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Breathing Life Into Your Career: Opportunities in Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory Therapy Degree program healthcare

Every time a patient struggles to breathe, after a heart attack, a premature birth, a severe asthma flare, or a bout of pneumonia, a respiratory therapist is usually one of the first clinicians at the bedside. It’s a career built on a simple, urgent skill: helping people breathe. And right now, hospitals, sleep labs, rehabilitation centers, and home care agencies across the country can’t train and hire respiratory therapists (RTs) fast enough.

If you’re exploring a hands-on healthcare career with real staying power, respiratory therapy deserves a close look, and so does the question of where you earn your degree.

A field that’s growing faster than most

Respiratory therapy isn’t a niche specialty anymore, it’s one of the more dependable growth paths in allied health. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for respiratory therapists to grow about 12–13% over the coming decade, far outpacing average job growth, with roughly 8,800 to 10,300 openings expected each year as the field expands and experienced therapists retire or move on.

A few forces are driving that demand:

  • An aging population. Older adults are more likely to develop chronic conditions like COPD, pneumonia, and other cardiopulmonary diseases that require ongoing respiratory care.
  • Advancing medical technology. Ventilators, diagnostic equipment, and home-care devices are more sophisticated than ever, and someone has to operate, monitor, and teach patients to use them.
  • Expanding care settings. RTs are no longer confined to hospital ICUs, they now work in sleep labs, outpatient pulmonary clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and emergency transport.

Compensation reflects that demand. The median annual wage for respiratory therapists was around $80,000 as of the most recent BLS data, with experienced therapists in critical care, charge-therapist, or supervisory roles often earning more. Career paths can lead from staff therapist to charge therapist, department supervisor, or director of respiratory care, or into specialized tracks like neonatal/pediatric care, critical care, or sleep medicine.

What it actually takes to become an RT

Unlike many growing healthcare roles, respiratory therapy has a clear, well-defined path in, but it’s a real credentialing process, not a weekend certificate:

  1. Earn an accredited associate degree. The entry-level credential for RTs is an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Respiratory Therapy, and it must come from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). This accreditation isn’t optional, graduating from a non-accredited program can block you from sitting for licensure exams entirely.
  2. Pass the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination. Administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), this exam has two scoring tiers. Hitting the lower cut score earns the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential, required to practice in all 50 states.
  3. Pursue the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. Candidates who hit the higher TMC cut score become eligible for the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE). Passing both earns the RRT, the credential most hospitals and health systems now prefer, and often require, for hiring.
  4. Get licensed in your state. Most states require licensure in addition to national certification before you can practice.

In other words: your degree program is the gatekeeper. If it isn’t CoARC-accredited, every step after it is at risk.

Why the degree program you choose matters so much

Because the entire career runs through one accredited credential, the school behind that credential isn’t a minor detail, it’s the foundation everything else is built on. A strong program should give you:

  • CoARC accreditation, so your degree actually qualifies you to sit for the TMC and CSE exams.
  • Real clinical hours, not just classroom theory, hands-on time with ventilators, airway management, blood gas analysis, and patient care under supervision.
  • A realistic timeline, so you can plan your finances and your life around finishing.
  • Career services and placement support, since your first job out of school is often the hardest one to land.
  • A location close to major hospital systems, which usually means richer clinical rotation sites and stronger local employer relationships.

Skipping any of these isn’t just a minor inconvenience, it can mean graduating with a degree that doesn’t actually open the door to licensure.

Where Mandl School fits in

Mandl School, The College of Allied Health, located in midtown Manhattan, offers an A.A.S. in Respiratory Therapy built specifically around that credentialing path:

  • 68 credits, 1,875 clock hours, delivered over 75 weeks, a focused, full-time timeline rather than a multi-year general-education slog.
  • Dual accreditation: the program is accredited by CoARC (program number 200611) for respiratory therapy specifically, and the school itself is accredited by the Accreditation Bureau for Health Education Schools (ABHES), the combination that keeps graduates eligible for the TMC and CSE exams.
  • A curriculum built around the job, not just the test: cardiopulmonary evaluation, therapeutic gas and ventilator management, artificial airway care, medication administration, and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, alongside the patient- and family-education skills RTs use daily.
  • A New York City location, placing students near a dense network of hospitals, sleep labs, and health systems for clinical training and, often, first jobs.

For someone drawn to respiratory therapy’s blend of technical skill and direct patient impact, a program this tightly aligned with the field’s actual licensure requirements removes a lot of the guesswork, you’re not wondering whether your diploma will actually get you to the exam room.

