Pulmonary Function Technologist

Who these therapists care for

Outpatients and inpatients undergoing spirometry, lung volumes, diffusion and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

What the shift actually looks like

Appointment-based testing — spirometry, lung volumes, diffusion, occasionally cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Highly coachable work; patient effort determines data quality.

Credentials and certifications

Typically required

RRT or CPFT/RPFT

Typical assignment

Appointment-based

What to specify when you send the req

Test menu, equipment manufacturer, and whether CPET is performed.

Why this role is hard to fill

CPET capability is the differentiator and is present in a minority of labs, so state whether you need it.

What candidates ask before accepting

Answering these in the req itself shortens the process considerably, because they are the questions that otherwise surface at offer stage and cause declines: Test menu, whether CPET is performed, equipment platform, and daily appointment volume.

Contract or permanent?

Contract works well for seasonal respiratory volume, which is predictable enough to book ahead at a lower rate. Permanent is the right call for structural gaps — given the growth projections and pipeline constraints, this market is not going to loosen.

Licensure

Respiratory therapists are licensed in 49 states and there is no interstate compact, nor one in progress. Alaska becomes the fiftieth when its licensing provisions take effect in January 2027. Every cross-state hire therefore begins with a fresh application, which is why respiratory fill timelines vary far more by state than nursing timelines do.

How we work this req

Every candidate is spoken to before you see them, with licensure for your state, certifications and unit-specific competency confirmed before submittal. We screen to the credential the unit actually needs rather than the title on the posting. Rates sit inside the ranges on our published cost breakdown.