Respiratory Therapy, A.A.S.

Associate in Applied Science
Health Sciences Division

Program Code: RESP2

Office: Curtice-Mott Complex CM2313

Phone: (810) 762-0317

The Respiratory Therapist is a health care professional who specializes in the application of scientific knowledge in providing and supporting the pulmonary requirements for a wide variety of patients that include newborn infants, children, adults and the elderly. Respiratory Therapists work under the direction of a physician to assess, manage, treat, educate and care for patients with a wide range of cardiopulmonary disorders. The Respiratory Therapist works in a collaborative fashion with other health care providers to restore the cardiopulmonary health of the patient.

The overall goal of the program is to prepare graduates with demonstrated competency in the knowledge, skills and professional behavior of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).

Respiratory Therapy is a licensed profession in the State of Michigan. The Michigan Department of Community Health Bureau of Health Professions, www.michigan.gov/mdch is responsible for granting licensure for qualified applicants. The program provides the student with the knowledge and experience that will qualify them to take the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) examinations to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). The website for the NBRC is http://www.nbrc.org/.

This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC); 1248 Harwood Road; Bedford, Texas 76021-4244; (817) 283-2835; http://www.coarc.com/. Program outcomes which include examination results, attrition, number of enrollees, number of graduates and job placement for all respiratory therapy programs may be found at this website.

The majority of the clinical experience portion of the program is performed the following clinical affiliates: Genesys Regional Medical Center, Hurley Regional Medical Center, Lapeer Regional Medical Center, McLaren Regional Medical Center, Memorial Healthcare, University of Michigan Health System and Grand Blanc Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

Admission Process to the Respiratory Therapy Program

1. Student completes eligibility requirements for the program.
2. Coordinator receives supplemental application for the program.
3. Coordinator verifies that all requirements have been met.
4. Coordinator notifies student of acceptance into the program and date student can expect to begin classes.
5. Student makes appointment with coordinator to register for Fall classes.
6. Student attends orientation session prior to Fall semester.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Be admitted to MCC and declare intent to enter the RT program.
2. Maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 in eligibility requirement courses (see #5 for specific courses).
3. Demonstrate College level reading comprehension on the ACCUPLACER placement test, OR a minimum score of 20 on the reading portion of the ACT. A satisfactory grade in RDNG 030  or ENGL 100  will also meet this requirement.
4. Demonstrate math proficiency by successful completion of MATH 120  with a grade of 2.0 or higher; or by placing into MATH 130  or higher on the ACCUPLACER placement test; or by scoring 25 or better on the math portion of the ACT.
5. Complete AHLT 102 , BIOL 101 , BIOL 151 , and BIOL 152  with a “C” or 2.0 grade or better.
6. Submit a current cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) card. The card must be the BLS Health Care Provider from the American Heart Association or the Professional Rescuer from the American Red Cross.
7. Complete a minimum of 4 hours of a “job shadowing” experience at an approved clinical affiliate. The program coordinator will schedule the appointment.
8. Submit a Supplemental Application for Respiratory Therapy to the Division of Health Sciences office (Curtice-Mott 2313). This application should be submitted during the semester in which the last eligibility requirement will be completed.
9. Must have an acceptable criminal background check for the purpose of identifying any student who could not continue in the program due to a felony conviction (with the last 15 years) or misdemeanor conviction (within the last 1,3,5, or 10 years) in accordance with State statutes and laws. Students will be required to have additional checks prior to the start of the clinical sequence of the program at the request of specific clinical facilities. The cost of the criminal background check is the responsibility of the student.

Criminal Background Investigations & Drug Screens

Michigan law requires criminal background screening for individuals working in most health care settings and facilities. Students in the Respiratory Therapy program are affected by this law. Conviction of a criminal offense (felony or misdemeanor) may make a student ineligible to be assigned to a clinical site, making program completion and graduation unattainable.

A criminal background investigation is required to apply for the Respiratory Therapy program. Information packets may be obtained from the Division office (CM 2313) or from an advisor.

The packet provides instruction regarding the process to complete and submit the background investigation and submit to drug screening procedures prior to or during the clinical experience. All background investigations and drug screenings are at the student’s expense.

Conviction of a criminal offense may also make graduates of the Respiratory Therapy program ineligible for state or national licensure/certification at program completion. All applicants for a Respiratory Care license in Michigan are required to submit fingerprints and undergo a criminal background investigation prior to licensure/certification.

Program coordinators, faculty, advisors, and staff cannot give legal advice to any student regarding potential eligibility/ineligibility based on prior convictions or negative findings on the criminal background investigation. The student shoudl consult an attorney for questions specific to his/her individual case.