The bottom line

Respiratory therapy offers something increasingly rare in today’s job market: strong, well-documented demand; solid pay; and a clear, credential-based path from classroom to career. But that path only works if it starts with the right degree, one that’s properly accredited and genuinely prepares you for the TMC and CSE exams. A focused, accredited program like the one at Mandl School is designed to do exactly that, giving students a direct route from enrollment to a respiratory therapy career.

Interested in learning more? Visit mandl.edu/programs/respiratory-therapist or reach out to Mandl’s admissions team 212-247-3434 to request information.

Want to send us an application, APPLY HERE!

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Why Your Associate Degree Opens More Doors in New York City

When most people think about starting a healthcare career, they imagine years of schooling and a long wait before they can start working. But in New York City, an Associate Degree in Allied Health can be your fastest and most direct path to a meaningful, well-paying career.

At Mandl School, The College of Allied Health, one of the questions we hear most often is: “Does an associate degree really matter? Is it enough?”

The answer is yes! Here’s why.

It’s the Credential That Gets You in the Door

In New York City’s competitive healthcare job market, hospitals, medical centers, and specialty practices set the associate degree as their minimum hiring standard for roles like Medical Assistant, Respiratory Therapist, Surgical Technologist, and Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. It’s the difference between your resume making it to the interview pile or not.

The Careers You Can Launch at Mandl

All of Mandl’s Associate Degree programs are registered by the New York State Education Department and built around what NYC employers are looking for right now:

Medical Assisting (A.O.S.) — Clinical and administrative skills for offices, outpatient facilities, and specialty practices across the five boroughs.

Surgical Technology (A.O.S.) — Work alongside surgeons in the operating room. The associate degree is the industry-recommended entry-level standard.

Respiratory Therapy (A.A.S.) — Care for patients with heart and lung conditions at NYC’s major hospital systems. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (A.A.S.) — One of the fastest-growing healthcare careers in the country. Mandl’s 85-credit DMS program is one of the most comprehensive in the region.

Health Care Administration (A.A.S. — 100% Online) — Manage the operations, billing, and patient services that keep NYC’s healthcare system running — on your own schedule.

Why NYC Makes the Associate Degree Even More Valuable

New York City is one of the most credentialed job markets in the world. Many of the city’s leading hospital systems require graduates to hold or be eligible for state licensure or national certification and Mandl’s programs are specifically built around those requirements.

The associate degree also opens a pathway to further advancement. Many Mandl graduates go on to pursue additional certifications or four-year programs after entering the workforce. And with many students receiving grant or scholarship aid, it’s more accessible than you might think.

Ready to Start?

If you are ready to launch a healthcare career in New York City, an Associate Degree from Mandl School is one of the smartest investments you can make.

Apply Today or contact our admissions office to schedule your personal interview.

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Your Path to a Dental Career Starts Here: Mandl School’s Dental Assistant Certificate Program

Mandl School Dental Careers

If you’re looking for a hands-on healthcare career that puts you at the center of patient care, the Mandl School Dental Assistant Certificate Program might be exactly the right next step.

Dental assistants are among the most valued members of any dental practice — and with Mandl’s credit-bearing, licensure-qualifying program, you’ll graduate fully prepared to step into one of the most versatile and in-demand roles in healthcare.

What Does a Dental Assistant Actually Do?

More than most people realize. Today’s dental assistants are active, skilled contributors to patient care — not just support staff.

As a dental assistant you will prepare patients for their appointments, assist the dentist chairside during procedures, take and process dental x-rays, perform basic laboratory procedures, manage infection control protocols, provide patient education, and handle front office responsibilities including scheduling and records management.

With expanded function dental assisting, the role has grown even further — dental assistants now perform certain clinical procedures in the mouth under the direction of a dentist. It’s a career with real responsibility, real variety, and real impact on patients every single day.

What You’ll Learn at Mandl School

Mandl’s Dental Assistant Certificate Program balances classroom instruction with hands-on training in our fully-equipped, on-site dental lab — giving you practical experience from day one.

You’ll develop skills in patient care and patient education, back office chairside assisting, laboratory procedures, front office management, dental radiography (x-rays), infection control procedures, and dental materials and instrumentation.

You’ll also complete externship experiences in real dental offices and clinics — so by the time you graduate, you’ve already worked in the environment where you’ll build your career.

Where Can You Work as a Dental Assistant?

One of the most appealing aspects of a dental assisting career is the range of settings available to you. Mandl’s Career Development Center helps graduates find fulfilling positions at private dental offices and group practices, dental clinics, private and government hospitals, state and local public health departments, dental schools, and dental laboratories.

Whether you prefer the intimacy of a private practice or the energy of a hospital dental department, your Mandl training prepares you for all of it.

Who Is This Program For?

