Career as a Respiratory Therapist in India: Courses, Pay and How to Begin

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Updated

At a glance

A respiratory therapist treats people with breathing and lung problems using ventilators, oxygen and lung-function tests in hospitals.

A respiratory therapist is a trained allied health professional who assesses and treats people with breathing and lung problems, using equipment such as ventilators, oxygen systems and lung-function tests. It is a hospital-based career for science students who want to work directly with patients in intensive care and respiratory wards without completing a full medical degree.

Most students enter through a bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy taken after Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The work is hands-on and shift-based, so it suits people who stay calm under pressure and want close, practical contact with patients and the medical team.

Interest in this field is rising. Indian news coverage has reported a surge in respiratory medicine sales linked to pollution and a large share of the country's chronic respiratory disease burden in Maharashtra, which points to continuing need for lung care. Check current course rules and salary data with the institution before you choose a programme.

Minimum Qualification
Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology
Typical Degree
BSc in Respiratory Therapy (to be verified)
Expected Entry Salary
To be confirmed (not yet verified)
Entry-level to Senior
To be confirmed (not yet verified)
Job Demand Growth
Rising need for lung and allied health care
Work Hours
Shifts, including nights and weekends in hospitals
Places of Work
Hospitals, ICUs, pulmonary clinics, sleep labs

What Does a Respiratory Therapist Do?

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

  • Assess patients with breathing difficulties, lung disease or breathing support needs, following the treating doctor's orders.

  • Set up and monitor ventilators, oxygen systems and other breathing support equipment.

  • Carry out lung-function tests such as spirometry and sample blood for arterial blood gas analysis.

  • Give treatments such as nebulisation, chest physiotherapy support and airway clearance.

  • Support intubation and extubation procedures and respond to breathing emergencies, including CPR where trained.

  • Educate patients and families on inhaler use, oxygen at home and lung-care routines.

  • Record patient progress and report changes to the doctors and nursing team.

Where They Work

Respiratory therapists in India mainly work in government and private hospitals, especially in intensive care units (ICUs), respiratory and chest medicine wards, and emergency departments. Large multi-specialty hospitals and teaching hospitals are the most common employers.

Other workplaces include pulmonary and chest clinics, sleep study centres, home-care providers that support patients on long-term oxygen or ventilation, and medical equipment and education organisations. Roles and employers vary by city and institution, so check current openings directly.

How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in India?

After Class 10

Choose the science stream for Classes 11 and 12, and take Physics, Chemistry and Biology seriously, since these subjects are needed for most respiratory therapy degrees.

After Class 12

Pass Class 12 with PCB. Check each college's admission rules, including whether it accepts marks-based admission, a state or institutional entrance test, or NEET, and read the official prospectus carefully.

Undergraduate

Complete a bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy, which typically includes classroom learning, lab work and a hospital internship. Build practical experience in ICU and ventilator care during the course.

Licence / Certification

Add life-support certifications such as Basic Life Support (BLS) and check whether any state or national registration is needed to practise. Confirm this with the relevant authority before you apply.

Postgraduate and Specialisation

Consider an MSc or specialist diploma in critical care respiratory care, pulmonary function testing or sleep medicine to move into senior or teaching roles.

First Job

Start in a hospital respiratory or ICU team, learn from senior therapists and build a record of supervised clinical work before moving to specialised or senior roles.

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Eligibility and Subjects Required

Stream and Subject Requirements

  • Science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) in Class 12 is the usual requirement for respiratory therapy degrees.

  • Biology is especially important because the course covers human anatomy and physiology of the lungs and heart.

  • Some colleges may accept other science combinations or diploma routes; confirm this with each institution.

Minimum Qualification

  • Class 12 pass in science for undergraduate BSc programmes.

  • Typical minimum aggregate in Class 12 is around 50 per cent, but this varies by institution and must be verified.

  • A bachelor's degree is generally expected for hospital respiratory therapist roles; diploma-level roles may be available in some places, to be verified.

Courses and Degrees for Respiratory Therapist

  • Undergraduate Degrees
    • BSc Respiratory Therapy (typically 3 to 4 years including internship; verify with the college)
    Postgraduate Degrees
    • MSc Respiratory Therapy or a related critical care programme (typically 2 years; verify with the college)
    Diplomas
    • Diploma in Respiratory Therapy or Pulmonary Function Technology (typically 1 to 2 years; verify with the institution)
    Certifications & Short-term Courses
    • Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (short course)
    • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification (short course)
    • Ventilator and critical care workshops offered by hospitals or training bodies

Skills Required to Become a Respiratory Therapist

Technical Skills

  • Ventilator set-up and monitoring
  • Oxygen therapy and airway management
  • Arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation
  • Spirometry and pulmonary function testing
  • Life support and CPR
  • Infection control and hospital safety practices

Soft Skills

  • Calm decision-making under pressure
  • Attention to detail
  • Clear communication with patients, families and doctors
  • Empathy and patience
  • Teamwork in shift-based wards
  • Time management

