The Respiratory Care Program is designed to offer students the opportunity to obtain an Associate in Science Degree in Respiratory Care. Upon completion of the program, students will be registry-eligible Respiratory Therapists and will take the National Board for Respiratory Care Examinations. A graduate Respiratory Therapist is usually employed and licensed in the practice of Respiratory Care and has acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to administer respiratory therapy to patients of all ages with varied diseases and to patients in need of acute and critical care. Respiratory Therapists have the opportunity to learn and work in the acute care hospital setting, skilled nursing centers, rehabilitation, neo-natal intensive care, and home care environments. Because of the local need for graduates, scholarships are available through the College as well as through local hospitals. A freshman class begins each Fall semester. Currently, freshmen are accepted each year after June 1st. Class size is limited by the number of critical care units in the S.W. Florida clinical affiliates which are essential to the clinical education of Respiratory Care students.
The Program in Respiratory Care is a limited access program. The criteria for admission policies are available through the program office, the Edison State College website, or through the Health Professions Office by calling (239) 985-8398. Information packets with application to the program may be downloaded by visiting http://www.edison.edu/academics/asrespiratorycare/respiratorycare.php. The Program in Respiratory Care is nationally accredited by The Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) (www.coarc.com) .
Respiratory Care Graduates Typically Earn:
The projected average of annual earnings of RT’s working in the U.S. is $62,222. In this study*, therapists just beginning their careers reported average annual earnings of $42,000 - $47,000.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are more than 2,300 national openings per year. Consistently, 90% of Edison State graduates, from this program, are locally placed.*
* American Association for Respiratory Care http://www.aarc.org/career/be_an_rt/.
Note: For Respiratory Care as a career, refer to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos084.htm.
Continuing Toward A Bachelor’s Degree?
Edison State College also offers a B.A.S. (Bachelor of Applied Science) in Cardiopulmonary Sciences. Graduates of the AS Degree in Respiratory Care with the RRT credential may matriculate to the upper division courses. For more information, please contact the Edison State Baccalaureate and University Programs Division at (239) 489-9295.
Program Prerequisites:
The program prerequisites include the following:
- Successful completion of the program application acceptance process, including program-level admissions points.
- Competition with all other applicants is based on academic transcript evaluation; completion of the Watson-Glaser critical thinking exam is also an admission requirement. Finalists from these two processes will be invited to attend a Panel Interview to complete the admissions process.
- The clinical enrollment process requires satisfactory completion of an immunization and health report. The admissions process requires satisfactory completion of a College-approved criminal history background check and drug screen completed at the applicant’s expense.
Respiratory Care Application Deadline: May 31st
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