Clinical Practice CE Courses for Respiratory Therapists | Essential Topics

Clinical practice continuing education forms the foundation of professional development for respiratory therapists. These courses directly enhance the skills and knowledge you use every day—from managing ventilators to assessing patients to interpreting diagnostic results. Beyond meeting regulatory requirements, strong clinical CE improves patient outcomes and advances your professional capabilities.

Clinical practice CE courses cover the direct patient care aspects of respiratory therapy, including mechanical ventilation, arterial blood gas interpretation, disease management (COPD, asthma), airway management, and specialty areas like neonatal care. 

Each state has different requirements. For example, California requires 15 of 30 CE hours to be in clinical practice topics. Because California has one of the most rigorous and clearly defined clinical CE requirements in the country, it serves as a useful example for understanding what qualifies as high-quality clinical practice continuing education—even for therapists licensed in other states.

What Qualifies as Clinical Practice CE?

Clinical CE encompasses training directly related to patient care activities performed by respiratory therapists.

California's Definition (Used as a Clinical CE Benchmark)

The Respiratory Care Board of California defines clinical practice CE as training and education in:

• Therapy of patients with respiratory deficiencies
• Management of respiratory conditions
• Rehabilitation services
• Diagnostic evaluation
• Care of patients with deficiencies affecting the pulmonary system and associated cardiopulmonary functions

Core Clinical Topic Areas

Ventilator Management:

• Mechanical ventilation principles and modes
• Patient-ventilator synchrony
• Weaning protocols
• Non-invasive ventilation (CPAP, BiPAP)
• High-flow nasal cannula therapy

Diagnostics and Assessment:

• Arterial blood gas interpretation
• Pulmonary function testing
• Patient assessment techniques
• Hemodynamic monitoring
• Imaging interpretation basics

Airway Management:

• Intubation techniques
• Tracheostomy care
• Airway clearance therapies
• Emergency airway management

Oxygen Therapy:

• Oxygen delivery systems
• Titration protocols
• Long-term oxygen therapy
• Hyperbaric oxygen fundamentals

Disease-Specific Clinical Education

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD):

• Pathophysiology and staging
• Medication management
• Exacerbation management
• Patient education strategies
• Pulmonary rehabilitation

Asthma:

• Assessment and classification
• Action plan development
• Medication delivery devices
• Patient and family education
• Emergency management

Respiratory Failure:

• Acute vs. chronic respiratory failure
• Management strategies
• Monitoring and assessment
• Outcomes optimization

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS):

• Recognition and diagnosis
• Lung-protective ventilation
• Prone positioning
• Current evidence and protocols

Specialty Clinical Areas

Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care

For RTs working with younger populations:

• Neonatal resuscitation
• Pediatric ventilation strategies
• Surfactant therapy
• Developmental considerations
• Family-centered care

Critical Care

For RTs in ICU environments:

• Advanced hemodynamic monitoring
• ECMO fundamentals
• Sepsis management
• Multi-organ dysfunction
• End-of-life respiratory care

Sleep Medicine

For RTs involved in sleep diagnostics:

• Polysomnography
• Sleep disorder recognition
• PAP therapy titration
• Treatment compliance strategies

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

For RTs in rehab settings:

• Exercise prescription
• Patient education
• Outcome measurement
• Disease management programs

Why Clinical CE Matters Beyond Compliance

While meeting state requirements is necessary, the real value of clinical CE lies in its impact on your practice:

Evidence-Based Updates: Respiratory care evolves continuously. Clinical CE keeps you current with the latest research, revised guidelines, and emerging best practices.

Technology Advances: New equipment and monitoring capabilities require ongoing education to use effectively.

Patient Safety: Updated knowledge reduces errors and improves recognition of clinical deterioration.

Confidence: Staying current builds confidence in complex clinical situations.

Career Value: Strong clinical skills remain the foundation of career advancement in respiratory therapy.

Choosing High-Value Clinical CE Topics

Not all clinical CE offers equal value. Prioritize topics based on:

Relevance to Your Practice

Select clinical respiratory courses that apply to your actual work setting:

• ICU therapist? Focus on critical care and ventilator management
• Pediatric setting? Prioritize neonatal/pediatric content
• Home care? Emphasize oxygen therapy and patient education
• General practice? Balance across multiple clinical areas

Knowledge Gaps

Honestly assess where you need growth:

• Topics where you feel less confident
• Areas with recent guideline changes
• Skills you don't use daily but need to maintain
• Emerging techniques your facility is adopting

Career Goals

Align CE with your professional direction:

• Pursuing ACCS? Focus on adult critical care content
• Interested in sleep medicine? Build SDS knowledge
• Moving to pediatrics? Develop neonatal/pediatric expertise

Recent Advances

Prioritize topics with significant recent developments:

• High-flow nasal cannula applications
• Lung-protective ventilation strategies
• Point-of-care diagnostics
• Respiratory implications of emerging diseases

Clinical CE for California Requirements

California requires 15 hours of clinical practice CE per renewal cycle. To meet this efficiently:

Mix Live and Self-Study: You need 15 live hours total (can be clinical or leadership). Consider completing 10 clinical hours as live courses, leaving 5 clinical hours for self-study flexibility.

Align with Daily Practice: Choose topics that reinforce skills you use regularly, ensuring immediate application of new knowledge.

Address Specialty Interests: Use some clinical hours for specialty topics that support career development.

Complete Initial Certifications: California awards 15 hours for initial specialty credentials (ACCS, NPS, etc.) though not for renewals.

Sample Clinical CE Plan

For a general practice RT in California needing 15 clinical hours:

Clinical Courses from The CE Place

The CE Place offers clinical practice courses designed by practicing respiratory therapists who understand real-world clinical challenges:

Live Clinical Courses: Interactive sessions on essential patient care topics with real-time Q&A and discussion.

Self-Study Clinical Courses: Flexible, on-demand courses covering core clinical content you can complete on your schedule.

Our clinical curriculum addresses:

• Ventilator management and troubleshooting
• Arterial blood gas interpretation
• Disease-specific management (COPD, asthma, respiratory failure)
• Airway management
• Patient assessment
• Emerging respiratory care techniques

Because we're practicing RTs, our courses focus on practical application—knowledge you can use during your next shift, not just theoretical concepts for examination purposes.