Program Overview
The Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy prepares students to evaluate and treat patients with respiratory disorders. The cohort-based program, accredited by CoARC, offers online delivery with on-campus locations in Ashtabula and Cleveland. Graduates are eligible for national certification and potential careers as respiratory therapists, pulmonary function technologists, or neonatal specialists.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Associate of Applied Science degree in Respiratory Therapy prepares students to evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. The program provides students with the skills to perform technical skills and procedures utilized in current practice by registered respiratory therapists. Graduates 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).
Careers:
Potential career paths for graduates include:
- Respiratory therapists
Other:
- The program 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 program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
- Students must complete four hours of job shadowing experience.
- The program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio.
- Students planning to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio should review state educational requirements and contact information for state licensing boards.
Entry 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.
