Occupational Title: Respiratory Therapist
Flanagan Campus, Lincoln only

Program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), 264 Precision Blvd., Telford, TN, 37690, www.coarc.com; 817-283-2835.

Respiratory therapy is an allied health profession in which respiratory therapists work under the direction of a physician to evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing disorders. This two-year program incorporates college classes with clinical practice. Students learn fundamental respiratory care concepts and to perform procedures with attention to critical detail while maintaining aseptic technique and appropriate safety precautions.

The program offers students clinical training in a variety of settings, including neonatology, critical care, pulmonary function, clinic and home care.

Graduates of the Respiratory Therapy program are eligible to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Entry Level (CRT) credentialing examination (requirement for state licensing) and the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Advanced Level (RRT) credentialing examinations.

The mission of the Respiratory Therapy program is to prepare students as registered respiratory therapists

Technical standards: The physical activity (strength) for respiratory therapy (076.361-014) is classified as "medium" by the Department of Labor in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles.

Note: Many courses require prerequisites, corequisites and/or testing. See course descriptions for details.

General Policies

See important general policies in the beginning of this section on the performance-based Health Sciences application process, academic progress, advanced placement, background check, CPR certification, health insurance, health records, reinstatement, transportation, uniforms, and equipment.

Minimum Requirements to Apply to the Respiratory Therapy Program

1. CCRI application: Complete and submit a CCRI Application for Enrollment. General Studies should be the first choice; RESP should be the second choice.
2. High school transcript: An official copy of a high school or GED® transcript, including date of graduation, must be provided. If the applicant holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, the high school transcript may be waived; a college transcript must indicate completion and degree awarded.
3. Placement testing: Complete a standardized test (ACCUPLACER) issued by CCRI’s Advising Center. Students may not retake the ACCUPLACER test before completing the remedial course/ courses. Note: For application purposes, ACCUPLACER testing can be waived for students who provide documentation of a bachelor’s degree or higher. Students are advised that individual departments may still require ACCUPLACER testing as a prerequisite for their courses.
   • Reading comprehension test must show competency of 80 in Classic Accuplacer or score of 253 or above in Next Generation Accuplacer or students must complete Reading and Study Skills Program (ENGL 1002) or Integrated Critical Reading and Writing (ENGL 0950) with a grade of B- or better.
4.  Complete courses required for admission with a grade of C+ or better:
   •  Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 2201)
   •  Introduction to Respiratory Therapy (RESP 1000) 
   •  Statistics for the Health and Social Sciences (MATH 1175) or (MATH 1175C)
5. GPA: A grade point average of 2.5 or better for all college courses taken.
6. Health Sciences application: Complete and submit a performance-based Health Sciences application including a preadmission degree evaluation during the open enrollment period.
   • Important: Submission of a performance-based Health Sciences application does not guarantee acceptance to the program. Acceptance is based on points earned as listed in the program acceptance criteria point system. (See www.ccri.edu/dean-hrs.) At the time of admission, students must meet the current admission requirements. Students declining acceptance into the program for the semester offered must resubmit a performance-based Health Sciences application and meet the current admission requirements. Once accepted, students must attend a mandatory orientation conducted by the Allied Health Department.
7. Background check: Students are required to submit a background check when directed by notification from Enrollment Services.

Program Requirements

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Obtain at least a grade of C+ in CHEM, MATH, BIOL, and RESP-coded courses

Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Preadmission Requirements
These courses must be taken prior to program admission:
BIOL 2201	Human Anatomy & Physiology I	4
BIOL 2202	Human Anatomy & Physiology II *	4
MATH 1175	Statistics for the Health and Social Sciences (or MATH 1175C) *	3
CHEM 1010	Survey of Biomedical Chemistry *	5
or CHEM 1030	General Chemistry I
RESP 1000	Introduction to Respiratory Therapy	3
Subtotal		19
General Education Requirements
ENGL 1010	Composition I (or ENGL 1010A)	3
PSYC 2010	General Psychology	4
Humanities OR Social Science Elective		3
BIOL 2210	Introductory Microbiology	4
Subtotal		14
Major Requirements
Students must be accepted into the program before taking the following courses.
RESP 1010	Respiratory Care I	4
RESP 1012	Pre-Clinical Practice	2
RESP 1100	Respiratory Care II	4
RESP 1800	Clinical Practicum I^	1
RESP 2110	Respiratory Critical Care	3
RESP 2800	Clinical Practicum II^	2
RESP 2020	Cardiopulmonary Diseases I	3
RESP 2120	Respiratory Care III	4
RESP 2810	Clinical Practicum III^	4
RESP 2030	Cardiopulmonary Diseases II	3
RESP 2130	Respiratory Care IV	4
RESP 2820	Clinical Practicum IV^	3
Subtotal		37
Total Hours		70

*

Not required before applying to the program.  Students may apply if courses completed or if in progress.

Recommended Course Sequence

Plan of Study Grid

Prerequisites		Hours
BIOL 2201	Human Anatomy & Physiology I	4
RESP 1000	Introduction to Respiratory Therapy	3
MATH 1175	Statistics for the Health and Social Sciences (or MATH 1175C)	3
BIOL 2202	Human Anatomy & Physiology II 2	4
CHEM 1010	Survey of Biomedical Chemistry (or CHEM 1010 General Chemistry I) 2	5
ENGL 1010	Composition I (or ENGL 1010A) 1,2	3
	Hours	22
Year 1
Semester 1
RESP 1010	Respiratory Care I	4
RESP 1012	Pre-Clinical Practice	2
PSYC 2010	General Psychology	4
BIOL 2210	Introductory Microbiology	4
	Hours	14
Semester 2
RESP 1100	Respiratory Care II	4
RESP 1800	Clinical Practicum I^ 3	1
RESP 2110	Respiratory Critical Care	3
Humanities or Social Science Elective		3
	Hours	11
Summer Session
RESP 2800	Clinical Practicum II^ 4	2
	Hours	2
Year 2
Semester 1
RESP 2020	Cardiopulmonary Diseases I	3
RESP 2120	Respiratory Care III	4
RESP 2810	Clinical Practicum III^ 5	4
	Hours	11
Semester 2
RESP 2030	Cardiopulmonary Diseases II	3
RESP 2130	Respiratory Care IV	4
RESP 2820	Clinical Practicum IV^ 6	3
	Hours	10
	Total Hours	70

¹

Composition I for Speakers of English as a Second Language (ESL) (ENGL 1300) does not substitute

²

Not required before applying to the program.  Students may apply if courses completed or if in progress.

³

(15 weeks, 8 hours/week) 

⁴

(6 weeks, 24 hours/week)

⁵

(14 weeks, 24 hours/week)

⁶

(14 weeks, 16 hours/week)

Transfer

If you are interested in earning a bachelor's degree, please meet with an Academic Advisor who can help you select the courses that best prepare you for transfer to a four-year college or university.

If you are interested in transferring to Rhode Island College or the University of Rhode Island, check out the Joint Admissions Agreement. Transfer information, events and articulations can be found on the Transfer Center website.