Respiratory therapists work in hospitals in the intensive care units (Adult, Pediatric, and Neonatal), on hospital floors, in emergency departments, in pulmonary functioning laboratories (PFTs), are able to intubate patients, work in sleep labs (polysomnography) (PSG) labs, and in home care specifically DME (durable medical equipment) and home oxygen.

Respiratory therapists provide a vital role in both medicine and nursing such as the initiation and maintenance of mechanical ventilation.

[6] Respiratory therapists are frequently utilized as complete cardiovascular specialists to place and manage arterial accesses along with peripherally-inserted central catheters.

[8] Eligibility for the NBRC-CSE examination is based on scoring high enough on the NBRC-TMC, and holding at least an Associate of Science in Respiratory Care.

In some parts of Canada, one may practice as a provisional respiratory therapist after graduating, until writing and passing the CBRC exam.

The registered respiratory therapist is prepared didactically and clinically to perform advanced procedures and emergency management.

Canada and the United States recognize each of their cardio-pulmonary education structure as equal, however, a qualifying exam must be written in order to practice in either nation.

However, in some places such as Alberta, Canada the cardio-pulmonary course work is only offered at technical schools that are unable to grant a formal degree.

[16] Researchers report that significant additional work is necessary to define and position the role of the respiratory therapist within the current healthcare system.

The Dubai Health Authority restricts respiratory therapists to working only in physical medicine and rehabilitation Centers, in hospitals, in surgical clinics with cardio-thoracic surgeons and with physicians in family/general practice or pulmonology.

In Singapore, a respiratory therapist is an allied health professional who plays an integral role in the care of critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Units, managing patients on invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, and other respiratory supportive devices.

Respiratory therapists are recognized domain experts pertaining to respiratory care and are responsible to facilitate learning and training for respiratory care topics (mechanical ventilation management, artificial airway management, lung protective strategies, diagnostic procedures, etc) for medical students, nursing students, and health care colleagues (nurses, physicians, allied health professions) in the hospitals.

As of 2024, services and care provided by respiratory therapists can be found in all public hospitals in the country and is continuing to grow at with demand.

Respiratory therapy in the UK is not a recognized specific profession, but a specialization route available to physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists.

Respiratory physiotherapy postgraduate master's degree and PhD programs exist within the United Kingdom for suitably qualified and experienced therapists.

[24] They perform the majority of comprehensive pulmonary physiological assessments (including cardiopulmonary exercise tests) as well as sleep studies.

[25][26][27] Other healthcare science groupings might also occasionally be involved in some of the physiological investigations mentioned above e.g. neurophysiologists might perform sleep studies to investigate neurological reasons for sleep disturbance, while cardiac scientist might perform cardiopulmonary exercise testing focused on the diagnosis of cardiac issues.

Since the advent of modernising scientific careers, there have been a largely unitary model of accreditation pathway for Healthcare Scientists in the UK.

[28][29][30] Those on the Higher Specialist Scientist Register are largely equivalent in seniority to medical consultants, though they cannot prescribe; in Respiratory Science this might e.g. involve the advising on the provision of non-invasive ventilation to complex patients.

Yemen has joined International Council For Respiratory care in 2020 as the third Arabic country after Saudi Arabia & UAE.

It has currently full member of International Council For Respiratory care and Saleem N. Hamilah, BS, RCP, FNIV, MsRC is the official governor for Yemen.

In addition to attempting to help respiratory therapists nationally and locally, the YARC is trying to promote the profession as a whole to increase interest and membership.

These Canadian respiratory therapists are academically prepared to perform activities such as sedation by the administration of anesthetic gases and medications, insertion and management of vascular (arterial and venous) access and assessment of the depth of anesthesia under the guidance of an anesthesiologist.

While admitted to a hospital, patients with cystic fibrosis have their treatment schedule modified and maintained by respiratory therapists.

Maintaining a healthy schedule for pharmacokinetic and physical therapeutic airway clearance typically more frequent than home treatment plans because admissions are usually due to an increased need for therapy during the stay.

[47] Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a modified cardiopulmonary bypass technique used for the treatment of life-threatening cardiac or respiratory failure.

[52][53][54] Respiratory therapists monitor, interpret and diagnose findings from a sleep study, as well as the medical history and physical exam to make the diagnosis and decide on treatment related to sleep-disorders.

In Canada, it is often an RT with additional training to become a Registered Polysomnography Technician (RPSGT) Case management is a collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet the client's health and human services needs.

In 2007 the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) began developing recommendations for the promotion of the field of respiratory care in the United States[22] in response to increased concern regarding licensure and credentialing issues as well as international recognition of those practicing in the United States.

[69] The AARC task force also recommended the American Respiratory Care Foundation change its scholarship policies and only award assistance and grants to those working toward a bachelor's degree.