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Respiratory Physiologist

As a Respiratory Physiologist, you will help diagnose and monitor conditions that affect breathing and lung health. You'll carry out specialist tests, use advanced equipment to assess how the lungs are working, and support doctors and healthcare teams in planning the best care for patients. You'll work with people of all ages with a number of conditions including chest pains, breathing difficulties, respiratory disease and sleep breathing disorders. 


Respiratory Physiologist is also known as Respiratory Scientist.

Role Characteristics

  • Scientific, problem solving.
  • Empathetic
  • Patient centred care
  • Collaborative working- operating equipment
  • Empowered to learn using technology.
  • Creative thinking

Skills

  • Active listening
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Empathy
  • Problem-solving
  • Team work

Day in the life

You can find out more about being a physiologist here. 

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

  • GCSEs
  • Degree apprenticeship
  • Undergraduate degree
  • BTEC, T-Level or A-Levels
  • Foundation degree

How to become

To become a Respiratory Physiologist, you will usually need a degree in Healthcare Science, Respiratory Physiology, Physiological Sciences or a related healthcare science subject. There are many ways to access university level education and you can explore lots of current opportunities in the section below.

You might:

  • Study GCSE's, A Levels, BTECs, or T Levels – useful subjects might include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Health and Social Care or Applied Science. Explore some current opportunities below.
  • Complete an Access to Higher Education course – a college course designed for adults who want to access higher education but don’t have the traditional requirements like A Levels.
  • Complete a Foundation course – a year-long university course designed to prepare you for studying Healthcare Science, Respiratory Physiology or a related healthcare science subject if you do not have the required qualifications or grades to go straight into a degree.

You will then be ready to study at a university level. This can include:

  • Studying an undergraduate degree in Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences), Respiratory Physiology, Clinical Physiology or a related subject.
  • Complete a Degree Apprenticeship – gain experience in the workplace while also studying a qualification in Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences), where available.

Alongside education, you may also want to build some relevant work or voluntary experience in hospitals, healthcare settings, respiratory services, community health services or patient-facing support roles and think about developing your communication, attention to detail, analytical, problem-solving and teamwork skills.

Where can this role lead

From your role as a Respiratory Physiologist, you could continue helping diagnose and monitor respiratory conditions by specialising in areas such as Sleep Physiology, Respiratory Diagnostics, or Cardiac Physiology.

Your analytical, technical and patient communication skills as a Respiratory Physiologist would also translate well to sideways moves such as an Audiologist or a Diagnostic Radiographer.

Location

  • Community Settings
  • Hospitals
  • GP Practices

Working hours

  • Weekends
  • Weekdays
  • Full Time
  • Flexible Hours

Opportunities

Two people smiling whilst working Woman in facemask working
Access to university
Access to Higher Education (Science, Medical, and Health)
Our Level 3 courses are designed to give learners the UCAS points needed to progress to university.
Organisation
Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
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Apprenticeships
Healthcare Science Assistant Apprenticeship
This qualification will offer underpinning knowledge and occupational competence for the role of a healthcare science assistant. 
Organisation
Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
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Apprenticeships
Healthcare Science Associate Apprenticeship
The qualification will offer underpinning knowledge and occupational competence for the role of a healthcare science associate.
Organisation
Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
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Access to university
Healthcare Science Practitioner (Integrated Degree)
Healthcare Science covers a vast range of specialist areas such as cardiology, clinical engineering, nuclear medicine, radiation protection and audiology. This occupation is found in many different settings including hospitals, primary care, public health, and private sector hospitals. Employers vary in size from a large national organisation such as the NHS through to a private practice.
Organisation
Skills England
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Undergraduate Degree
BSc Clinical Technology
Develop the skills you need for a career as a clinical technologist, capable of applying your knowledge to assist in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients.
Organisation
University of Bradford
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Access to university
BSc Health and Social Care with Foundation Year
This four-year course includes an initial full-time Foundation Year and offers an alternative route into university and gaining a degree.
Organisation
Leeds Trinity University
View opportunity
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