There was once a time when if you wanted to become educated on something you had to go to a school in your area and attend classes at some point in your week to become educated. As time changes so does the way that we learn and the way that we learn now is becoming more and more predicated by what is offered on the internet.

Online programs for careers like that of a respiratory Online therapy are becoming more and more common and going to a local school is become the exception rather than the rule. However, online colleges and classes are not always what they seem so you will want to consider a few things about these options before making a decision.

• The career of a respiratory therapist requires a license or certification in 48 of the 50 states with Alaska and Hawaii being the only two that do not a license or certification With that being said, you need to make sure that the online course or college that you attend can fulfill this requirement. You may still be required to take a test in your local area or state so you also want to make sure that the information provided is relevant and current.
• Many of the courses that you will take for the certification of a respiratory therapist are going to have to do with complex scientific and mathematical issues. If you are not comfortable with this information on your own then it may not be a good idea to rely on an online education. Be sure that you can understand this information without being able to raise your hand and ask the teacher to clarify or explain something to you.
• Understand that each online college is going to present information in their own unique way and you need to make sure that the presentation of the materials will work for you and your PC’s operating system. See if you can go through a pilot demonstration of how the materials will be presented so you can see if it works for you and your learning style.

Finally, realize that the internet and the world of online colleges still has a big element of the “wild west” in it because much of what is promised is not always delivered. People can start a website and then disappear overnight so, it might be worth your while to call around to see if a specific online college has the accreditation it needs to offer licensing and certification to become a respiratory therapist.