Respiratory Therapists became eligible to be commissioned into the US Public Health Service on September 1, 2007. The Therapist Category is excited to welcome this discipline to our ranks.

The following information and links are provided for Respiratory Therapists interested in learning more about the USPHS and looking for employment opportunities. RTs are also encouraged to visit other pages within this website to learn more about the Therapist Category in which they might serve.

USPHS.GOV is the primary website for individuals interested in the US Public Health Service with links providing an overview of the Commissioned Corps and how to apply. It also contains an overview of the category which has already been updated to include Respiratory Therapy.

In addition to the website, recruiting information is available from a general recruting line at 1-800-279-1605 and through category lead recruiters:

Check back here soon for a listing of Respiratory Therapy vacancies with points of contact. In the interim, applicants may consult the USAJobs website for vacancies within the Department of Health and Human Services, particularly the Indian Health Service. However, check the announcement or with the hiring official to be sure that the position is for a Bachelor level trained RT that can be filled by a commissioned officer.

Here are the professional standards that must be met to qualify for commissioing in the PHS. Additional standards are on the USPHS.GOV web site.

Respiratory Therapists Appointment Standards

(1) Licensure. A current, active, valid, unrestricted Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) license from any U.S. State, District of Columbia, Commonwealth, Territory, or other jurisdiction as required. The RRT program must be recognized by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

Note: A Certified or Registered Pulmonary Function Technician/Technologist is not a qualifying certification for the purposes of this instruction.

(2) Training. A candidate must be a graduate from a school or college of respiratory therapy accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC) or Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) at the time of the applicant’s graduation. The candidate must possess a qualifying professional degree in one of the following:

(a) Bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy*; or

(b) Master’s degree in respiratory therapy*.

(3)Training and Experience Date (TED) Credit for Selected Qualifying Degrees. Notwithstanding TED criteria listed in CCI 231.01, the qualifying degree shall receive the following amounts of TED credit:

(a) Bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy, 4 years for undergraduate degree plus the time required to meet the qualifying academic degree requirements.

(b) Master’s degree in respiratory therapy shall receive a maximum 6 years TED.

Note: A Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Specialist certification is not considered for additional TED criteria for the purpose of this instruction as this certification is rather professional education that is granted after a candidate has obtained the qualifying RRT certification.

 

* This does not include an Associate's degree in respiratory therapy followed by a Bachelor's degree in another science, even if related. The degree must be from at least a 4 year program that awards at least a Bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy. The degree/major should be clearly documented on the transcript. A credentials review conducted during the application process will clarify whether the standard has been met or not.

 

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