Respiratory Care
AAS
Why study Respiratory Care?
Respiratory Care — the evaluation, treatment and care of patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders — is a crucial function in modern health care. Practicing under the direction of a physician, respiratory therapists must be proficient in all areas of respiratory care, such as bedside pulmonary care, life-support systems management, diagnostic testing, pulmonary rehabilitation, and long-term care. Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat all types of patients, ranging from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people whose lungs are diseased. Therapists’ tasks are expanding into areas such as pulmonary rehabilitation, smoking cessation counseling, disease prevention, case management and polysomnography (the diagnosis of breathing disorders such as apnea) and serve as part of surface- and air-transport teams or as part of rapid-response teams in hospitals. A program information sheet summarizing details of the program can be found HERE.
After successful completion of the first year of the Respiratory Care program, students may apply for a student license to practice respiratory care in the state of Ohio while finishing the degree program. Program graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science degree and are eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Care exam required to earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. Upon completion of the associates degree program, students also have the option of continuing their education in University of Cincinnati’s fully online Bachelors of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) degree if desired.
For more information on certification and registry, visit the National Board for Respiratory Care website.
Admission Requirements
Application to the UC Clermont Respiratory Care program is a two-level process. Since UC Clermont is an open-access college, all students are admitted to the college when you apply, but admission into the Respiratory Care Program is a selective admission process and depends on your completion of additional admission requirements. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the Respiratory Care Program.
Admission into UC Clermont: After the college receives your application, all your transcripts and placement test scores, we will review your file. The college will notify you of your admission status and assign you an advisor. You must meet with your allied health advisor before registering for classes. Please call 513-558-8317 or email clermont.advising@uc.edu to schedule your appointment.
The University of Cincinnati reaffirms its policy that discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, or gender identity and expression shall not be practiced in any of its activities. University Rule 3361: 10-13-01
Application to the UC Clermont Respiratory Care program:
All students admitted to Clermont College who are interested in respiratory care will first be admitted to the college as Pre-Respiratory care major. Students will remain in the Pre-Respiratory care program while they take an necessary college-level science courses, or pre-reqs required to become eligible for admission to the respiratory care program, and/or while they await the application window. Students must complete the required college courses prior to program application submission.
All applicants to the program should have
- a high school diploma or GED
- completed high school biology and chemistry within the past six years with a grade of C or better (applicants without this background may take college-level science courses before applying to the technical core). See an Academic Advisor for appropriate college-level courses.
- have an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher
- test into college level reading, writing, and algebra or statistics (as determined by the placement test)
Admission into the Respiratory Care Program requires a separate application which should be submitted between January 1 and February 15 of every year. The program admits up to 25 students each fall semester. Admission is selective, based upon pre-determined criteria. Please see your allied health academic advisor for complete information regarding this process. The online application can be accessed HERE, and a summary of the admissions process can be found HERE.
Once admitted into the Respiratory Care Program, you will be required to submit the following documentation before you begin the program:
· a physical examination
· TB test
· Proof of current immunizations
· Background check
· American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) for the Healthcare Provider
The respiratory class sequence starts each fall semester and continues for five semesters including one summer term. The respiratory care courses are offered during days, Monday through Friday. (Many non-respiratory care classes are offered in the evenings, on Saturdays or online.)
Please Be Aware
If you have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, especially if it involves abuse of alcohol or controlled substances, you may be disqualified from licensure. If this applies to you, please discuss your personal situation with the respiratory care state licensure board that governs the state in which you will work. Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana all require background checks as part of their standard licensing application process (For Ohio, please contact the Ohio Respiratory Care Board in Columbus, Ohio, (614) 752-9218).
The following essential functions are required of all students enrolled in the Respiratory Care Program. Respiratory therapists are responsible for the care of patients, some of who are critically ill. They are often required to manage highly complex pieces of equipment, as well as interact with patients in order to make other therapeutic assessments. Therefore, in order to be successful in the Respiratory Care Program, all applicants must be able to perform, or learn to perform, the essential functions listed below. Students who are not capable of performing, or do not demonstrate that they are effectively performing these essential functions in the classroom, lab, or clinical setting will not be permitted to continue in the Respiratory Care Program.
The following essential functions are required of all students enrolled in the Respiratory Care Program can be found HERE. Respiratory therapists are responsible for the care of patients, some critically ill. RTs often use highly technical life support equipment, and often make decisions that can have an effect on patient outcomes and safety. Therefore, in order to be successful in the Respiratory Care Program, all students must be able to perform, or learn to perform, the essential functions listed below. Students who are not capable of performing, or do not demonstrate that they are effectively performing these essential functions in the classroom, lab, or clinical setting will not be permitted to continue in the Respiratory Care Program.
The graduating class of 2017 saw 100 percent of students find a job within six months of graduation. Their employers rated them as satisfactory in all areas of review. One-hundred percent of this class passed the Therapist Multiple Choice Board Exam. This exam is one of the tools used by our accreditors to evaluate our program. This class also has a 100 percent pass rate for the Clinical Simulation Exam, which confers the title of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).
Respiratory care is an excellent, constantly growing and changing field. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that respiratory care is one of the fastest-growing careers in the health care field, expected to grow 23 percent through 2030.
Academic advising is an essential part of your educational experience.
We are committed to providing advice and assistance throughout your academic journey. You and your advisor work together to create an academic plan based on your goals.
Questions? Email us at clermont.advising@uc.edu or call 513-558-8317 to schedule an appointment.
