Respiratory Therapy (AAS-RPT)

Program Location:  Bay Minette Campus

Nursing and Allied Health Division

Length: Five Semesters (One Semester Core Academic courses + Four Semesters Core Respiratory Therapy courses) 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

The Respiratory Therapy program is designed to prepare individuals, under the supervision of physicians, to assist in developing respiratory care plans, administer respiratory care procedures, supervise personnel and equipment operation, maintain records, and consult with other health care team members. This program includes instruction in the applied basic biomedical sciences; anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the respiratory system; clinical medicine; therapeutic procedures; clinical expressions; data collection and recordkeeping; patient communication; equipment operation and maintenance; personnel supervision; and procedures for special population groups.  

The program’s goal is to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists, (RRT's). 

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS:

Admission into the core Respiratory Therapy portion of the program is for Spring Semester of each year. Students must submit a separate Respiratory Therapy online application by November 15, for consideration for Spring Semester enrollment. To be eligible, applicants must: 

1. Have unconditional admittance to the College and be in good standing (minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA). 
2. Submit original transcripts from all colleges/schools attended (including high school) to the registrar or admissions office by program application deadline. 
3. Submit a completed Respiratory Therapy Program application by the appropriate deadline. 
4. Hold a minimum GPA of 2.5 for the completed core academic courses in the program. 
5. Have completed, or be in the process of completing, the following core academic courses with a grade of C or higher by the application deadline: English Composition I (ENG101), Intermediate College Algebra (MTH100) or more advanced, Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO 201), General Psychology (PSY200) or Human Growth and Development (PSY210), and a Humanities elective (PHL 206 Ethics and Society preferred). 
6. Submit a minimum composite score of 18 on the ACT.
7. Meet Essential Eligibility Criteria. 

SELECTION CRITERIA:

While not all core academic courses listed below are required prior to acceptance, it is strongly suggested they are completed prior to program admission to improve student success. Completion of the courses and the above criteria does not guarantee admission into the program. There is a class size limit of 24 students. Prospective students are selected for program admission using a points system in which applicants are rank-ordered using the metrics below: 

1. Score on ACT (minimum composite score of 18 required). 
2. Three points are awarded for an A, two for a B, and one point for a C in each of the following courses: ENG 101, MTH 100, BIO 201, and BIO 202 (if completed). 
3. One point each is awarded for completion of PSY 200 or 210, and a humanities course with a C or higher. 
4. Three points are awarded for completion of a higher-level math or chemistry with a C or higher (MTH 116 is not an accepted math). Alternately, three extra points may be awarded for current certification in a health occupation that requires direct patient contact, such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Certified Medical Assistant, Licensed Basic or Advanced EMT, Certified Dental Assistant, Certified Veterinary Technician, Certified Phlebotomist, or Certified Surgical Technologist. Proof (copy of the certificate of completion) must be included with the application in order to receive extra points. Applicants may receive up to 3 extra points total for this section. Example: Applicants will NOT receive 3 points for a higher-level math and 3 points for being a CNA. 
5. Three points are awarded for completion of all six core academic courses required in the respiratory program with a grade of C or higher.

*All applicable courses must be completed by the application deadline in order to be awarded points. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Upon provisional acceptance into the core Respiratory Therapy portion of the program, students are required to provide the following: Drug screen, background check, physical exam documenting the ability to meet essential functions/eligibility criteria, record of immunizations, proof of medical insurance, and American Heart Association BLS CPR certification for the healthcare provider. Accepted students will receive a link to the online compliance platform, CastleBranch, to upload these items.  

Clinical agencies reserve the right to deny clinical clearance, which may deem a student ineligible for program participation.  

Respiratory Therapy testing/lab fees may be assessed for select courses. 

Note: Students desiring to obtain BLS CPR certification at Coastal may choose to enroll in the optional EMS 100 course. American Heart Association BLS CPR may be obtained through an alternate training agency, if preferred. 

PROGRESSION AND GRADUATION:

All Respiratory Therapy courses must be passed with a minimum of “C” in order to progress in the program. An AAS in Respiratory Therapy will be awarded to students who successfully complete all core academic and core Respiratory Therapy program courses with a grade of “C” or higher. Students are responsible for meeting all progression and graduation requirements. 

This is a career program designed for students to go directly into the labor market upon completion. Although some of the courses in this program will transfer to four-year institutions, this program is not designed to be a transfer program of study; therefore, it is not subject to the terms and conditions of Alabama Transfers state transfer and articulation reporting system.  

ACCREDITATION INFORMATION:

Coastal Alabama Community College, CoARC program number 200656, an Associate in Applied Science degree program, in Bay Minette, Alabama, holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self-Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit), to be allowed to admit students. It is recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation. Comment or complaints may be directed to the following: 

Commission on Accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC)
264 Precision Boulevard
Telford, TN 37690
817-283-2835
www.coarc.com

CoARC accredits respiratory therapy educational programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an "outcome based" process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented. Outcomes information from all programs and program options accredited by the CoARC may be found at the following link https://coarc.com/