You want to attend a credible college that stands out from the rest and gives you the best chance at securing a career after graduation. At COD, you'll discover:

• Small class sizes that ensure students receive personalized attention.
• Dedicated instructors with years of professional experience.
• Affordable programs to help students achieve success without creating overwhelming debt or draining a savings account.
• Instruction utilizing top-notch facilities and equipment in the Health and Science Center (HSC).

Respiratory Care, A.A.S.

The Respiratory Care program prepares eligible students to provide management of respiratory care to patients seen in hospitals, intensive care units, emergency rooms, and diagnostic laboratories. Instructors educate students in diagnostic, therapeutic, and technologic arts as applied to the adult, neonatal, and pediatric patient. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the following certification exams administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care: Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). Students who earn the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential may apply for a Respiratory Care Practitioner license in the State of Illinois. This degree requires a minimum of 64 credits in program requirements and general education in the courses listed below.

 

College of DuPage, CoARC program number 200388, A.A.S. in Respiratory Therapy, Glen Ellyn, IL is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care

264 Precision Blvd.
Telford, TN 37690
USA
(815) 283-2835
www.coarc.com 

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.

Programmatic outcomes data reported on the CoARC website include:

• 3-year time period being reported
• RRT credentialing success
• Achievement of the high cut score on the TMC Exam (beginning 2018)
• Retention (Attrition)
• Job Placement
• Overall Graduate Satisfaction
• Overall Employer Satisfaction
• Total number of program enrollees
• Total number of program graduates
• Maximum Annual Enrollment

CoARC provides student/graduate and program outcomes for all CoARC accredited programs.

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.

Students are expected to provide proof of a Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan prior to the start of the program or clinical start. The insurance plan must cover you throughout the length of your clinical experience, which in most cases, consists of the entire length of the program. If you are in need of Health Insurance, please note the following important dates and visit cod.studentbenefitplans.com.

Important Dates

• Open Enrollment: Typically opens November through mid-January
  If you will need health insurance ANYTIME within the next year, you must apply during the current open enrollment period.

If you miss open enrollment, but have a qualifying life event, you can still apply during a Special Enrollment Period.

While we cannot guarantee your official acceptance into the program, you need to be aware that there is short timeframe of when you are able to purchase a Health Insurance plan. The purpose of this step is to make you aware and that the time to research and purchase is NOW. Purchasing health insurance outside of this timeframe will take months and may prohibit your admittance into the Program. NOTE: Obtaining Health Insurance is NOT an application requirement but it is a requirement to be in the program.

Incoming health science students have certain requirements that must be met throughout the program. Refer to the resources below for more information.

• Clinical Requirements Packet - Learn more about health requirements you may need to complete prior to registration or after program admission.
• Policy for Professional Conduct - Learn what will be expected of you in the classroom, lab, simulation and clinical sites.
• Violation of Professional Conduct Policy Form - Used to document violations of the Professional Conduct Policy.

The following Student Learning Outcomes are in alignment with CoARC TMC detailed content outline.

Respiratory Care program graduates will:

• Evaluate data in the patient record
• Gather clinical information through patient assessment
• Perform procedures to gather clinical information
• Evaluate procedure results
• Recommend diagnostic procedures
• Assemble and troubleshoot equipment
• Ensure infection control
• Perform quality control procedures
• Initiation and modification of interventions to maintain a patent airway
• Initiation and modification of interventions to perform airway clearance and lung expansion techniques
• Initiation and modification of interventions to support oxygenation and ventilation
• Initiation and modification administer medications and specialty gases
• Ensure modifications are made to the respiratory care plan to improve patient outcomes
• Use evidence-based medicine principles
• Provide respiratory care techniques in high-risk situations
• Assist a physician/provider in performing procedures
• Initiate and conduct patient and family education

College of DuPage partners with several four-year institutions to help students seamlessly complete a bachelor’s degree in respiratory care. Students can connect with Transfer Services for personalized guidance on transfer opportunities.

For more information about Transfer Pathways, visit the College of DuPage Catalog. The pathway outlines a typical two-year course plan for completing an AA or AS degree before transferring to a four-year program. Course requirements vary by institution, so consult your faculty or academic advisor for specific guidance.

Articulation Agreements

College of DuPage maintains transfer agreements with many colleges and universities to ensure a smooth transition toward a bachelor’s degree. These agreements often include a defined course sequence. Students should regularly meet with a faculty member or Advising Services to stay on track.

• Concordia University Chicago, AAS Respiratory Care to BA in Healthcare Management
• Northern Illinois University, AAS Respiratory Care to BS in Health Sciences

Transfer Guides

Beyond articulation agreements and guaranteed admission programs, College of DuPage courses transfer to many other institutions. Transfer Guides help students select COD courses that meet prerequisites for specific majors and include details such as contact information, major requirements, general education requirements, and transfer policies.

Check with your local community college. You may be eligible for a tuition charge-back. This allows you to enroll in the program for in-district tuition. If you work full-time in DuPage County, you may also be eligible for a charge-back.

Financial aid is available. Visit the Financial Aid office at the College for more information. There are scholarships available through several professional groups. Students must submit applications for these scholarships and in some cases, write an essay.

It will take two years to complete the Respiratory Care program. All courses are taught in sequence and are prerequisites for the subsequent courses.

The program does not guarantee employment: however, the market has much opportunity for full time, part time and per diem positions. Many of our students are offered positions through experiences from their clinical rotations.

Yes, the Respiratory Care program currently has two articulation agreements that help students earn a bachelor's degree:

• One agreement is a 3+1 through Concordia University for a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Administration.
• The second agreement is a 2+2 through Northern Illinois University to earn a Bachelors of Science degree. In addition, other schools may accept general education credits earned at COD.