Objective:

To train competent individuals in respiratory care skills sufficient for the delivery of safe clinical therapy and for the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) and Advanced Practitioner exam (RRT) after the second year of clinicals.

Specific certificate requirements:

The Certificate of Technical Studies in Respiratory Therapy is a cooperative effort between the College, the School of Allied Health Professions at LSU Health Sciences Center, and area hospital clinical affiliates to prepare gradates as competent Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT). Respiratory Therapy is a program employed with medical direction in the treatment, management, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system.

Upon the successful completion of the Associate of Science Respiratory Therapy program, a student can enroll in the Certificate of Technical Studies in Respiratory Therapy. This program consist of an additional 3 semesters (summer, fall, spring) of clinical course work (21 hours) involving instruction in neonatal pediatric respiratory care, advanced cardiopulmonary diagnostics, and rehabilitation and advances techniques in critical care. Upon successful completion of this course work, the graduate will receive the Certificate of Technical Studies in Respiratory Therapy and be eligible for the NBRC Advanced Practitioners Exam (RRT).

The Respiratory Therapy Programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Admission/Interview Requirements:

Students who have successfully completed the Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy and who desire to continue with the Certificate of Technical Studies in Respiratory Therapy must apply to the program in the spring semester. Enrollment in this program is based upon successful completion of the Associate of Science with a cumulative GPA of 2.000 in all course work and a 2.500 GPA in all clinical work. Clinical class size is determined by clinical site availability and employment statistics.

All students selected for respiratory therapy clinicals must provide a completed health status statement form from a physician and laboratory immunization/testing reports for mumps, measles, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis, varicella zoster, and Hepatitis B. Students must also maintain current health insurance coverage while in the program. Once accepted into clinicals students will pay a clinical fee in addition to regular semester fees for each semester enrolled in clinical course work. Students must maintain a minimum grade of "C" (70%) or better in all clinical course work to remain in the program. Any student who foils to maintain a 70% or better while in clinicals will be terminated from the program. The student must then reapply and re-interview for the next class the following year if he/she wishes to continue to pursue the RT degree. If reaccepted, it will be at the discretion of the program director as to which course (s) must be remediated or audited based on results of the student's prior performance in the program.

Certificate of Technical Studies students must test out of READ 099, into ENGL 101, and into MATH 099 as documented by ACT, placement test, or course completion.