Minnesota’s Health Workforce
Respiratory Care Practitioners, 2006
August 2007
Respiratory care practitioners (RCP) help patients with breathing problems that are often associated with diseases such as
asthma, coronary heart disease, cystic fibrosis and emphysema, among others. The Board of Medical Practice registers
RCPs who have completed an accredited training program.
Overview
In 2006, Minnesota had 1,596 registered respiratory
care practitioners (RCP), an increase of 8 percent
from 2005.
Geographic location
400
0
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
57%
57%
43%
37%
43%
Micropolitan
Female
Demographics
Race data was available for about two-thirds of Minnesota
registered RCPs.
2001
63%
Metropolitan
Ninety-seven percent of RCPs are white and 1
percent are Black. Other race categories accounted
for less than a percent each.
2000
Female and male respiratory care
practitioners by primary work
location, 2006
More than a quarter of Minnesota’s population
lives in a micropolitan or rural county; however,
less than 15 percent of RCPs have a primary work
site in a micropolitan or rural county.
Overall, 63 percent of RCPs are female; however, a
majority of RCPs age 55 and older are male. This
means the profession will probably become more
female-dominated over the next 10 years as those
age 55 and older start to retire.
1999
1998
Work location
800
1997
Rural – The 46 Minnesota counties outside a Metropolitan or
Micropolitan area.
1200
1996
Micropolitan – The 20 Minnesota counties surrounding smaller
urban centers of at least 10,000 people.
1600
1995
Metropolitan – The 21 Minnesota counties surrounding the
seven metropolitan statistical areas connected with Minnesota, as
defined by the US Census (Minneapolis-St. Paul; St. Cloud;
Rochester; Duluth-Superior , WI; Fargo, ND; Grand Forks, ND;
and La Crosse, WI).
Number of Minnesota registered
respiratory care practitioners
Rural
Male
Female and male respiratory care
practitioners by age group, 2006
70%
65%
30%
Under 35
(n=347)
62%
35%
35 to 44
(n=409)
Female
61%
38%
45 to 54
(n=521)
Male
39%
55 and older
(n=155)
Place of employment
Eighty percent of RCPs work in hospitals. Onefifth are employed in other settings, such as home
health agencies and clinics, each of which account
for 6 percent of RCP employers.
RCP age and the breakout of males and females in
hospital work sites was similar when compared to
all RCPs – other work settings had too few RCPs
for comparison.
Work activities
On an average day, 81 percent of RCPs time is
devoted to patient care. Additional activities –
such as supervising patient care, administration
and teaching/research – each account for 1 to 8
percent of RCP work time. This is based on the
average of all RCPs, which means some may spend
nearly all their time on patient care, while others
spend most of their time teaching.
The “other” category included case management,
administration, telephone triage, public health, and many
additional activities, which each accounted for a fraction of a
percent.
Primary work site setting of
respiratory care practitioners, 2006
6%
8%
6%
80%
Clinic provider office
Home health agency
Hospital
Other
Respiratory care practitioner
activity as an average percent of
time at primary work site, 2006
8%
5%
6%
81%
Patient care
Supervise patient care
Teaching/research
Other
Future capacity
Ninety-six percent of registered RCPs are currently
working in the field. An additional 1 percent are
seeking work as an RCP. Of those currently
working as an RCP, about two-thirds plan to
continue practicing for at least 10 more years.
Seventy-four percent of RCPs between ages 35
and 54 are planning to work in the field for more
than 10 years; while only 54 percent of those under
age 35 plan to work as RCPs past 10 years.
Number of years respiratory care
practitioners plan to continue
practicing, 2006
16%
20%
64%
0-5 years
6-10 years
more than 10 years
Data involving race, location, place of employment, activities and future capacity are from a 2006 survey of RCPs (n=1,031) and
include only those who work in Minnesota. Not all respondents answered all questions analyzed in this report. Additional data
reflect all Minnesota registered RCPs.
Minnesota Department of Health – Health Policy
Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
Health Workforce Analysis Program
P.O. Box 64882
St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
www.health.state.mn.us
If you require this document in another format, such
as large print, Braille or cassette tape, call
(651) 201-3838 or TTY (651) 201-5797.
Contact for more information
The Health Workforce Analysis Program
(651) 201-3854
August 2007