Registered Respiratory Therapist Internships
Registered respiratory therapist internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on clinical and patient-care experience, mentorship from working respiratory therapists, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Healthcare & Medical Services and Education lead in posted openings, with Baptist Health South Florida, The University of Michigan, and Baptist Health among the employers posting roles now.
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Baptist Health is the region's largest not-for-profit healthcare organization, with 12 hospitals, over 29,000 employees, 4,500 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. With internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences, Baptist Health is supported by philanthropy and driven by its faith-based mission of medical excellence. For 26 years, we've been named one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For, and in the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Baptist Health was the most awarded healthcare system in South Florida, earning 63 high-performing honors.
What truly sets us apart is our people. At Baptist Health, we create personal connections with our colleagues that go beyond the workplace, and we form meaningful relationships with patients and their families that extend beyond delivering care. Many of us have walked in our patients' shoes ourselves and that shared experience fuels out commitment to compassion and quality. Our culture is rooted in purpose, and every team member plays a part in making a positive impact – because when it comes to caring for people, we're all in.
At Baptist Health, we’re committed to supporting our employees at every stage of their journey, both personally and professionally. Our approach is rooted in a “grow our own” philosophy, designed to help our team members build meaningful, long-term careers with us, supported by benefits that make a real difference, including:
- Career growth and development opportunities, with clear pathways and ongoing support
- Comprehensive health and wellness resources that go beyond traditional benefits
- A wellness program that can help employees eliminate their medical plan deductible, reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs
- Tuition reimbursement to support continued learning and advancement
- And so much more
Together, these benefits and others reflect our commitment to caring for our people, so they can build fulfilling careers with us while making a meaningful impact every day.
Description:
The Respiratory Intern acquires additional knowledge and clinical experience before completing his/her education in a CoARC-approved respiratory care program. The Respiratory Intern performs basic respiratory procedures under the direct supervision of the State of Florida licensed staff respiratory therapist. The procedures performed will be equivalent to the current level of required skills in their clinical rotation. The Respiratory Intern is responsible for adhering to all required standards of respiratory care and promoting teamwork among co-workers.
Qualifications:
Degrees:
- High School,Cert,GED,Trn,Exper.
- Basic Life Support.
- Currently enrolled in an accredited respiratory therapy program, in good standing, completed at least one clinical rotation and, within 15 months of completing a certified, and or registered respiratory therapy program.
EOE, including disability/vets
Baptist Health is the region's largest not-for-profit healthcare organization, with 12 hospitals, over 29,000 employees, 4,500 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. With internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences, Baptist Health is supported by philanthropy and driven by its faith-based mission of medical excellence. For 26 years, we've been named one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For, and in the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Baptist Health was the most awarded healthcare system in South Florida, earning 63 high-performing honors.
What truly sets us apart is our people. At Baptist Health, we create personal connections with our colleagues that go beyond the workplace, and we form meaningful relationships with patients and their families that extend beyond delivering care. Many of us have walked in our patients' shoes ourselves and that shared experience fuels out commitment to compassion and quality. Our culture is rooted in purpose, and every team member plays a part in making a positive impact – because when it comes to caring for people, we're all in.
At Baptist Health, we’re committed to supporting our employees at every stage of their journey, both personally and professionally. Our approach is rooted in a “grow our own” philosophy, designed to help our team members build meaningful, long-term careers with us, supported by benefits that make a real difference, including:
- Career growth and development opportunities, with clear pathways and ongoing support
- Comprehensive health and wellness resources that go beyond traditional benefits
- A wellness program that can help employees eliminate their medical plan deductible, reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs
- Tuition reimbursement to support continued learning and advancement
- And so much more
Together, these benefits and others reflect our commitment to caring for our people, so they can build fulfilling careers with us while making a meaningful impact every day.
