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Live · Guide v1.091V · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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ARMY · 91VCareer Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.91V.R.04
91V · ARMY · Enlisted

Respiratory
Therapist.

Army 91V (Respiratory Therapist). 1,400 hours of formal training translate to 4 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $45K–$78K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours1,400DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 45 semester hours recommended
Tech roles3mapped to your code
Civilian pathways4validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 3

Industry tech roles your 91V background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge

The gap, named.

What 91V training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have05
  • 01
    Medical Equipment MaintenanceHardware Troubleshooting
  • 02
    Patient AssessmentData Analysis
  • 03
    Procedural ComplianceQuality Assurance
  • 04
    Rapid PrioritizationIncident Response
  • 05
    Team SynchronizationAgile Team Collaboration
To learn06

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.

+SQL for data querying and manipulation+Python pandas and matplotlib for data visualization+Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems+HIPAA and other healthcare regulations+Selenium or Cypress for automated testing+Software testing methodologies
How VWC fits

Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.

See VWC Programs →
/ 03 · Civilian Pathways

Where your code lands.

SOURCE · LIGHTCAST + CURATED PATHWAYS · 4
P.01

Respiratory Therapist

$78K
High match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential
  • State licensure
P.02

Medical Equipment Repair Technician

$55K
Good match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • Biomedical equipment repair certification
  • Vendor-specific training on respiratory equipment
P.03

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) / Paramedic

$45K
Good match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • EMT or Paramedic certification
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
P.04

Clinical Research Coordinator

$62K
Moderate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • Bachelor's degree in a science-related field
  • Clinical research certification (e.g., CCRP)
  • Familiarity with research protocols and data management
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 91V training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

Rapid Prioritization

In emergency medical situations, especially when administering respiratory therapy, you rapidly assess patients' conditions, prioritizing treatment based on the severity of respiratory distress and available resources.

Transfers to

This ability to quickly assess situations and prioritize actions translates directly to any fast-paced environment where critical decisions must be made under pressure.

S.02

Procedural Compliance

Administering respiratory therapy requires strict adherence to medical protocols, safety procedures, and medication administration guidelines to ensure patient safety and treatment efficacy.

Transfers to

Your meticulous adherence to procedures ensures accuracy and consistency, crucial in regulated industries where compliance is paramount.

S.03

Situational Awareness

You maintain constant awareness of patients' vital signs, environmental factors, and the availability of equipment and personnel to anticipate potential problems and proactively address them.

Transfers to

Your heightened awareness of your surroundings and the ability to anticipate potential issues makes you invaluable in roles requiring vigilance and proactive problem-solving.

S.04

Team Synchronization

As part of a medical team, you coordinate with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive patient care, ensuring seamless transitions and effective communication.

Transfers to

Your experience in coordinating with diverse teams and ensuring smooth workflows makes you well-suited for collaborative environments where effective communication is essential.

/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches

Roles the recruiter won't suggest.

Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to handle high-stress, critical situations with a calm and decisive approach. Your experience in respiratory therapy gives you a unique understanding of medical emergencies, making you adept at planning and coordinating responses to disasters and other crises.

Adjacent · Match

Healthcare Administrator

SOC 11-9111.00

You've gained invaluable experience in medical settings, understanding the nuances of patient care and the importance of efficient healthcare delivery. This knowledge, combined with your supervisory experience, positions you well to manage healthcare operations and improve patient outcomes.

Adjacent · Match

Quality Assurance Specialist

SOC 19-4041.00

You've demonstrated a commitment to adhering to strict medical protocols and safety procedures. Your experience in ensuring compliance and maintaining high standards of care makes you well-suited to oversee quality control processes in various industries.

Adjacent · Match
/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED
Academy

Medical Education and Training Campus

Fort Sam Houston
1,400hHours
35wkWeeks
ACECredit

Up to 45 semester hours recommended

Topics · 8
  • Respiratory Therapy Techniques
  • Pulmonary Function Testing
  • Patient Assessment
  • Airway Management
  • Mechanical Ventilation
  • Pharmacology for Respiratory Care
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
  • Medical Equipment Maintenance
Partial coverage · 2
  • Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)70%

    Advanced respiratory techniques, specific disease management protocols, and current RRT examination content.

  • Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT)75%

    Specific pulmonary function testing methodologies, quality control, and interpretation of complex pulmonary function data.

Recommended next · 03
  • Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C)Adjacent
  • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)Adjacent
  • National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialsAdjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation

What you ran, in their words.

Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian EquivalentDomain
Mechanical Ventilators (Various models, e.g., LTV series, Hamilton Medical)ICU Ventilators (e.g., Hamilton Medical, Dräger, Puritan Bennett)Medical
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Analyzers (e.g., Radiometer ABL series)Blood Gas Analyzers (e.g., Radiometer, Roche Diagnostics)Operations
Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) equipment (e.g., Spirometers, Body Plethysmographs)Pulmonary Function Testing Systems (e.g., Vyaire Medical, COSMED)Operations
Oxygen Therapy Delivery Systems (e.g., Oxygen concentrators, regulators)Home and Clinical Oxygen Therapy Equipment (e.g., Philips Respironics, Inogen)Operations
Nebulizers and Aerosol Delivery DevicesNebulizers and Aerosol Delivery Devices (e.g., PARI, Philips Respironics)Operations
Patient Monitoring Systems (e.g., vital signs monitors)Patient Monitoring Systems (e.g., Philips, GE Healthcare)Operations
/ Translator · Live

Translate 91V into a resume that ships.

Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.