Hello all,

I'm new to the forum, and I've just been accepted into an AAS Degree for Respiratory Care Technology which begins this upcoming fall. As you can imagine, I'm both very excited and very nervous. I work closely with the RT's at my job, and I here about all of the problems of the RT world...but that doesn't matter to me. I have such a desire to become a respiratory therapist. 

Basically, here is my question: What are all of the different additional specialty certifications available for RCP's? I know of the following:

Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist (NPS).
Certified in Asthma Education (AE-C)
Polysomnography Certified (RPSGT)
Respiratory Care Case Management (CCM); Not exclusive to RTs
Registered/Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT/CPFT)
Cardiac Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT); Maybe this is exclusively for Canadian resp therapists?

I am definitely interested in seeking additional cert after earning my RRT license. I know that it probably does not matter as far as salary, but I would like to know that I have taken my education a step further. This is going to sound silly, but I like to call myself a "trauma junkie" because anytime a patient crashes, I'm there until the very end. I love the adrenaline and the thought that one can play a role in life or death when it is a most critical situation. Even sillier: Is there some sort of trauma or critical care certification for RT's?

 Anyways, these are my questions at the moment. I'm sure I will have more to follow. Thanks in advance for any help.

 Regards,

 Jared Scott