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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The Respiratory Therapist will be responsible for implementing and monitoring the respiratory regimen and assisting with pulmonary participant support in the pulmonary rehabilitation program.
Responsibilities:
- Responsible for blood pressure checks on all participants pre and post exercise.
- Monitors oximetry responses pre, post, and during exercise.
- Assesses participants' progress pre, during, and post exercise and makes appropriate recommendations on continued care to the participant, other staff, and Medical Director.
- Assists in data collection for exercise prescription as needed.
- Assists with the orientation of new participants, the initial respiratory assessment, and in the development of the plan of care with other staff members.
- Charts and documents initial assessment and daily participant information and progress.
- Attends pulmonary rehabilitation team conferences to report participant progress and contributes to team planning of future goals for the pulmonary rehab program.
- Immediately reports any significant abnormal participant conditions, i.e. unusual oxygen saturations, dysrhythmias, abnormal blood pressure responses, changes in participant's status, etc.
- Initiates emergency care according to the program policy.
- Instructs participants in all relevant Pulmonary Rehab educational topics to facilitate the best outcomes for successful completion of the Phase 2 program.
- Leads participant education sessions when appropriate.
- May supervise exercise sessions and monitoring participants for inappropriate responses to exercises.
- Recommends timely interventions and the need for further treatment or referral in the participant's respiratory care regimen.
- Monitors and assesses oximetry, heart rate and perceived dyspnea responses pre, post, and during exercise and makes appropriate recommendations on continued care to the participant, other staff, and Medical Director.
- Assists in data collection for exercise prescription and Individualized Treatment Plan as needed.
- Immediately reports significant abnormal participant responses, i.e. unusual oxygen saturations, dysrhythmias, abnormal blood pressure responses, changes in participant's status, etc. and initiates emergency care according to the program policy.
- Instructs participants in all relevant Pulmonary Rehab educational topics to facilitate the best outcomes for successful completion of the Phase 2 program.
- Assists with the orientation of new participants, the initial respiratory assessment, and in the development of the plan of care with other staff members and Medical Director.
- Charts and documents assessment, daily exercise data and progress for each participant.
- Organizes and prepares all activities and needs for daily classes including preparing tanks, daily exercise sheets and equipment.
- Leads and or assists with quarterly patient outcomes and audit measures.
- Assists with the orientation of new participants, the initial and discharge sessions including a multifaceted assessment, and development of the plan of care.
- Does scheduling and billing in EPIC.
- Handles referrals for prospective participants.
- Pulmonary Function Testing.
Qualifications
- Certifications: Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) - National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC); Basic Life Support (BLS) within 30 days - American Heart Association (AHA); Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
- Education: Certificate of Completion: Respiratory Therapy; Associate's Degree: Respiratory Therapy.
- Work Experience: Related field.
Salary Range:
The compensation range for this position is $28.82 per hour - $49.57 per hour. This represents a good faith minimum and maximum range for the role at the time of posting by Carle Health. The actual compensation offered a candidate will be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, qualifications, location, training, licenses, shifts worked and compensation model. Carle Health offers a comprehensive benefits package for team members and providers.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. Carle Health participates in E-Verify and may provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
Overview:
The Respiratory Therapist will be responsible for implementing and monitoring the respiratory regimen and assisting with pulmonary participant support in the pulmonary rehabilitation program.
Responsibilities:
- Responsible for blood pressure checks on all participants pre and post exercise.
- Monitors oximetry responses pre, post, and during exercise.
- Assesses participants' progress pre, during, and post exercise and makes appropriate recommendations on continued care to the participant, other staff, and Medical Director.
- Assists in data collection for exercise prescription as needed.
- Assists with the orientation of new participants, the initial respiratory assessment, and in the development of the plan of care with other staff members.
- Charts and documents initial assessment and daily participant information and progress.
- Attends pulmonary rehabilitation team conferences to report participant progress and contributes to team planning of future goals for the pulmonary rehab program.
- Immediately reports any significant abnormal participant conditions, i.e. unusual oxygen saturations, dysrhythmias, abnormal blood pressure responses, changes in participant's status, etc.
- Initiates emergency care according to the program policy.
- Instructs participants in all relevant Pulmonary Rehab educational topics to facilitate the best outcomes for successful completion of the Phase 2 program.
- Leads participant education sessions when appropriate.
- May supervise exercise sessions and monitoring participants for inappropriate responses to exercises.
- Recommends timely interventions and the need for further treatment or referral in the participant's respiratory care regimen.
- Monitors and assesses oximetry, heart rate and perceived dyspnea responses pre, post, and during exercise and makes appropriate recommendations on continued care to the participant, other staff, and Medical Director.
- Assists in data collection for exercise prescription and Individualized Treatment Plan as needed.
- Immediately reports significant abnormal participant responses, i.e. unusual oxygen saturations, dysrhythmias, abnormal blood pressure responses, changes in participant's status, etc. and initiates emergency care according to the program policy.
- Instructs participants in all relevant Pulmonary Rehab educational topics to facilitate the best outcomes for successful completion of the Phase 2 program.
- Assists with the orientation of new participants, the initial respiratory assessment, and in the development of the plan of care with other staff members and Medical Director.
- Charts and documents assessment, daily exercise data and progress for each participant.
- Organizes and prepares all activities and needs for daily classes including preparing tanks, daily exercise sheets and equipment.
- Leads and or assists with quarterly patient outcomes and audit measures.
- Assists with the orientation of new participants, the initial and discharge sessions including a multifaceted assessment, and development of the plan of care.
- Does scheduling and billing in EPIC.
- Handles referrals for prospective participants.
- Pulmonary Function Testing.
Qualifications
- Certifications: Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) - National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC); Basic Life Support (BLS) within 30 days - American Heart Association (AHA); Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
- Education: Certificate of Completion: Respiratory Therapy; Associate's Degree: Respiratory Therapy.
- Work Experience: Related field.
Salary Range:
The compensation range for this position is $28.82 per hour - $49.57 per hour. This represents a good faith minimum and maximum range for the role at the time of posting by Carle Health. The actual compensation offered a candidate will be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, qualifications, location, training, licenses, shifts worked and compensation model. Carle Health offers a comprehensive benefits package for team members and providers.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. Carle Health participates in E-Verify and may provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
See all OPT Certified Respiratory Therapist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Certified Respiratory Therapist Jobs.
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.