Respiratory Therapy
- Associate Degree
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Illness, injury, premature birth, and chronic respiratory conditions can impact individuals' ability to breathe, making respiratory therapists an invaluable part of the healthcare team. In this critical role, you'll be evaluating, diagnosing, and treating various breathing disorders.
Collaborating closely with physicians, you'll contribute to the development of treatment plans aimed at improving respiratory function, and your responsibilities will extend to monitoring the effectiveness of these treatments. Your treatment strategies may involve administering inhaled medications, utilizing therapeutic or life support equipment, or implementing a combination of therapies to address respiratory issues. Additionally, you'll play a vital role in patient and family education, providing crucial information on managing respiratory conditions.
Western's program offers a variety of instructional formats, including traditional, online, and blended courses, ensuring flexibility in your education. Graduates are required to pass an examination administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, leading to the designation of Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). With the CRT credential, you become eligible to apply for a license to practice respiratory care throughout the United States. You can also pursue the Clinical Simulation Examination to achieve the designation of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), further enhancing your qualifications and career prospects in the field of respiratory therapy.
You will hone your critical care skills by practicing life-saving respiratory interventions in our advanced Simulation and Extended Reality (XR) Labs. Discover the Simulation and XR Labs. [1]
Watch a video [2] to see why Western's Respiratory Therapy graduates love their jobs and recommend our program. Also check out this article [3] about a recent Respiratory Therapy graduate, who’s excelling in her field.
To view the Respiratory Therapy program’s required disclosure on professional licensure, please click here [4].
Respiratory Therapy 2021, 2022, & 2023 Graduation Employment Stats
| Graduates | 34 |
| Graduates Responding | 13 |
| Employed in Related Occupation | 11 |
| Employed in Non-related Occupations | 1 |
| Seeking Employment | 1 |
| Continuing Education | 0 |
| Not in Labor Market | 0 |
Salary Data - Related Employment
| Part Time | Full Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Responding | 3 | 6 |
| Average Hours Per Week | 31 | 37 |
| Average Hourly Wage | $31.07 | $29.42 |
| Hourly Wage Range | $22.50-$36.00 | $27.00-$30.86 |
| Average Annual Salary | $48,000 |
Respondents in Related Occupations
- Respiratory Therapist
Career Opportunities
Program Outcomes
- Apply respiratory therapy concepts to patient care situations
- Demonstrate technical proficiency required to fulfill the role of a Respiratory Therapist
- Practice respiratory therapy according to established professional and ethical standards
- 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 (RRTs)
Admission Requirements:
College Requirements
Application:
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Program Specific Requirements
To enroll in the Respiratory Therapy program, first apply for admission to the College, then read the program’s Essential Functions and complete a background check. You can find links to these documents below. In addition, you must complete General Anatomy and Physiology and its prerequisites with a grade of “C” or better. Please see the details below.
- Respiratory Therapy Technical Standards [5]
- Respiratory Therapy Background Check form [6]
- General Anatomy and Physiology (10806177)
- If COVID vaccines are required by a clinical partner, you will be notified.
Software and Technology
Most of Western’s classes require the use of a personal computer or laptop, standard software, internet access, and other technology-related items.
If you do not have a personal computer or laptop, or if the one you have does not meet the following criteria, resources may be available. Submit a Student Resource Request using our online form [9].
Computer/Laptop Hardware
- Smartphones are not recommended for completing assignments.
- Chromebooks are not recommended due to issues with installing software that is needed for classes, such as Office 365.
- Web camera with microphone (usually built into newer laptops or can be purchased separately) is necessary for online participation.
Software Needs
- Western uses the Blackboard Learning Management System. Some courses may use Zoom or Microsoft Teams to meet and work virtually. Visit our website for guidance on how to access and use these tools [10].
- Office 365 (available to download for free once you have a student email)
- Recommended web browsers: Chrome or Firefox
For detailed specifications, please review Technology and Software Recommendations for Most Classes [11] on Western’s IT Knowledgebase.
Campus Resources
- Western has several computer labs available. Visit our website to find open hours and locations on the La Crosse campus [12]. Or find information on how to access resources on our Regional Locations web page [13].
- The Learning Commons has computers, webcams, and microphones available for in-house use. Our librarians recommend checking your local public library for computer access on the weekends. Staff members can also provide information on free, off-campus Wi-Fi spots. Contact them at LearningCommons@westerntc.edu [14] or call 608-785-9198.
Need Assistance?
- Contact the Learning Commons [15]! The staff are happy to answer questions, provide individualized assistance, and direct you to other supports as needed.
Accreditation
After graduation, the student is qualified to take the Respiratory Therapist Multiple Choice Examination issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Successful completion of this exam earns the graduate the entry level designation of Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) which is required for licensure in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. After earning the CRT credential students can go on to take the Clinical Simulation Examination which will earn them the title of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).
The Western Technical College Respiratory Therapy Program, CoARC program number 200365, Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy degree awarded, Western Technical College 400 7th Street N. La Crosse, WI 54601, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com [16]).
The Respiratory Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com) [17], 264 Precision Blvd, Telford, TN 37690, phone 817-283-2835.
Success rates for both exams, as well as data on job placement are reported annually by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
[18]
Program Number: 200365
CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes 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. To compare Western Technical College to other colleges in the country, follow this link to the CoARC website: https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/ [19].
Additional Information
Our Health and Public Safety programs are required to report additional information to prospective students, including certification exams, licensure, program completion rates, etc. You can find this information in the document below:
- Supplemental Information [20]
- Academic Handbook [21]
- Clinical Handbook [22]
Program Contact
Franz Schuttenhelm
Program Chair, Respiratory Therapy
608-789-6049
SchuttenhelmF@westerntc.edu [23]
Courses
Western offers most courses in a 7-week format, but course length can vary. There are two 7-week sessions in each term, so courses listed below may not be taken at the same time. See www.westerntc.edu/7-weeks [24] for more information.
This course list gives you an idea of what coursework will be required but is not the official list. Current students should use the MyWestern [25] self-service portal for academic planning.