Best Respiratory Therapist Schools in the Philippines

James Ryan Jonas

The health of the lungs is an important aspect of one’s health. Thus, we need people who specialize in maintaining the health of lungs and other respiratory organs. This, among others, is the expertise of a Respiratory Therapist.

Respiratory Therapists Licensure Examination

In the Philippines, licensed Respiratory Therapists typically perform the following tasks:

  • Operate various pulmonary equipment, such as ventilators, etc.;
  • Supervise patients and monitor the effects of treatments done to them;
  • Assist doctors in determining respiratory illnesses affecting patients.

The Respiratory Therapist Board Examination in the country is usually conducted in September of each year. To be qualified as a test-taker, the aspiring Respiratory Therapist must meet the following criteria:

  1. A Filipino Citizen or a foreign citizen whose country permits Filipino Respiratory Therapists to work in their country without any complications;
  2. A graduate of a Respiratory Therapy course from a duly accredited school in the Philippines;
  3. A citizen of good moral character, and has not been convicted of a criminal case;
  4. A citizen that has had a 1,500-hour internship experience or training spread out within ten (10) months while being supervised by a licensed respiratory therapist.

If you are considering to be a Respiratory Therapist in the future, take note of the following topics which are included in the Respiratory Therapist Board Exam:

  • Ventrilation Through Mechanical Means
  • Respiratory Care of Newborn Babies and Children
  • Evaluation  and Electrocardiography of Patients
  • Maintenance of Airways
  • Examination of Pulmonary Functions

A passer of the Respiratory Therapist Board Examination must have a score of 75% overall, while scoring 60% or higher in all of the subtests.

Scope & Coverage of the Respiratory Therapist Board Exam

The Respiratory Therapist Board Examination consists of four equally weighted subtests:

  1. Diagnostics (25%)
  2. Pathophysiology (25%)
  3. Respiratory Care (25%)
  4. Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care (25%)

Also, according to Republic Act No. 10024 (“An Act Regulating the Practice of Respiratory Therapy”), subjects of the Respiratory Therapy exam should include:

(a) Patient Assessment and Electrocardiography;

(b) Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology;

(c) Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Therapy;

(d) Mechanical Ventilation;

(e) Acid-Base Physiology and Blood Gas Interpretation;

(f) Airway Care and Management;

(g) Pulmonary Function Testing;

(h) Pulmonary Rehabilitation; and

(i) Oxygen Therapy.

What brought you to this page would likely be about schools whose graduates excel during Respiratory Therapist exam, right? Well, feel free to look for that information below.

These data were compiled from previous Respiratory Therapist Board Examinations to find out the schools with the highest Respiratory Therapist Licensure Exam passing rates. Here are the results.

Best Respiratory Therapist Schools in the Philippines

Category 1: Respiratory Therapist Schools with more than 200 examinees

RankSchoolPassing RateNumber of PassersTotal Number of Takers
1University of the Philippines Los Banos, Los Banos100%401401
2University of Santo Tomas, Manila97%335342
3Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila92%302327

Category 2: Respiratory Therapist Schools with 101-200 examinees

RankSchoolPassing RateNumber of PassersTotal Number of Takers
1University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City100%132132
2Centro Escolar University, Manila97%140143
3Benguet State University, La Trinidad86%127147

Category 3: Respiratory Therapist Schools with 100 and below examinees

RankSchoolPassing RateNumber of PassersTotal Number of Takers
1Central Mindanao University, Maramag100%6060
2University of the Immaculate Conception, Davao City97%7072
3Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Manila94%1617
4Manila Tytana Colleges, Pasay88%7888
4Batangas State University - Nasugbu, Nasugbu88%2326
5Lourdes College, Cagayan de Oro87%2731
6Cebu Doctors' University, Mandaue City84%6375
7Adventist University of the Philippines, Silang80%7695
7University of San Carlos, Cebu City80%5670
7Philippine Women's University in Manila, Manila80%2835
8University of the East, Manila79%7291
9Batangas State University, Batangas City76%3546

Note: The table above only ranks the passing rates of First-time takers; repeaters are not included in the passing rate. All figures are based on the four (4) previous Respiratory Therapist Board Examinations, specifically the ones held in September in the years from 2014 to 2017.

Source: PRC Philippines (www.prc.gov.ph)

James Ryan Jonas teaches business management, investments, and entrepreneurship at the University of the Philippines (UP). He is also the Executive Director of UP Provident Fund Inc., managing and investing P3.2 Billion ($56.4 Million) worth of retirement funds on behalf of thousands of UP employees.