College of Applied and Technical Studies
www.kent.edu/cats

About This Program

Prepare for a career as a registered respiratory therapist. Students will take online lectures with in-person labs, combining the flexibility of virtual learning with valuable, hands-on experience. Gain in-depth knowledge through our comprehensive curriculum and clinical training opportunities. Our experienced faculty and state-of-the-art facilities provide you with the tools and support needed to excel in the field. Enroll now and start your journey toward a fulfilling career in respiratory therapy.Read more...

Contact Information

• Amy Rodenhausen | arodenha@kent.edu | 440-964-4362
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • Mostly online
• Location:
  • Ashtabula Campus
  • Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

Accreditation

The Kent State University Respiratory Therapy programs, CoARC program number 200574 and 300037 Associate of Applied Science degree at Ashtabula and Cleveland Clinic, are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

Admission Requirements

The Respiratory Therapy major is cohort-based, with students admitted in the spring semester only. Spring admission is limited to 20 students at the Ashtabula Campus and 10 students at the Cleveland Clinic location.

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students who have successfully completed ATTR 25057 and ATTR 25058 (or EXSC 25057 and EXSC 25058) may use those courses in place of BSCI 11010 and BSCI 11020 (or BSCI 21010 and BSCI 21020).

Progression Requirements

To be able to register for respiratory therapy (RESP) courses, students must be accepted to technical study. Acceptance is a selective process. Criteria for acceptance are the following;

• Minimum 2.700 overall GPA
• Completion, or placement out, of MATH 00022 (or equivalent)
• Completion of required first anatomy and physiology course with minimum C grade: BSCI 11010 or BSCI 21010 (or equivalent)
• Completion of required chemistry course with minimum C grade: CHEM 10050 or CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060 or CHEM 10061 (or equivalent)
• Completion of four hours of job shadowing experience

Graduation Requirements

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in an applied or technical associate degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements, please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Describe, apply and analyze respiratory care principles, current theories and practices required of registered respiratory therapists as defined by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
2. Exhibit competence in performing technical skills and procedures utilized in current practice by registered respiratory therapists.
3. Model personal professional ethics and behaviors expected of registered respiratory therapists in practice to obtain and maintain a positive impact in patient care and inter-staff relations.

Program Policies

Readmission

Students seeking readmission to the A.A.S. degree in Respiratory Therapy must submit a written request to the program director. A minimum 2.000 overall GPA from Kent State University is required for readmission. The decision of readmission is made by the Admission/Readmission Committee and may be based on seat availability.

Students re-entering the program must complete the following:

1. Provide documentation of a current two-step Mantoux test and Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers card.
2. Repeat their BCI/FBI background check, drug testing and either retest or meet all other requirements as outlined in the Progression Requirements listed in the student handbook.
3. Re-demonstrate previously learned skills prior to entering clinical sites at the discretion of the instructor. Scheduling of re-demonstration of skills must be discussed with the program director prior to reentering the program.

Students in the withdrawn or failed category will be removed from the status of “Admitted to Technical Study” until they meet all readmission requirements.

Any student who fails to meet the program's requirements a second time will be dismissed from the program and will not be able to register for future RESP courses or be eligible for readmission.

Students who are entering the program for the second time after withdrawing during their first or second semester for non-academic reasons may be excluded from the program completion time limit (three years) and re-start the program as a new student. For more information, see the Program Requirements Completion policy.

Remediation

Competencies in the Clinical Setting

Remediation begins after students who have passed a competency in the laboratory setting but failed the same competency after three attempts in the clinical setting with a clinical instructor. The director of clinical education will re-instruct students in the proper technique and complete remediation documentation with the students. Students are given two weeks to practice and prepare for re-demonstration of the competency. Students will then re-test with a program instructor in the laboratory setting.

• Students who fail the competency at this time will receive an F grade for the course.
• Students who pass the competency will return to the clinical site for demonstrate the competency with a clinical instructor or preceptor. Students will again have three attempts. Students who are unable to pass the competency in the clinical setting a second time will receive an F grade for the course.

Clinical instructors or preceptors will make every effort to complete required competencies with students and make referrals before the last two weeks of the semester.

Competencies in the Laboratory Setting

Students will be remediated in accordance with their course syllabus. Students who fail any competency in the laboratory setting for the third time must meet with the program director prior to attempting the competency for the fourth time.

Time Limits

All students enrolled in the program have a maximum of two years to complete all program requirements. This is inclusive of students in the withdrawn or failed category or status. Students who are entering the program for the second time after withdrawing during their first or second semester for non-academic reasons may be excluded from this and re-start the program as a new student. For more information on re-starting the program, see the Readmission Policy.

Full Description

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Respiratory Therapy provides students the skills to evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Practicing under the direction of a physician, respiratory therapists assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care therapeutic treatments and diagnostic procedures. Respiratory Therapists also provide complex therapy requiring considerable independent judgment, such as caring for patients on life support in intensive-care units of hospitals.

Graduates of the program are eligible to take national credentialing examinations administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care to become Certified and Registered Respiratory Therapists (CRT, RRT), Certified and Registered Pulmonary Function Technologists (CPFT, RPFT) and Neonatal Pediatric Specialist (NPS).

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.