Respiratory Therapist Schools and Salary Virginia

Become a Respiratory Therapist in Virginia

If you wish to pursue a career as a respiratory therapist in Virginia (VA) then it will please you to know that employment for the profession will grow by nearly 20% up between 2019 and 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

To become respiratory therapist in Virginia you will need to complete an accredited program and obtain your respiratory therapist license. Below we provide information on schools, licensing, certification requirements, and careers data.

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• Respiratory Therapist Schools in Virginia
• Virginia Certification and Licensing Requirements
• Respiratory Therapist Salary in Virginia
• Respiratory Therapist Employment Outlook Virginia

Top Respiratory Therapist Schools Virginia

The Commission on Accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC) are responsible for accrediting respiratory therapist schools in the USA.

Listed above are the top 5 accredited respiratory therapy schools in Virginia.

Typically, in your studies to become a respiratory therapist. you can select between completing an associates degree (2 years) or a bachelors degree (4 years). An associates degree will get you started in your career whilst a bachelors degree will open up more career doors such as supervisory and management roles.

Learn more: Respiratory therapist program requirements

Virginia Respiratory License and Certification Requirements

Respiratory therapist certification is optional in Virginia however certification provides an extra layer of assurance as to your skills and competencies and may create further career advancement opportunities.

Licensing is essential. Once you have graduated from an accredited program it is required by Virginia law that you obtain a license to work as a respiratory therapist there. The Department Of Health Professions – State Board Of Medicine governs the licensing of respiratory therapists in Virginia.

You can contact the Board directly using the details below:

Phone: 804-367-4613
Website: dhp.virginia.gov

Learn more: Steps to become a respiratory therapist

Respiratory Therapist Salary in Virginia

The average respiratory therapist salary in Virginia is $62,250 – 3% less than the national average.*

*Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (2019).

This equates to an average hourly wage of $29.93.

Salary levels for respiratory therapists in Virginia have increased by 5%, or $3,080, between 2015 and 2019.

Salary Range

• The top 10% of earners in the profession in Virginia had an average salary of $80,270
• The lower 10% and entry level respiratory therapists earned an average salary of $45,180
• Respiratory therapists working in Richmond earned the highest average salary in the state at $62,830
• Those working in Lynchburg have the lowest average salary level at $54,930.

The table below further breaks down salary across the larger metro areas in the state.

Respiratory Therapist Employment in Virginia

There are currently 2,530 people employed as respiratory therapists in Virginia. This number has increased by 4%, or 100 respiratory therapy jobs, between 2015 and 2019.

The highest number of respiratory therapy jobs in Virginia are in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News.

The table below compares respiratory therapy salary and employment with similar healthcare careers in Virginia;

Related Content
We hope this guide helps you get started on your path towards becoming a respiratory therapist in Virginia. You might also be interested in the following related content:

• Online respiratory therapy school
• Respiratory therapy school NC