OPT Certified Respiratory Therapist Jobs
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 visa 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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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Current Employees:
If you are a current Monument Health employee, please apply via the internal career site by logging into your Workday Account and clicking the "Career" icon on your homepage.
Primary Location
Rapid City, SD USA
Department
RCH Respiratory Care
Scheduled Weekly Hours
0
Starting Pay Rate Range
$28.54 - $35.68
(Determined by the knowledge, skills, and experience of the applicant.)
Job Summary
It starts with heart. That is what you will do each day. As a Certified Respiratory Therapist at Monument Health, you will be valued as an essential team member providing compassionate patient focused care. You will discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, mutual respect, and—most importantly—a life-changing career. You will make a difference. Every day.
As a Certified Respiratory Therapist, you will assess, treat, and care for patients with acute or chronic cardiopulmonary disorders and associated aspects of other systems. The Certified Respiratory Therapist assumes primary responsibility for all provider ordered respiratory care modalities by initiating and conducting therapeutic and diagnostic procedures within their scope of practice. Respiratory care includes observing, assessing, and monitoring signs, symptoms, reactions, general behavior, and general physical response of individuals to respiratory care.
Our vision at Monument Health is to be one team, to listen, to be inclusive, and to show we care. To do the right thing. Every time. If you share this philosophy, we hope you’ll join us. Monument Health offers competitive wages and benefits on qualifying positions. Some of those benefits can include:
- Supportive work culture
- Medical, Vision and Dental Coverage
- Retirement Plans, Health Savings Account, and Flexible Spending Account
- Instant pay is available for qualifying positions
- Paid Time Off Accrual Bank
- Opportunities for growth and advancement
- Tuition assistance/reimbursement
- Excellent pay differentials on qualifying positions
- Flexible scheduling
JOB DESCRIPTION
Essential Functions:
- Reviews existing data, collects additional data, and recommends obtaining data to evaluate the respiratory status of patients.
- Develops, implements, and modifies respiratory care treatment plans based on assessment of the cardiorespiratory system, department policy and procedure, physician-approved respiratory care protocols, clinical pathways, referrals and written, verbal, or telecommunicated orders of a physician.
- Initiates and conducts prescribed therapeutic and diagnostic procedures such as: administering medical gases, humidification and aerosols, aerosol medications, postural drainage, bronchopulmonary hygiene, pulmonary function testing, hemodynamic monitoring and other physiologic monitoring; collects specimens of blood and other diagnostic specimens.
- Manages mechanical ventilator support and other means of life support, maintains artificial and natural airways, initiates cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency procedures, performs invasive and non-invasive procedures following established standards.
- Documents necessary information in the patient’s medical record and on other forms, and communicates that information to members of the health care team.
- Demonstrates the ability to serve patients and possesses the critical thinking skills required. Seeks clinical resource guidance from senior therapists or providers, when necessary, to perform complex, critical care procedures.
- Obtains, assembles, calibrates, and checks necessary equipment. Uses problem solving to identify and correct malfunctions of respiratory care equipment. Seeks clinical resource guidance from senior therapists, when needed.
- Demonstrates appropriate interpersonal skills to work productively with patients, families, providers, and co-workers. Serves patients with regard to age specific/cultural diversity needs.
- Assists and participates in the orientation, mentorship and education of personnel and students.
- Accepts directives, maintains confidentiality, does not discriminate, and upholds MH Code of Conduct, Standards of Performance and ethical standards of the profession.
- Specific job duties may vary based on facility and healthcare setting.
- All other duties as assigned.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Required:
Certification - Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) - South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners; Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) - National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC); Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification - American Heart Association (AHA) - Within 60 days of hire or transfer.
Preferred:
Education – Bachelors in Health Sciences
Physical Requirements:
Medium work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
Job Category
Rehabilitation
Job Family
Respiratory Therapy
Shift
Requires the ability to work assigned schedules and hours as determined by the department
Employee Type
PRN
10 Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, Inc.
Make a difference. Every day.
Monument Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.
INTRODUCTION
Current Employees:
If you are a current Monument Health employee, please apply via the internal career site by logging into your Workday Account and clicking the "Career" icon on your homepage.
