Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
P.O. Box 64882
St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
651-201-3838
Minnesota’s Respiratory Therapist Workforce 2012
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), in cooperation with the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice
(BMP), collects information on demographics, employment and future practice plans of respiratory therapists
(RTs) licensed in Minnesota. Minnesota RTs complete a workforce survey as part of the annual license renewal
process. Unless noted, all data are based on information collected from RTs who renewed their licenses during
the license renewal period ending July 1, 2012. The survey response rate was 77 percent. i
Overall
There were 1,814 RTs licensed in Minnesota in
2012. Of these, an estimated 1,675 worked in
Minnesota.
Sex, Race and Ethnicity
Licensed RTs are predominately female (63
percent). This is similar to the ratio of female to
male RTs last reported, in 2009 (64 percent).
A majority of licensed RTs (83 percent) identify
themselves as White. Another 6 percent identify as
Black/African-American, and 1.5 percent identify
as Hispanic/Latino. Less than 3 percent of RTs
identify as American Indian, Asian, Native
Hawaiian or “other” race-ethnicity. ii
Age Range
The median age of RTs in Minnesota is 46.5 years,
a slight increase from the median age of 45 years
reported in 2009.
The proportion of RTs who are 55 and older
increased 49 percent from 2009 to 2012 (Graph A).
Graph A
Respiratory Therapists by Age Group 2009 & 2012
31%
25%
24%
23%
20%
At the time of initial licensure, 65 percent of RTs
held an associate degree. Another 13 percent held a
certificate or diploma, while 6 percent held a
bachelor’s degree. The remaining 16 percent held
other credentials (e.g., degrees, certificates, work
experience) that qualified them to work as RTs.
A small proportion of respondents reported earning
additional credentials beyond certificate, diploma or
associate degrees. RTs earning a bachelor’s degree
comprise 13 percent of survey respondents, with 2
percent completing a master’s or doctorate degree.
Geographic Distribution
Most RTs (83 percent) are located in urban areas of
Minnesota, with only 17 percent in large rural,
small rural or isolated rural areas (Graph B). iii
Graph B
Distribution of RTs by Rural-Urban Commuting Areas
Minnesota 2012
1%
34%
27%
Training and Education
At the time of initial licensure, 68 percent of RTs
had received training at a Minnesota academic
institution. Another 15 percent had received training
in one of four adjacent states: Iowa, North Dakota,
South Dakota or Wisconsin.
5%
11%
Urban
Large Rural
16%
Small Rural
Isolated Rural
83%
2009
34 and younger
2012
35 to 44
45 to 54
55 and older
Minnesota’s Respiratory Therapist Work Force 2012 – Page 2
Work Status and Future Plans
A very high proportion (95 percent) of survey
respondents are employed in paid RT positions.
Two percent of licensed RTs are employed in other
jobs. Another 2 percent of respondents are
unemployed. Less than 1 percent of respondents are
not working due to family or medical reasons,
retirement or status as a student.
Regardless of age, 61 percent of RTs who are
currently working expect to practice as an RT more
than 10 years. The proportion of RTs who plan to
practice more than 10 years is fairly well
represented across all age cohorts (Graph C).
Graph C
RT Future Plans to Practice by Age Group
Minnesota 2012
59%
67%
59%
59%
More than
10 years
Graph D
RTs by Primary Work Setting
Minnesota 2012
9%
5%
9%
Clinic/Provider Office
(n=61)
Home Care (n=105)
Hospitals & Urgent
Care (n=877)
All Other (n = 103)
77%
Of those who responded to the survey question on
work activities, 81 percent reported patient care as
their most frequent work activity. The second most
frequently reported activity was teaching (19
percent), which includes patient education on the
use of treatments, therapies and equipment, as well
as teaching in academic settings. The third most
frequently reported activity was the supervision of
patient care (16 percent).
10 years
or less
41%
41%
41%
33%
34 and younger
(n=93)
35 to 44
(n=327)
i
45 to 54
(n=449)
55 and older
(n=368)
Of those RTs who expect to leave the workforce in
5 years or less (14 percent), 58 percent expect to
leave practice due to retirement, 21 percent expect
to move into another occupation and 15 percent
expect to move to another state.
The survey response rate is based upon the number of survey responses
received (1,321) divided by the total number of license renewals (1,722)
reported as processed in fiscal year 2012 (July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012) by the
Board of Medical Practice.
ii
Race and ethnicity survey responses are non-exclusive. Respondents may
choose all racial and ethnic categories they consider applicable. Cross
tabulation indicates 13 survey responses indicating “white” with one or more
non-white categories, and 2 survey responses indicating multiple races and not
indicating “white.” 6.2 percent of workforce survey respondents did not
provide race or ethnicity data.
iii
Geographic location is based on survey respondent facility address. When
no facility address was provided, geographic location was based on Board of
Medical Practice mailing address. Non-Minnesota addresses were excluded.
Primary Work Settings and Activities
RTs work an average of 35 hours in a typical week.
Minnesota RTs work in a variety of settings. While
more than three quarters (77 percent) work in
hospital settings, 9 percent work in home care
settings, and 5 percent work in clinics. RTs who
report working in “other” settings include those
who work in sleep diagnostic labs (3 percent) or
long-term care, rehabilitation and skilled nursing
facilities (3 percent) (Graph D).
For more information, contact:
Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
Health Workforce Analysis Program
651-201-3838
TTY: 651-201-5797
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/orhpc/workforce
February 2013