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Respiratory Therapist

Program Information

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Respiratory care is a health care specialty, which under medical direction, is involved in the prevention, treatment, management and rehabilitation of people with lung problems. Respiratory care personnel are instrumental in life support and emergency measures. The respiratory care practitioners must be experts in providing specialized and selective therapeutic respiratory care in such areas as medical gas administration, humidity and aerosol administration, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and ventilatory support. The respiratory care practitioner must also be capable of performing pulmonary function studies, blood gas analysis and other related physiologic monitoring.

The respiratory therapist specializes in the application of scientific knowledge and theory to practical clinical problems of respiratory care. The respiratory therapist is qualified to assume primary clinical responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including responsibilities involved in supervision of certified respiratory therapist functions. Further, the therapist is capable of serving as a technical resource person to the physician with regard to current practices in respiratory care and the hospital staff in regard to effective and safe methods of administering respiratory care.

Locally, respiratory therapist salaries start at approximately $15.00 - $20.00 per hour.

The respiratory therapist program is a 21-month program. Graduates of the program receive an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and are eligible to take the registry examinations prepared by the National Board for Respiratory Care to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in cooperation with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). See contact information for both organizations at the bottom of this page.

The following personal history information must be provided when applying for licensure in the state of Illinois.

  • Have you ever been convicted of any criminal offense in any state or in federal court (other than minor traffic violations)? If yes, attach a statement for each conviction including date and place of conviction, nature of the offense and, if applicable, the date of discharge from any penalty imposed.
  • Do you suffer, have you suffered from, been diagnosed as having, or been treated for any disease or condition which is generally regarded by the medical community as chronic - i.e. 1) mental or emotional disease or condition; 2) alcohol or other substance abuse; 3) physical disease or condition that presently interferes with your ability to practice your profession? If yes, attach a detailed statement, including an explanation whether or not you are currently under treatment.
  • Have you been denied a professional license or permit, or privilege of taking an examination, or had a professional license or permit disciplined in any way by any licensing authority in Illinois or elsewhere? If you, attach a detailed explanation.
  • Have you ever been discharged other than honorably from the armed service from a city, county, state or federal position? If yes, attach a detailed explanation.
  • Are you a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien of the United States?

Accreditation Boards Information
CoARC
1248 Harwood Rd
Bedford, TX 76021-4244

(817) 283-2835
Fax: (817) 354-8519

CAAHEP
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756

(727) 210-2350
Fax: (727) 210-2354