Top Respiratory Therapist Skills for 2026

These are the tools, technologies, and competencies employers actually look for when hiring a Respiratory Therapist. Add the ones you have to your resume — and consider building the ones you don't.

Tools & Technologies for Respiratory Therapists

High-demand tools and technologies for Respiratory Therapist roles. Use exact names when listing on your resume — ATS systems match on precise tool names.

1 eClinicalWorks EHR software
2 MEDITECH software
3 Microsoft Excel
4 Microsoft Office software
5 Microsoft Outlook
6 Microsoft PowerPoint
7 Microsoft Word

Core Occupational Skills for Respiratory Therapists

These competencies are most important for Respiratory Therapist performance. Don't list these generically — demonstrate them through quantified achievements in your work experience section.

✓ Active Listening
✓ Critical Thinking
✓ Monitoring
✓ Speaking
✓ Reading Comprehension
✓ Active Learning
✓ Social Perceptiveness
✓ Service Orientation
✓ Coordination
✓ Complex Problem Solving

Knowledge Areas for Respiratory Therapist Roles

Core knowledge domains for this occupation. Demonstrating depth in these areas signals readiness to employers and sets you apart from candidates with surface-level experience.

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    Customer and Personal Service

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    Medicine and Dentistry

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    English Language

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    Education and Training

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    Psychology

Certifications That Boost a Respiratory Therapist Resume

These certifications signal validated expertise to employers and often correlate with higher compensation. Add them to a dedicated Certifications section on your resume.

RRT (NBRC)

Verify current requirements before listing

State RT License

Verify current requirements before listing

ACLS

Verify current requirements before listing

NRP

Verify current requirements before listing

ATS Optimization Tips for Respiratory Therapist Resumes

  • 1. Use exact tool names from this list — ATS systems match on "Microsoft Excel" not "Excel."
  • 2. Mirror keywords from the job description — don't just use this list verbatim.
  • 3. Put a "Skills" or "Technical Skills" section near the top of your resume.
  • 4. Only list skills you can discuss confidently in an interview.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most important skills for a Respiratory Therapist resume?
The top skills for Respiratory Therapist resumes include eClinicalWorks EHR software, MEDITECH software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook. These are the tools and technologies most frequently required in Respiratory Therapist job postings, according to O*NET occupational data (SOC 29-1126).
How many skills should I list on my Respiratory Therapist resume?
List 8–12 relevant skills. Prioritize skills from the job description, then add complementary skills from this guide. For ATS purposes, use exact tool names (e.g., "Microsoft Excel" not just "spreadsheets"). Quality and match-rate to the posting matters more than length.
What soft skills do employers look for in Respiratory Therapists?
Employers hiring Respiratory Therapists prioritize occupational skills like Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Speaking. Rather than listing these generically, demonstrate them through specific achievements in your work experience bullets.
What knowledge areas are most important for Respiratory Therapists?
O*NET identifies the following core knowledge domains for Respiratory Therapist roles: Customer and Personal Service, Medicine and Dentistry, English Language, Education and Training, Psychology.

Skills and knowledge data: O*NET 30.0 Database (CC-BY 4.0), U.S. Department of Labor. Actual requirements vary by employer and role.