives some insight into you as a person. If you’re an experienced applicant, write a professional resume summary that can quickly communicate your qualifications to the employer. 

Here’s how to start your resume if you have experience as a respiratory therapist:

1. Use one powerful adjective that describes you (precise, passionate, meticulous, etc.).
2. Then your job title.
3. Next, write how many years of experience you have.
4. Prove your expertise, supported by quantified resume achievements.

Here’s an example:

Respiratory Therapist Professional Summary Resume

Dedicated and meticulous licensed respiratory therapist with 4+ years of experience performing various respiratory therapy procedures to provide safe and high-quality patient care. Ensured compliance with regulations and company policies at all times. Implemented and evaluated 100+ treatment plans for patients of all ages, across in-home and clinical settings. Received 95% positive peer review scores from staff and doctors. 

Respiratory therapist with extensive experience performing various respiratory therapy procedures. I work with passion and devotion. Seeking a position where my abilities can be highly utilized in a growth-oriented and professional environment. 

The first sample shines with numbers and a personality that can add something to a vibrant work environment, while the second one doesn’t do or say much.

But what if you don’t have the experience that will WOW the recruiter? Start your entry-level resumewith an objective. Let’s take a look at two examples of resume objective statements:

Respiratory Therapist Resume Objective

A highly trained and proactive professional seeking an entry-level respiratory therapist position with Mercy Medical Center. Performed 50+ nebulizer treatments, and ventilator checks with minimal supervision during internship. Managed 10+ critically ill patients on ventilators. t

Recent respiratory therapy grad looking for an entry-level position where I could utilize my knowledge, patient care skills and experience acquired during an internship.

If you’re writing a resume with no professional experience, focus on your academic achievements and internship experience. Tweak them in a way that makes you look like the best candidate on the horizon. Quantify your achievements, so potential employers know you are a productive contributor. 

Expert Hint: Even though your professional profile is one of the first sections of your resume, write it last. As soon as you finish crafting the other parts, it’ll be easier for you to simply pick the best bits and pieces and include them in the summary.

3. Create Jaw-Dropping Respiratory Therapist Resume Job Description and Skills Sections

Why should they hire you? Because you have the right qualifications, experience, and knowledge to do the job well. But how do you know that?

“Well… I read the job description”—you might say. And that’s not a bad answer at all. Actually, it’s the first step to targeting your resume to the job you want.

First, you read the job listing carefully and highlight the most important skills and characteristics they are looking for in the perfect candidate. Then, you use those exact resume keywords to create your own work history sections. 

For example, if the job posting is calling for a certified respiratory therapist, who has experience in bi-level non-invasive ventilation management pulmonary diagnostics, O2 therapy, maintaining paperwork , monitoring patients, and trach decannulations, here’s what your resume should say:

Respiratory Therapist Job Description Resume

Experience

Certified Respiratory Therapist

Hestinn Hospital

Colorado Springs, CO

April 2019–May 2021

• Conducted therapies as per the physical condition of the patient, including but not limited to: respiratory assessment, airway and ventilator management, bi-level non-invasive ventilation management pulmonary diagnostics , delivery of medicated aerosols, bronchial hygiene therapy, lung expansion therapy, intubation, CPR, bronchoscopy assistance, arterial line placement, arterial sampling and ABG analysis and interpretation.
• Observed and monitored patient behavior and responses to respiratory treatment.
• Assisted in 50+ successful trach decannulations.
• Trained 10 new staff members on quality control procedures.

Certified Respiratory Therapist

Smith Healthcare

Pueblo, CO

August 2017–April 2019

• Performed oxygen therapy, incentive spirometry, CPT, CPAP, BiPAP therapy, apnea monitoring, pulse oximetry, aerosol therapy, patient assessments.
• Compiled and maintained patient paperwork accurately, updating as necessary.
• Worked with staff on policy and procedures.
• Helped facilitate Asthma protocols through the Asthma Prevention Program.
• Successfully weaned 15+ patients off mechanical ventilation.

For comparison, if you want your resume to be targeted, it shouldn’t say this:

Licensed Respiratory Therapy Professional

2019–2021

• Conducted therapies as per the physical condition of the patient.
• Observed patient behavior and responses to respiratory treatment.
• Trained new staff members on quality control procedures.

Licensed Respiratory Therapy Professional

2017–2019 

• Performed various respiratory procedures according to established policies and practices.
• Worked with staff on policy and procedures.
• Helped facilitate Asthma protocols.
• Successfully weaned patients off mechanical ventilation.

Wondering why it is so important to use resume keywords? Actually, most big companies use Applicant Tracking Systems that scan your document for relevant information, especially keywords, and determine whether to advance your application to the next recruiting stage. So if you're not submitting an ATS resume… you can say bye-bye to the job interview.

But wait, the section with skills for a resume is also a big part of that. So inflate it with skills that match your experience and personality. Here’s a list that may inspire you:

Respiratory Therapist Skills Resume

But don’t just CTRL+C the entire list. Really think about which skills you possess that make you most employable.

Expert Hint: How much do respiratory therapists make? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, respiratory therapists make $62,810 per year ($30.20 per hour). But there will also be a 19% growth in the next few years, so your chances are pretty good. However, if you want to get ahead—use resume action words that will successfully sell your successes. 

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4. Include a Radiant Education Section

Respiratory therapists usually all have a similar state certification, but it’s very important that you highlight that education. So what do want to include?

If you’re an experienced candidate, limit yourself to the degree, school name, graduation year. If you’re fresh out of college, spice it a bit more with a GPA (if it’s above 3.7), awards, scholarships, you can add a thesis statement if you’d like to. Is it relevant? If so, go right ahead!

Here’s an example of a resume education section:

New Grad Respiratory Therapist Resume

Education

AAS in Respiratory Care

Pickens Technical College, Aurora, CO

2017

B.Sc. in Biology

University of Colorado

2015

• GPA: 3.8

Additionally, there are many abbreviations to refer to the same degree. For example, a Bachelor of Science can be: B.S., BS, B.Sc., BSc, or B.Sc; and even, S.B., SB, or Sc.B. So what’s the best way to approach this?

Simply look at the job ad once again and see what they’re asking for. If it says B.S., write B.S., if it says B.Sc.—go for B.Sc. If you want to be safe, you can always include the full degree name: Bachelor of Science.

5. WOW Them With Your Additional Information Sections

Once you’re done including all the key information to your respiratory therapist resume, you can add some extras that will show the employer that you live and breathe your job. You can cover things like:

• Certifications
• Awards
• Publications
• Conferences
• Additional Activities
• Hobbies, Activities and Interests
• Languages
• Volunteer Work
• Professional References

Here are the best resume examples that show bonus sections:

Resume for Respiratory Therapist: Extras

Certifications

• National Board for Respiratory Care Certification (CRT)

Languages

• German—fluent

Associations

•  American Association for Respiratory Care

Foreign Languages

• Thai—native

Certifications

• Sleep Disorders Specialist (CRT-SDS)

Remember, be as specific as possible and only include information that is relevant to the job. Now all you need to do is learn how to write a cover letter. Then, attach it to your resume and you’re ready to conquer the job-hunting world!

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Key Skills

For a respiratory therapist resume that gets more interviews:

• Use the respiratory therapist resume template that has all the right formatting and sections.
• Include achievements in your profile summary as well as your work history and education sections to show your skills in action.
• Pick the right resume keywords to target your resume to a specific job opening.
• Write a respiratory therapist cover letter to up your chances of getting an interview.

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