Certified Respiratory Therapist Jobs for OPT Students
Certified Respiratory Therapist jobs on OPT require active CRT credentials from the NBRC, state licensure in your work state, and an employer willing to sponsor H-1B after your OPT period ends. Most positions are hospital-based, full-time roles that qualify as specialty occupations for visa purposes.
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Summary:
Responsible for the pulmonary care of critical, non-critical, and chronically ill adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients under the direction of a physician with minimal supervision. Performs various technical and diagnostic respiratory therapy procedures in all areas of the hospital. Performs patient assessments and institutes respiratory care plans.
Responsibilities:
- Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
- Include, but are not limited to:
- Emergency (Code Blue and White) response;
- Airway management including nasotracheal & endotracheal suctioning;
- Delivery of aerosolized drugs;
- Ventilator management (i.e.: setup and operation);
- Oral hygiene;
- Airway retaining device placement and maintenance;
- Airway support device management including BiPAP and CPAP devices;
- Oxygen delivery devices and therapeutic monitoring;
- Chest film analysis;
- Bloodgas collection and analysis;
- EKG analysis;
- Accurate and complete documentation;
- Cleaning and stocking of equipment and supplies as necessary;
- Participate in CAP and JC surveys.
- RRTs may function as Shift Leader or serve in the capacity of Team Leader.
- Advanced practice skills may include:
- Therapeutic gas management and monitoring, including INO and HeO2;
- Pulmonary Function Testing;
- Bronchoscopy assist;
- Hemodynamic Monitoring;
- Waveform analysis;
- Nocturnal SpO2 evaluation (Desaturation Studies);
Job Requirements:
Education/Skills
- See licensure and/or certification requirements
Experience
- 2 – 3 years of experience preferred
Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications
- RCP License in the state of employment required
- BLS required
- CRT thru the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) required
In accordance with the CHRISTUS Health License, Certification and Registration Verification Policy, all Associates are required to obtain the required certifications for their respective positions within the designated time frame.
Work Schedule:
7PM - 7AM
Work Type:
Full Time
Description
Summary:
Responsible for the pulmonary care of critical, non-critical, and chronically ill adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients under the direction of a physician with minimal supervision. Performs various technical and diagnostic respiratory therapy procedures in all areas of the hospital. Performs patient assessments and institutes respiratory care plans.
Responsibilities:
- Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
- Include, but are not limited to:
- Emergency (Code Blue and White) response;
- Airway management including nasotracheal & endotracheal suctioning;
- Delivery of aerosolized drugs;
- Ventilator management (i.e.: setup and operation);
- Oral hygiene;
- Airway retaining device placement and maintenance;
- Airway support device management including BiPAP and CPAP devices;
- Oxygen delivery devices and therapeutic monitoring;
- Chest film analysis;
- Bloodgas collection and analysis;
- EKG analysis;
- Accurate and complete documentation;
- Cleaning and stocking of equipment and supplies as necessary;
- Participate in CAP and JC surveys.
- RRTs may function as Shift Leader or serve in the capacity of Team Leader.
- Advanced practice skills may include:
- Therapeutic gas management and monitoring, including INO and HeO2;
- Pulmonary Function Testing;
- Bronchoscopy assist;
- Hemodynamic Monitoring;
- Waveform analysis;
- Nocturnal SpO2 evaluation (Desaturation Studies);
Job Requirements:
Education/Skills
- See licensure and/or certification requirements
Experience
- 2 – 3 years of experience preferred
Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications
- RCP License in the state of employment required
- BLS required
- CRT thru the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) required
In accordance with the CHRISTUS Health License, Certification and Registration Verification Policy, all Associates are required to obtain the required certifications for their respective positions within the designated time frame.
Work Schedule:
7PM - 7AM
Work Type:
Full Time
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Certified Respiratory Therapist
Verify your CRT credential is current before applying
Your NBRC Certified Respiratory Therapist credential must be active and in good standing. Employers run license verifications before extending offers, and an expired or lapsed credential will disqualify you regardless of your OPT authorization status.
Obtain state licensure in your target work state
Every state requires its own RT license, separate from your NBRC credential. Start the application early since processing can take four to eight weeks, and you cannot legally practice or start employment without it in place.
Target large health systems with established visa sponsorship track records
Large hospital networks such as HCA Healthcare, CommonSpirit, and academic medical centers regularly sponsor H-1B visas for clinical roles. Smaller independent clinics rarely have immigration infrastructure, making post-OPT sponsorship far less likely.
Prioritize STEM OPT extension eligibility by choosing qualifying employers
Respiratory therapy degrees from accredited programs sometimes qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if the CIP code meets criteria. Confirm with your DSO before applying, as this extension significantly increases your H-1B lottery odds.
Frame sponsorship conversations around the clinical staffing shortage
The U.S. faces documented shortages of credentialed respiratory therapists, particularly in intensive care and neonatal units. Framing your sponsorship request around this shortage gives hiring managers a concrete business justification to bring to HR and legal.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Certified Respiratory Therapist on OPT?
Yes, if your degree is in respiratory therapy or a closely related health science field and your employment directly relates to that field of study. You must hold an active NBRC CRT credential and a valid state license for the state where you'll practice. Your OPT authorization is tied to employment matching your degree, so document the connection clearly with your DSO.
Does a Certified Respiratory Therapist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B sponsorship?
Respiratory therapy consistently qualifies as a specialty occupation because the role requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy or a related clinical science. USCIS has approved H-1B petitions for CRTs at hospitals and health systems. The NBRC credential and state licensure requirements further support the specialty occupation argument, which strengthens your employer's petition.
Where can I find Certified Respiratory Therapist jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Certified Respiratory Therapist positions from employers with verified histories of sponsoring international candidates on OPT and H-1B. Filtering by sponsorship-friendly employers saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering late in the process that a hospital does not support visa sponsorship for clinical staff.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I change hospital employers?
You can change employers on OPT, but the new position must still be directly related to your degree field, and your new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify if you are on the STEM OPT extension. Report the employer change to your DSO within ten days and update your SEVP portal record promptly to stay in compliance and avoid status issues.
Can I work per diem or part-time shifts as a Certified Respiratory Therapist while on OPT?
Part-time work is permitted during the post-completion OPT period, but you must work at least 20 hours per week to remain in valid OPT status. Per diem arrangements that fall below 20 hours in a given week create compliance risk. On the STEM OPT extension, you must also meet formal training plan requirements, which typically align better with full-time or consistent part-time schedules.
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