UC Clermont students have access to free tutoring and academic support services through a collaboration with UC’s Learning Commons. The Learning Commons provides centralized academic support for all University of Cincinnati students by bringing together faculty, best-practices in teaching and learning, and hundreds of outstanding peer educators to create flexible academic success programming. Free services available to UC Clermont students include academic coaching, success skills workshops, and tutoring in writing, math, science and more. Services are available on-campus or virtually. Visit the Learning Commons webpage for more information or schedule an appointment online.
Academic Writing Center (AWC) – The AWC can help with any writing assignment for any course and at any stage of the writing process. The AWC is not course-specific and can help with discipline-specific documents, as well as non-course-based writing. Schedule a one-on-one appointment with a trained writing tutor or submit a paper online for feedback within 48 hours.
Math & Science Support Center (MASS) – The MASS Center offers virtual study tables for many undergraduate mathematics and science courses. Study tables provide a collaborative learning space so that students can learn from their peers who have excelled (the table leader) as well as their fellow class members attending the study table. No appointment is necessary for these scheduled group study sessions.
Peer Tutoring – Peer tutoring sessions are one-on-one with a subject-specific tutor to answer questions in more than 200 undergraduate courses including subjects such as math, science, languages, business and writing. Schedule appointments up to 7 days in advance for one-hour, 90-minute or two-hour session. If you notice your desired course is not offered, please let us know.
Academic Coaching – Academic coaches help students get organized and learn to be efficient and effective with their study time during one-on-one sessions. Academic Coaches work with students on new strategies or exercises to try before the next meeting and later meetings allow tailoring new approaches to develop the best study and test taking habits for unique goals and strengths. Schedule one-hour sessions as often as once per week.
Success Skills Workshops – Success Skills Workshops are free one-hour sessions that focus on skills students need to be successful in college (study skills, note-taking, motivation, etc.). While there is no shortcut to success, the goal of the workshops is to empower students to identify and apply academic habits and soft skills through a deeper understanding and purpose of them. When students RSVP for a workshop, they will be able to register for the upcoming workshops one at a time and up to nine days prior to the workshop date.
Pre-College Math Tutoring – Pre-College Math Tutoring Services helps students succeed in Mathematical Literacy (MATH 0029), Fundamentals of Algebra (MATH 0030), Introductory Algebra (MATH 0031) and Intermediate Algebra (MATH 0034). Group study sessions, individual tutoring or email tutoring are available. Information is provided in the course syllabus to help guide students to the study group sessions for that course. Math Learning Resources by math topic that include short instructional videos and worksheets are available on the UC Clermont Learning Commons website.
Preparatory Composition – Students enrolled in UC Clermont Preparatory English (ENGL0099) courses have dedicated support from professional tutors. Information about these services and how to connect with the tutor is included in the course syllabus.
Math for Science Students Workshop – Designed for students enrolled in entry-level biology and chemistry courses, these workshops cover foundational math concepts that students need to success in their science courses. The synchronous online workshops are led by a UC Clermont professional tutor on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. The workshop repeats each week starting the week before classes begin and continuing through week 3 of the semester.
Math Placement Test Workshop – Offered to prospective and current UC students who want to brush up on their math skills before taking the Math Placement Test. The free synchronous online workshop is led by a UC Clermont professional tutor. The three-week workshop series is offered monthly except in January. It is recommended that students sign up for all three weeks to get the maximum benefit from these workshops.
Canvas Navigator Workshop – Designed to help students who are new to college and need help navigating their coursework online. The workshop shows students how to access their course materials, publisher homework, quizzes, textbooks, academic services like tutoring, and more. Students who attend this workshop can expect to gain clarity on what they need to do on a weekly basis to stay on track with their course work throughout the semester, which helps students stay motivated leading to greater confidence and success in their courses.
In order to graduate from UC Clermont, a student must:
- Complete all required course work and program requirements.
- Obtain at least a 2.0 university grade point average.
- Be in good academic standing; that is, not on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension.
- Meet the college's residency requirement of 20 semester credit hours.
- File formal application for the degree by the posted semester of graduation deadline
We accept transfer applications all year long, and you may start any semester, provided your transcripts arrive in time to be evaluated before the start of the semester you wish to attend.
If you have not taken college-level mathematics or English, you will need to take the placement test.
Other UC students may transfer into Clermont College by completing the application for change in college and program. You are urged to see your advisor before transferring into a different major to minimize any impact on your degree progress.
You must also meet all first-year admission requirements.
You must demonstrate English proficiency. You must also meet admissions deadlines and visa requirements, and provide documentation of sufficient funds before we can complete your admission. Please call the International Admissions Office (513) 556-2069 for details or email with questions.
Learn more about becoming an international student at UC Clermont.
Application Deadlines
For specific deadline information, visit the Admissions webpage.
You should plan to start respiratory care in the fall semester, because the basic series of foundation courses required for this program starts in the fall and continues sequentially through the spring.
Program Outcomes: Programmatic outcomes data reported on the CoARC website include:
- 3-year time period being reported
- RRT credentialing success
- achievement of the high cut score on the TMC Exam
- retention
- job placement
- overall graduate and employer satisfaction
- total number of program enrollees
- total number of program graduates
- maximum annual enrollment
To view outcomes data, go to https://www.coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data and scroll to the links to program outcomes.
Contact Information
Clermont College
4200 Clermont College Drive
Batavia, OH 45103
(513) 558-8316
clermont.admissions@uc.edu
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Program Code: 34ASC-RC-AAS