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.
Program Overview
The objective of the program is to train competent individuals in respiratory care skills sufficient for the delivery of safe clinical therapy and for the successful completion of the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC)
Advanced Practitioner exam (RRT) after the second year of clinicals.
Upon the successful completion of the Associate Applied 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 Requirements
Students who have successfully completed the Associate Applied 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 Applied 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.
Special Requirements
All students selected for respiratory therapy clinicals must provide all required clinical information (listed earlier in this section) including:
- A completed health status statement form from a physician, laboratory immunization/testing reports for mumps, measles, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis, varicella zoster, and Hepatitis B and any others required by the hospital/clinical facility and documentation of laboratory testing for negative drug screening.
- Students must also maintain current health insurance coverage while in the program and submit a signed consent/release for criminal background check.
- Once accepted into clinicals, students will pay a clinical fee in addition to regular tuition and fees during each clinical semester.
- Students must maintain a minimum grade of C (70%) or better in all clinical course work to remain in the program. Any student who fails to maintain a 70% while in clinicals will be terminated from the program. The student may 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
Program Curriculum (Courses Required)
| Required courses for the Associate Applied of Science in Respiratory Therapy: | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| (See Associate Applied of Science in Respiratory Therapy for qualification courses) | ||
| Summer Semester | Hours | |
| RSTH 250: | Respiratory Care Seminar II | 2 |
| RSTH 260: | Cardiopulmonary Physiology II | 3 |
| 5 | ||
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| RSTH 255: | Critical Care Concepts II | 3 |
| RSTH 265: | Clinical Applications & Procedures III | 2 |
| RSTH 290: | Professional Leadership | 3 |
| 8 | ||
| Spring Semester | Hours | |
| RSTH 270: | Neonatal/Pediatrics Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RSTH 275: | Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics | 2 |
| RSTH 280: | Clinical Applications & Procedures IV | 2 |
| RSTH 285: | Advanced Practitioners & Procedures Review | 1 |
| 8 | ||
| Total credit hours: | 21 | |