Description:
The Respiratory Intern acquires additional knowledge and clinical experience before completing his/her education in a CoARC-approved respiratory care program. The Respiratory Intern performs basic respiratory procedures under the direct supervision of the State of Florida licensed staff respiratory therapist. The procedures performed will be equivalent to the current level of required skills in their clinical rotation. The Respiratory Intern is responsible for adhering to all required standards of respiratory care and promoting teamwork among co-workers.
Qualifications:
Degrees:
- High School,Cert,GED,Trn,Exper.
- Basic Life Support.
- Currently enrolled in an accredited respiratory therapy program, in good standing, completed at least one clinical rotation and, within 15 months of completing a certified, and or registered respiratory therapy program.
EOE, including disability/vets
Registered Respiratory Therapist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
Tips for Your Registered Respiratory Therapist Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer clinical rotations
Large hospital networks and integrated health systems open summer intern cohorts as early as September of the prior year. Smaller outpatient clinics and co-op programs post closer to their start dates. Checking listings now rather than waiting for spring puts you ahead of most applicants competing for the same clinical seats.
Build a clinical evidence file before you apply
Hiring teams for respiratory therapist intern roles expect limited work history, so lead with documented proof of competency instead. A case study write-up from a ventilator management simulation, a pulmonary function assessment log, or a patient education project gives recruiters something concrete to evaluate when your resume is light on paid experience.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured hospital and health system programs tied to your accredited program, and your clinical faculty often know which employers recruit from your school before roles go public. Applying directly to smaller clinics and outpatient centers running informal cohorts alongside campus activity doubles the pool you can reach in a single recruiting cycle.
Practice your clinical reasoning interview out loud
Respiratory therapist intern screens frequently include scenario-based questions where the interviewer asks you to walk through an assessment or troubleshoot a ventilator alarm. Practicing your answers aloud, explaining each decision step before reaching a conclusion, prepares you for the format, because interviewers weigh your clinical reasoning process as much as whether your final answer is correct.
Target structured respiratory therapy training programs first
Larger health systems run formal intern or new-graduate residency cohorts designed specifically to train candidates new to clinical practice. These programs recruit early, fill fast, and often include structured mentorship and rotation across care settings. Identify the ones that match your program's accreditation and apply in their first recruitment wave before seats close.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 100% of the registered respiratory therapist internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to before you start applying, then filter by location and work type so you spend your time on roles that actually fit your situation rather than sorting through listings you can't accept.
Registered Respiratory Therapist Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a registered respiratory therapist internship?
Lead with coursework and documented clinical or lab projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A portfolio of patient-care simulations, ventilator management case studies, or pulmonary function assessments gives recruiters something concrete to evaluate. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where respiratory therapy program coordinators and recruiters often move faster with students they meet in person.
Can a registered respiratory therapist internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for registered respiratory therapist interns is consistent performance on real patient-care tasks, available headcount in the department at the end of the term, and whether you have a return-offer conversation before the internship ends. Position for it by treating every shift as an audition, but apply to other openings in parallel so you are not counting on one outcome.
When should I apply for registered respiratory therapist internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large hospital systems and healthcare networks begin recruiting summer cohorts the preceding fall, sometimes as early as September or October. Smaller clinics, outpatient centers, and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly rather than waiting for a single recruiting season gives you the widest window of opportunity.
Are registered respiratory therapist internships paid?
Most professional registered respiratory therapist internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by employer size, care setting, and location, and listings show pay ranges where the employer chooses to disclose them. Unpaid arrangements are less common in clinical settings and are typically tied to academic credit requirements at the host institution.
What should a registered respiratory therapist internship resume include?
Lead with two or three documented clinical or lab projects, listing the equipment used, the patient population or simulation scenario, and where evaluators can review the work, such as a linked case study write-up or clinical competency log. Add relevant coursework in pulmonary physiology, ventilator management, and patient assessment. Keep the entire document to one page, since hiring teams at the intern level expect brevity.
Are there remote registered respiratory therapist internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the registered respiratory therapist internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts in this field tend to focus on health informatics, respiratory care education, research, or administrative projects rather than direct patient care. Those roles fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get registered respiratory therapist internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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