Respiratory Therapist Salary in India

0 to 2 years

Entry Level

To be confirmed

  • Typical job titles: Respiratory Therapist (trainee or junior), Respiratory Care Assistant
  • Supervised ventilator, oxygen and lung-test work in ICU and ward settings

3 to 7 years

Mid Level

To be confirmed

  • Typical job titles: Respiratory Therapist, Pulmonary Function Technologist, Sleep Technologist
  • Independent patient assessment, equipment management and shift coordination

8+ years

Senior Level

To be confirmed

  • Typical job titles: Senior Respiratory Therapist, Respiratory Therapy Supervisor, Respiratory Therapy Educator
  • Leading ICU respiratory teams, training staff and managing equipment and quality standards

Career Opportunities and Job Roles

Respiratory Therapist (Hospital)

Provides breathing support, lung tests and treatments in hospital wards and ICUs.

ICU Respiratory Specialist

Manages ventilated patients in intensive care alongside doctors and critical care nurses.

Pulmonary Function Technologist

Runs lung-function and breathing tests in chest clinics and hospital labs.

Sleep Technologist

Monitors patients during sleep studies to diagnose sleep-related breathing disorders.

Home Care Respiratory Therapist

Supports patients using oxygen or home ventilation and trains families in equipment use.

Respiratory Therapy Educator

Teaches respiratory therapy students and trains hospital staff in lung-care skills.

Respiratory Therapy Supervisor

Leads a team of therapists, manages rotas and oversees patient care standards.

Scope and Future of Respiratory Therapist in India

Demand for lung and breathing care is a central part of the outlook. Indian news coverage in early 2026 reported a surge in respiratory medicine sales linked to pollution, and a study reported that Maharashtra carries about 10 per cent of India's chronic respiratory disease burden. Growing awareness of allied health careers also appears in recent career coverage that lists allied health jobs as in demand. These are signs of need rather than job-market figures, so check current hiring data before making a decision.

Growth is likely in hospital ICUs, chest and respiratory departments, sleep medicine, home care and diagnostic labs. Respiratory therapists who add critical care, pulmonary function or sleep skills, and who keep their certifications current, are better placed for senior and teaching roles.

Working abroad as a respiratory therapist depends on recognition of qualifications and licensing in the destination country. Check the requirements of the regulator or employer in the country you plan to work in before you plan your studies.

Is Respiratory Therapist
the Right Career for You?

Respiratory Therapist can be an exciting career, but the right choice depends on more than academic eligibility.

Interests

What excites you?

Aptitude

What are you good at?

Personality

How do you work?

Work Preferences

What kind of environment suits you?

Discover careers that match your interests, strengths and preferences.

See how well this career fits you

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Respiratory Therapist: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I become a respiratory therapist without NEET?

Some medical and allied health courses after Class 12 are open without NEET, and news guides list many such programmes. Whether a particular BSc Respiratory Therapy course asks for NEET, a state or institutional entrance test, or uses marks-based admission depends on the college. Read the official prospectus of each college you are considering before you apply, because rules change every year.

Which subjects do I need after Class 12 for respiratory therapy?

Most respiratory therapy degrees ask for Class 12 science with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Biology is especially useful because the course covers the anatomy and physiology of the lungs and heart. Some colleges may accept other combinations, so confirm the exact subject and marks rules with the institution you plan to apply to.

Is respiratory therapy a good career in India?

It can be a steady career for students who like hands-on patient care and do not want a full medical degree. Recent news has pointed to rising respiratory medicine sales and a large lung-disease burden, which suggests continuing need for trained staff. Pay, growth and job openings differ by city and employer, so check current data before deciding.

Is a respiratory therapist the same as a doctor?

No. A respiratory therapist is an allied health professional who works under the orders of doctors. They set up and monitor breathing equipment, run lung tests and give treatments, but they do not diagnose diseases or prescribe medicines on their own. Doctors, including pulmonologists and intensivists, make the final medical decisions for each patient.

What is the salary of a respiratory therapist in India?

This page does not yet have verified salary figures for respiratory therapists in India. Pay depends on the employer type, city, experience and qualifications. Check recent salary surveys, hospital job advertisements and the college placement records before you plan your finances, and compare offers across government and private hospitals.

Does a respiratory therapist work night shifts?

Many respiratory therapists work shifts, and ICUs and emergency departments often run round the clock. Night duty and weekend work are common in hospital roles, while clinics and sleep labs may offer more regular hours. If you prefer fixed timings, look for outpatient or diagnostic roles when you plan your career path.

What is the difference between a respiratory therapist and a physiotherapist?

Both are allied health careers, but they focus on different work. A respiratory therapist mainly manages breathing support, ventilators, oxygen and lung-function tests, often in intensive care. A physiotherapist focuses on movement, muscle and joint rehabilitation, although some physiotherapists also work on chest care. Choose based on whether you prefer equipment-based breathing care or movement-based rehabilitation.

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