OPT Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs
Registered Respiratory Therapist jobs on OPT require active RRT credentialing from the NBRC, which most employers treat as a hard requirement before your start date. STEM OPT extension is not available for this role, so your 12-month standard OPT window is the timeline to work with.
Find OPT Registered Respiratory Therapist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 1,192+ Registered Respiratory Therapist jobs
See all 1,192+ Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Registered Respiratory Therapist roles.
Get Access To All JobsRespiratory Therapy
Registered Respiratory Therapist Position
Casual
Available and willing to work weekends, rotating holidays and On-call hours
Scheurer Health-Harbor Beach, a critical access rural hospital, is seeking a Registered Respiratory Therapist to work full time in the Respiratory Therapy Department.
Responsibilities:
- Maintain clinical competence while providing comprehensive patient care for all age groups utilizing assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation of the respiratory system
- Work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to devise individualized person-centered care
- Maintains respiratory competencies for both inpatient, outpatient, transfers, and ED patients specific to respiratory therapy modalities. Proven proficiency in the delivery of managing Pulmonary Function Testing, Cardiac Stress Testing, Electrocardiograms, Holter Monitoring, Mechanical Ventilation, Noninvasive Ventilation, and Pulmonary Rehab
Requirements
- Graduate from an accredited respiratory therapy education program
- Successful completion of the National Board for Respiratory Care Examination
- Current Michigan Board of Respiratory Care License as a Registered Respiratory Therapist
- Possess or willingness to obtain the following certifications within one year of start date: Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) & Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
- All Licenses and certifications must remain active
Benefits
- Competitive pay
- 401k with matching funds
- Safe Work Environment
For questions regarding this position please contact Jennifer Siemen, Acute Care Manager or Yvonne Prill, Talent Acquisition Specialist. Please submit all employment applications online at www.scheurer.org/careers/.
EEO/AA/Employer M/F/Disability/Vet
Respiratory Therapy
Registered Respiratory Therapist Position
Casual
Available and willing to work weekends, rotating holidays and On-call hours
Scheurer Health-Harbor Beach, a critical access rural hospital, is seeking a Registered Respiratory Therapist to work full time in the Respiratory Therapy Department.
Responsibilities:
- Maintain clinical competence while providing comprehensive patient care for all age groups utilizing assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation of the respiratory system
- Work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to devise individualized person-centered care
- Maintains respiratory competencies for both inpatient, outpatient, transfers, and ED patients specific to respiratory therapy modalities. Proven proficiency in the delivery of managing Pulmonary Function Testing, Cardiac Stress Testing, Electrocardiograms, Holter Monitoring, Mechanical Ventilation, Noninvasive Ventilation, and Pulmonary Rehab
Requirements
- Graduate from an accredited respiratory therapy education program
- Successful completion of the National Board for Respiratory Care Examination
- Current Michigan Board of Respiratory Care License as a Registered Respiratory Therapist
- Possess or willingness to obtain the following certifications within one year of start date: Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) & Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
- All Licenses and certifications must remain active
Benefits
- Competitive pay
- 401k with matching funds
- Safe Work Environment
For questions regarding this position please contact Jennifer Siemen, Acute Care Manager or Yvonne Prill, Talent Acquisition Specialist. Please submit all employment applications online at www.scheurer.org/careers/.
EEO/AA/Employer M/F/Disability/Vet
See all 1,192+ OPT Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Registered Respiratory Therapist
Obtain your RRT credential before applying
Most hospitals won't consider candidates without active NBRC RRT certification. Sitting for the RRT exam while still in school maximizes your OPT window and removes the biggest barrier employers cite when declining international applicants.
Target states with high respiratory therapy demand
States like Texas, California, Florida, and Michigan have large hospital systems that hire respiratory therapists regularly. Higher patient volume in these markets means more open positions and better odds of finding employers open to OPT authorization.
Apply to hospital systems, not only clinics
Large hospital networks and academic medical centers have HR departments familiar with OPT work authorization. Smaller outpatient clinics often lack experience sponsoring international candidates, making them slower to move forward even when interested.
Lead with your OPT status early in outreach
Mentioning your OPT authorization upfront in cover letters prevents late-stage surprises. Frame it clearly: you have existing work authorization, no employer petition is required, and you can start immediately after your EAD arrives from USCIS.
Use your clinical rotations as leverage
If you completed clinical rotations at a hospital during your program, reach out directly to respiratory therapy supervisors there. Facilities that already trained you know your clinical skills and face lower risk hiring you on OPT.
Plan your H-1B sponsorship conversation before month six
Respiratory therapy is a specialty occupation that qualifies for H-1B visa sponsorship. Raise the topic with your employer by month six of OPT so they have time to retain an immigration attorney and file before your authorization expires.
Registered Respiratory Therapist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Registered Respiratory Therapist on OPT?
Yes. Registered Respiratory Therapist roles qualify for OPT work authorization because they directly relate to respiratory therapy or allied health degree programs. You'll need an active EAD from USCIS and, in most states, a state respiratory care license in addition to your NBRC RRT credential before your first day of patient care.
Is Registered Respiratory Therapist eligible for the STEM OPT extension?
No. Respiratory therapy programs are classified under CIP code 51.0908, which is not on the DHS STEM OPT designated degree list. That means you have 12 months of standard OPT authorization, not 36. Planning your H-1B or other long-term visa pathway early is important given that narrower window.
Do employers need to file anything with the government to hire me on OPT?
No employer filing is required during your OPT period. Your EAD is standalone work authorization. The employer simply verifies your EAD and passport during I-9 onboarding. This is a meaningful advantage over H-1B, where the employer must file a petition and pay fees before you can start.
Where can I find Registered Respiratory Therapist jobs that accept OPT?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters jobs by visa sponsorship willingness, so you're not applying blindly to employers who won't consider OPT authorization. Searching Migrate Mate for Registered Respiratory Therapist roles surfaces employers with a documented history of hiring international candidates in clinical roles.
Can my employer sponsor me for an H-1B after my OPT ends?
Registered Respiratory Therapist is a specialty occupation that qualifies for H-1B sponsorship, provided your role requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field. Your employer would need to file an H-1B petition subject to the annual lottery. Given the 12-month OPT window, start that conversation with your employer no later than your sixth month.