Primary Location
Rapid City, SD USA
Department
RCH Respiratory Care
Scheduled Weekly Hours
0
Starting Pay Rate Range
$28.54 - $35.68
(Determined by the knowledge, skills, and experience of the applicant.)
Job Summary
It starts with heart. That is what you will do each day. As a Certified Respiratory Therapist at Monument Health, you will be valued as an essential team member providing compassionate patient focused care. You will discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, mutual respect, and—most importantly—a life-changing career. You will make a difference. Every day.
As a Certified Respiratory Therapist, you will assess, treat, and care for patients with acute or chronic cardiopulmonary disorders and associated aspects of other systems. The Certified Respiratory Therapist assumes primary responsibility for all provider ordered respiratory care modalities by initiating and conducting therapeutic and diagnostic procedures within their scope of practice. Respiratory care includes observing, assessing, and monitoring signs, symptoms, reactions, general behavior, and general physical response of individuals to respiratory care.
Our vision at Monument Health is to be one team, to listen, to be inclusive, and to show we care. To do the right thing. Every time. If you share this philosophy, we hope you’ll join us. Monument Health offers competitive wages and benefits on qualifying positions. Some of those benefits can include:
- Supportive work culture
- Medical, Vision and Dental Coverage
- Retirement Plans, Health Savings Account, and Flexible Spending Account
- Instant pay is available for qualifying positions
- Paid Time Off Accrual Bank
- Opportunities for growth and advancement
- Tuition assistance/reimbursement
- Excellent pay differentials on qualifying positions
- Flexible scheduling
JOB DESCRIPTION
Essential Functions:
- Reviews existing data, collects additional data, and recommends obtaining data to evaluate the respiratory status of patients.
- Develops, implements, and modifies respiratory care treatment plans based on assessment of the cardiorespiratory system, department policy and procedure, physician-approved respiratory care protocols, clinical pathways, referrals and written, verbal, or telecommunicated orders of a physician.
- Initiates and conducts prescribed therapeutic and diagnostic procedures such as: administering medical gases, humidification and aerosols, aerosol medications, postural drainage, bronchopulmonary hygiene, pulmonary function testing, hemodynamic monitoring and other physiologic monitoring; collects specimens of blood and other diagnostic specimens.
- Manages mechanical ventilator support and other means of life support, maintains artificial and natural airways, initiates cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency procedures, performs invasive and non-invasive procedures following established standards.
- Documents necessary information in the patient’s medical record and on other forms, and communicates that information to members of the health care team.
- Demonstrates the ability to serve patients and possesses the critical thinking skills required. Seeks clinical resource guidance from senior therapists or providers, when necessary, to perform complex, critical care procedures.
- Obtains, assembles, calibrates, and checks necessary equipment. Uses problem solving to identify and correct malfunctions of respiratory care equipment. Seeks clinical resource guidance from senior therapists, when needed.
- Demonstrates appropriate interpersonal skills to work productively with patients, families, providers, and co-workers. Serves patients with regard to age specific/cultural diversity needs.
- Assists and participates in the orientation, mentorship and education of personnel and students.
- Accepts directives, maintains confidentiality, does not discriminate, and upholds MH Code of Conduct, Standards of Performance and ethical standards of the profession.
- Specific job duties may vary based on facility and healthcare setting.
- All other duties as assigned.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Required:
Certification - Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) - South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners; Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) - National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC); Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification - American Heart Association (AHA) - Within 60 days of hire or transfer.
Preferred:
Education – Bachelors in Health Sciences
Physical Requirements:
Medium work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
Job Category
Rehabilitation
Job Family
Respiratory Therapy
Shift
Requires the ability to work assigned schedules and hours as determined by the department
Employee Type
PRN
10 Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, Inc.
Make a difference. Every day.
Monument Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.
See all OPT Certified Respiratory Therapist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT 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.
Apply during OPT, not at the end of it
H-1B cap-subject petitions are filed in March for an October 1 start. If your OPT expires before October, you need enough runway to apply and potentially use a cap-gap extension. Start job searching at least nine months before OPT ends.
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.
Certified Respiratory Therapist OPT: Frequently 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.