RESOURCES FOR:
Applications for Fall 2010 admission are accepted from Sept. 1, 2009 - April 1, 2010.
Students must apply and be formally accepted into the Respiratory Care program prior to enrolling in any RC program courses. See Application Procedures and the RC Application Planning Guide.
- What does a respiratory therapist do?
- What are the job opportunities for respiratory therapists?
- What is the average/starting salary?
- Where and when is the Respiratory Care program offered?
- What are the admission requirements for this program?
- How many students do you accept and how is selection determined?
- How do I improve my chances of getting accepted?
- What classes do I take to become a respiratory therapist?
- Is the Respiratory Care program accredited?
- What kind of time commitment is required to complete the program?
- Are there any other requirements I should be aware of while completing this program?
- How much will it cost to complete this program?
- After I complete the program, are there any other requirements before I can work?
For more information on the Respiratory Care program, please contact Coordinators' Assistant Candice Rodgers at 618-235-2700, ext. 5355 or e-mail: Candice.Rodgers@swic.edu.
What does a respiratory therapist do?
The Southwestern Illinois College Respiratory Care program prepares students for entry-level and advanced-level practitioner positions in the respiratory care profession. Respiratory therapists (RTs), under the supervision of a physician, see patients of all ages to assist in the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of pulmonary problems. The practice of respiratory care entails: monitoring, evaluating and reporting patients' cardiopulmonary status, providing treatments to keep the airway open, sleep studies, metabolic studies, patient and family education, home care, discharge planning and follow up, as well as outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation. Contact the SWIC Career Activities and Employment Center for possible job shadowing or mentoring opportunities in Respiratory Care.
For further information regarding the field of Respiratory Care, refer to the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Web site and the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Handbook.
What are the job opportunities for respiratory therapists?
Respiratory therapists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, skilled care facilities, physician's offices, home health care agencies and medical product companies. Job opportunities for RTs are very good, especially for therapists with experience working with infants.
SWIC RC graduate survey results (averaged over a three-year period); indicate 100 percent of graduates are employed in the practice of respiratory care within six months after graduation.
What is the average/starting salary?
Respiratory therapists starting at about $36,000, salaries vary depending on the size and location of the health care facility. The Human Resources Study from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) indicated that the average salary for respiratory therapists with a CRT credential was $56,160 in the year 2006.
Where and when is the Respiratory Care program offered?
Respiratory care courses are offered at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville with clinical experience at hospitals/clinical facilities within the district and in the St. Louis region. Clinical experience courses begin in the fall semester of the first year and continue every semester until program completion. Clinical practice is conducted during the day shift. Required general education courses can be taken at the Belleville, Sam Wolf Granite City or Red Bud campuses.
What are the admission requirements for this program?
To apply for admission to the Respiratory Care Program, applicants must submit the following:
Official Transcripts/Proof of completion of prerequisite courses:
The following prerequisite courses must have been completed within 10 years preceding April 1 with no grade lower than a "C." College course grades supersede high school grades when both appear on official transcripts. The most recent grade in courses meeting these requirements is used in determining an applicant's admission qualifications and rank.
In addition students must submit:
- Official High School Transcripts/GED
- Official Transcripts from all colleges, universities or accredited schools of Respiratory Care attended.
Those students who have completed college level coursework must have a Southwestern cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater to be considered for admission. Applicants may earn additional points on their application for general education courses completed with a "B" or better.
- ACT or SWIC GPA Option
- Compass Test Results
The Compass test identifies skill levels in math, reading and language. Students must score high enough to be eligible to enroll in ENG 101 and MATH 94. If results are too low, students must complete required developmental courses prior to enrolling in ENG 101, BIOL 105, PSYC 151, and SPCH 151/155.
How many students do you accept and how is selection determined?
In the fall semester, the Respiratory Care program generally accepts 30 students. Selection of qualified applicants for the Respiratory Care program will be based upon a numerical ranking procedure, using ACT scores or SWIC GPA, high school and/or college grades and percentage of those general education courses required for graduation completed prior to admission with a grade of "B" or better. See RC Application Planning Guide. Information on the ACT test, the numerical ranking procedure and the admission process is available from Southwestern's Enrollment Services Office.
To arrange a meeting with a counselor or obtain more information on the entrance requirements for the Respiratory Care program, call or visit the Belleville Campus, 2500 Carlyle Ave., 618-235-2700, ext. 5206; Candice Rodgers 618-235-2700, ext. 5355; the Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, 4950 Maryville Road, 618-931-0600, ext. 6633; or the Red Bud Campus, 500 West South 4th St., 618-282-6682, ext 8114.
Applicants will be notified of their status regarding admission as quickly as is possible given the number of applications received; typically late March or early April. In the event that there are fewer qualified candidates than there are spaces available, applications will continue to be accepted until the program's maximum capacity has been reached or until the first week of classes during the Fall semester. Contact the Enrollment Services Office at 618-235-2700, ext. 5541/5542 or the Counseling Center at 618-235-2700, ext. 5206 to obtain information of a possible application deadline extension. The college reserves the right to fill the program in those years when there are fewer applicants than spaces available by whatever means it deems necessary to assure both academic integrity and fairness in the selection process.
