Respiratory Care Practitioner I-IV & Respiratory Therapist Per Diem Pool I-IV

Respiratory Care Practitioner

The Ventura County Health Care Agency is seeking dedicated Respiratory Care Practitioners to join the Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital. Opportunities are available at the Respiratory Care Practitioner I (Trainee), II, III, and IV levels and Respiratory Therapist Per Diem Pool (PDP) I, II, III IV levels. This flexibly staffed series provides a structured career path for respiratory care professionals seeking to advance from foundational clinical practice to highly specialized neonatal and pediatric critical care.

Respiratory Care Practitioners/Respiratory Therapist PDPs provide respiratory therapy services to neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients in a variety of clinical settings, including the Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Depending on assignment and level, incumbents perform respiratory assessments, administer therapeutic treatments and medications, manage advanced airway and ventilatory support, educate patients and families, collaborate with multidisciplinary healthcare teams, and respond to emergency situations requiring advanced life support.

The level at which an individual is appointed is based on qualifications, experience, demonstrated competencies, and the operational needs of the Health Care Agency.

Career progression includes:

• Respiratory Care Practitioner I (Trainee): Training-level classification involving a twelve-week structured training program under immediate supervision.
• Respiratory Care Practitioner II: Entry-level classification. Incumbents independently perform standard respiratory therapy procedures in adult critical care, emergency, and pediatric settings.
• Respiratory Care Practitioner III: Journey-level classification. Incumbents independently perform advanced respiratory care procedures within either the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), coordinate staff assignments during assigned shifts, assist with complex clinical cases, and receive specialized training in advanced airway management procedures.
• Respiratory Care Practitioner IV: Advanced journey-level classification. Incumbents are qualified to independently provide advanced respiratory care within both the NICU and PICU and may transition between specialty units during a shift based upon operational needs. Employees at this level demonstrate advanced clinical expertise, provide guidance to staff, and manage the most complex respiratory care cases across specialty populations.

Payroll titles and approximate salaries:

• Respiratory Care Practitioner I: $31.57 Hourly
• Respiratory Care Practitioner II: $34.01 - $47.61 Hourly
• Respiratory Care Practitioner III: $36.56 - $51.18 Hourly
• Respiratory Care Practitioner IV: $39.32 - $55.04 hourly
• Respiratory Therapist - PDP I: $36.55 Hourly
• Respiratory Therapist - PDP II: $40.20 Hourly
• Respiratory Therapist - PDP III: $43.86 Hourly
• Respiratory Therapist - PDP IV: $47.48 Hourly

Incumbents may be eligible for educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree that is not required for the classification. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.

Department/Agency: Health Care Agency Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC) and may require travel to Santa Paula Hospital. Respiratory Care Practitioner I-IV and Respiratory Therapist - PDP I-IV are represented by the Services Employees International Union (SEIU) and are eligible for overtime compensation.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Per Diem Pool, Intermittent, and Extra-Help vacancies within the Health Care Agency.

Tentative schedule:

Opening Date: July 6, 2026

Closing Date: Continuous (Previously: July 10, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.)