The Mandl Dental Assistant Certificate Program is open to applicants who have received a high school diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.). If you’re detail-oriented, enjoy working with people, and want a healthcare career you can launch quickly — this program is built for you.

You don’t need prior healthcare experience. You just need the drive to learn and a genuine interest in helping patients feel comfortable and cared for.

Yelp Reviews for Mandl SchoolWhy Mandl School?

At Mandl School, The College of Allied Health, we’ve been preparing healthcare professionals for careers in New York City and beyond for decades. Our Dental Assistant program is consistently recognized as one of the top dental assistant schools in NYC — and our graduates go on to build lasting careers in practices across the city and region.

Our Career Development Center works with you beyond graduation — connecting you with employers and helping you land the position that’s right for you.

If you’re ready to start a career that puts your skills to work every day in a setting that matters, we’d love to talk.

Apply Today or contact us to speak with one of our admissions advisors.

Mandl School — The College of Allied Health | Manhattan, New York

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Is a Career in Cardiac or Vascular Imaging Right for You? Meet Track Two in Mandl’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program

Mandl School Diagnostic Medical Sonography scanning a patients neck

If you’re drawn to the heart — how it beats, how blood flows through the body, and how imaging technology can detect life-threatening conditions before they become crises — Track Two in Mandl School’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program may be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Track Two: Adult Echocardiography and Advanced Vascular Sonography prepares students for specialized careers in cardiac and vascular ultrasound imaging — two of the most technically demanding and rewarding paths in the field. Ready to apply now? Click here!

What Is Adult Echocardiography and Vascular Sonography?

Echocardiography uses ultrasound technology to create detailed images of the heart — its chambers, valves, structure, and function. Vascular sonography focuses on the blood vessels throughout the body, using advanced Doppler imaging to evaluate circulation, detect abnormalities, and assess conditions like stenosis, grafts, and bypass vessels.

Together, these two specialties sit at the intersection of technology and life-saving diagnostics. The images you produce help cardiologists and vascular specialists diagnose heart disease, monitor conditions, and make critical treatment decisions for their patients.

What You’ll Learn in Track Two

Students in Track Two develop skills across two interconnected areas:

Cardiac Imaging:

  • Evaluating heart chambers and valves
  • Assessing cardiac structure and function
  • Identifying and documenting heart disease conditions

Vascular Imaging:

  • Evaluating blood vessels and circulation
  • Advanced Doppler imaging principles and hemodynamics
  • Identifying vascular abnormalities, stenosis, grafts, and bypass vessels

Beyond the specialty skills, all Mandl Diagnostic Medical Sonography students build a strong foundation in ultrasound physics and instrumentation, cross-sectional anatomy, physiology and pathology, patient positioning and scanning techniques, critical thinking and problem solving, professional communication, patient-centered care, and safety procedures and quality control.

Graduates of Track Two are prepared to sit for the RDCS (Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer) and RVT (Registered Vascular Technologist) certification exams — nationally recognized credentials that open doors in hospitals, cardiology practices, vascular labs, and specialty imaging centers across New York City and beyond.

Who Is Mandl’s Adult Echocardiography and Vascular SonographyTrack Right For?

Our Adult Echocardiography and Vascular Sonography Track is an excellent fit for students who are interested in cardiology and cardiovascular imaging, drawn to advanced diagnostics and technical precision, looking to work in hospital cardiology departments, vascular labs, or specialty practices, and motivated by the challenge of mastering complex imaging technology.

If the idea of using ultrasound to evaluate a beating heart or map blood flow through the body excites you — this is your track.

A Growing Field With Strong Career Outlook

The demand for cardiac and vascular sonographers continues to grow. As the U.S. population ages and cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading health concerns in the country, hospitals and specialty practices need skilled imaging professionals who can provide accurate, timely diagnostic images.

A career in echocardiography or vascular sonography offers competitive salaries, strong job stability, and the daily satisfaction of contributing to patient care in a meaningful way.

Mandl School reviewsWhy Choose Mandl School ?

At Mandl School, The College of Allied Health, our Diagnostic Medical Sonography program combines classroom instruction, hands-on laboratory training, and supervised clinical experience — so you graduate ready to work, not just ready to test.

Our program is accredited by CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs), which means you’re eligible to sit for ARDMS, RDCS, and RVT certification exams upon completion.

With flexible scheduling built around working New Yorkers and a program length of approximately 90 weeks, Mandl gives you a focused, efficient path to a specialized healthcare career.

Ready to Learn More?

If a career in cardiac or vascular imaging sounds like the right path for you, we’d love to tell you more about Track Two and what life looks like as a Mandl student.

Apply Today or contact us to speak with an admissions advisor — we’re here to help you take the first step.

Mandl School — The College of Allied Health | Manhattan, New York

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