In the event that there are more qualified applicants than spaces available in this program, those applicants residing outside the SWIC district or in a district that does not have a joint agreement with SWIC for this program, will not be eligible for consideration or admission if there are more applicants than positions to be filled. Resident status is determined by address on file with the Enrollment Services Office by April 15.
The admission procedures for the Respiratory Care program are in accordance with Illinois law. The law requires that programs not having sufficient space and resources to accommodate all applicants will accept those applicants best qualified, using rank, ability and achievement test scores as guides, with preference given to students residing in the district.
How do I improve my chances of getting accepted?
Applicants are rated by a point system. To find out what you can do to accumulate points see the RC Application Planning Guide.
For an individual review of your application, contact the Allied Health Coordinators' Assistant Candice Rodgers at 618-235-2700, ext. 5355 if needed.
What classes do I take to become a respiratory therapist?
Acceptance to the program is required before an applicant will be permitted to register for RC courses.
Associate in Applied Science (020A)
This is a 71-credit hour, two-year accredited degree program, which can be completed in four semesters and two summers. Courses include biological and physical sciences basic to understanding the function of the cardiopulmonary system, RC technical courses, and assigned clinical experiences. There are 17 credit hours of general education courses and 54 hours of respiratory care courses. General education courses can be completed prior to admission; otherwise all courses must be completed during the semesters indicated.
Clinical experience courses are completed off campus in various Respiratory Care employment settings. Students may be required to travel outside of the college district for clinical experience courses and must have background checks and drug testing prior to first clinical. Clinical experience courses begin in the first fall semester of the first year and continue every semester until program completion. Clinical practice is conducted during the day shift.
Is the Respiratory Care program accredited?
The Southwestern Illinois College Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs in collaboration with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) located at 1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, TX 76021-4244, phone: 817-283-2835. The program's curriculum is guided by the standards developed by CoARC. Our accreditation status means SWIC has met the standards required and helps to assure the public that our curriculum will graduate competent clinicians. It also ensures that the college's RC graduates are qualified to take the National Board of Respiratory Care's credentials and registry examinations.
What kind of time commitment is required to complete the program?
First Year Students (Fall, Spring and Summer Semesters)
Class/Lab: Monday and Thursdays (eight-hour day)
Clinical Experience: Wednesdays and Fridays (eight-hour shift)
Second Year Students (Fall and Spring Semesters)
Class/Lab: Tuesdays and Fridays (eight-hour day)
Clinical Experience: Monday and Wednesdays (eight-hour shift)
Are there any other requirements I should be aware of while completing this program?
- Applicants accepted to this program must attend all required orientation sessions, meet program specific medical requirements and must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations. Any applicants or enrolled students are encouraged to meet with Special Services to discuss potential issues associated with meeting these requirements at 618-235-2700, ext. 5368.
- Auto and health insurance is required during clinical education courses. Students are personally responsible for any costs incurred for injuries occurring during their clinical experience.
- RC students will be required to possess current CPR certification at the Healthcare Provider level, show proof of immunizations, TB test, physical examination, and verify health insurance coverage before beginning any clinical experience.
- Criminal background check, random drug test, and name search on government registries that prohibit employment in health care professions are also required prior to clinical experience courses. Positive results from the drug test and student listing on prohibitory government registry will result in dismissal from the program. Dismissal for positive criminal background check, drug test, or listing on a government registry does not qualify students for refund of tuition or lab fees. Students who have concerns regarding their status with the above regulations are encouraged to discuss the matter with the program coordinator or coordinators' assistant prior to seeking admission.
- Applicants admitted to the program must follow the requirements for graduation at the time they are admitted and must meet all course, program, degree, and sequencing requirements specified. Students are responsible for program policies as listed in each year's RC Student Handbook. Students who fail to meet program specific requirements will be dropped from the program and may be required to re-apply and compete for admission in the succeeding semester.
How much will it cost to complete this program?
The estimated cost of the RC program for the 2009-2010 academic year is $12,360. The total costs incurred are inclusive of health examination fees, Hepatitis B vaccine series, criminal background check and drug testing fees, and necessary supplies and equipment, such as uniforms, name pins, etc. For more details see the program cost sheet.
Financial aid is available subject to financial need and satisfactory academic progress requirements set by the college. The SWIC Foundation office offers many scholarships and there is a student work program for which financial aid eligibility is not required.
After I complete the program, are there any other requirements before I can work?
Upon successful completion of the RC curriculum, graduates are awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree in Respiratory Care and are qualified to challenge the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) entry level RT certification examination (CRT exam) and the RT registry exam (RRT exam). These examinations are offered throughout the year at various sites in the state and country. All states (except Alaska and Hawaii), the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require respiratory therapists to obtain a license. Passing the CRT exam qualifies respiratory therapists for state licenses. Supervisory positions and intensive-care specialties usually require the RRT or at least RRT eligibility.
Over a three-year average, 100 percent of SWIC RC graduates passed the NBRC certification examination required for licensure.