The Respiratory Care program provides students with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for successful entry into the profession of Respiratory Care as a Respiratory Therapist. Graduates of the Respiratory Care program are eligible to sit for the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) Entry Level Exam.
The Respiratory Care program at Arkansas State University Mid-South holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC, www.coarc.com). This status signifies that a program that has been granted an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance to initiate a program in accordance with the standards through the completion and submission of an acceptable Self Study Report (SSR) and other documentation required by the CoARC Board. The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until achieving Initial Accreditation.
While under Provisional Accreditation, the ASU Mid-South’s Respiratory Care program was placed on probationary accreditation effective November 11, 2017. Based on the 2017 Annual Report of Current Status, the program did not meet the threshold for CRT Credentialing Success (2014-2016). This does not affect students’ ability to graduate from our program or take the National Board of Respiratory Care Examination(s).
It is recognized by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) toward eligibility to the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). Enrolled students completing the program under Provisional & Probationary Accreditation are considered graduates of a CoARC accredited program.
Accreditation
ASU Mid-South AAS Respiratory Therapy 2018-2019Special Admissions/Enrollment Requirements:
Students must:
- be at least 18 years of age.
- have a high school diploma, or equivalent, at the time of application.
- successfully complete all required prerequisites for admittance to the program: ENGL 1113 English Composition, MATH 1104 Applied Technical Math, MEDP 1033 Medical Terminology, and BIOL 1214 Anatomy & Physiology I.
- successfully complete all program admittance prerequisites by the end of the spring semester prior to the fall semester for which the student is accepted into the program. Anatomy & Physiology I must have been successfully completed within the last seven years.
- have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 or greater on all previously completed course work.
- ACT Composite Score of 16 or COMPASS scores of 22 in Math, 66 in Writing, and 76 in Reading.
- complete a program application, which is available from the Allied Health Sciences Division.
- interview with program faculty.
- observe a Respiratory Care department and the day-to-day activities of a therapist and complete an observation log.
- submit to a substance abuse screening and criminal background check during the first week of class and prior to enrolling in RSPT 2963 Respiratory Care Clinical I.
- complete and submit proof of immunization by the end of the first semester of enrollment for the following: Hepatitis-B, Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR), Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (TDaP), Meningitis, and a negative TB skin test. Students will also be required to have a flu shot during the fall semester of the first and second years
- Complete HESI test. (Contact Program Director or Clinical Director to schedule)
