--- - Respiratory Care A.A.S. (in cooperation with Reading Area Community College)

The Respiratory Care Associate Degree program, through an agreement with Reading Area Community College, is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC).

The Associate Degree program in Respiratory Care prepares the student to assume responsible positions as part of the Health Care team. The graduate will be eligible to sit for the National Registry Examination, administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (N.B.R.C.). Respiratory Care students participate in various classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences. The laboratory provides students the opportunity for hands-on experience in preparation for clinical practicum. The classroom courses give the student the foundational knowledge in Respiratory Care. The Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Committee on the Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC), 1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, TX 76021, 817-283-2835, https://www.coarc.com) - Associate in Applied Science Degree in Respiratory Care. College credit may be granted through Tech Prep articulation agreements between RACC and approved secondary schools.

1. Provide, under medical direction, treatment, management, diagnostic evaluation, and care to patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiorespiratory system.

2. Administer the therapeutic use of the following: medical gases and administration apparatus, environmental control systems, humidification, aerosols, medications, ventilator support, bronchopulmonary resuscitation, and airway management.

3. Demonstrate behavior consistent with acceptable professional conduct standards such as appearance, quality of work, quantity of work, continuing education, human relations skills, leadership skills, reading skills, writing skills, and verbal communication skills.

The student from Lehigh Carbon Community College who has successfully completed specific general education requirements at LCCC and specific program requirements at RACC may be granted admission to the Respiratory Care Program per stated selective admission requirements at Reading Area Community College. The student must see advisor or transfer counselor. Reading Area Community College (RACC) will accept and grant credit for Lehigh Carbon Community College’s courses that are listed as equivalent if the student has completed the course with a grade of “C” or higher.

ADDITIONAL RESPIRATORY CARE PROGRAM POLICIES:

1. All required pre-requisites and general education courses must have a grade of “C” or better. Respiratory Care Program GPA - (All required general education courses) must be at least a 2.5 and include transfer courses as well as original courses grades if repeated. No developmental courses are counted as part of the Respiratory Care Program GPA.

2. All required general education courses in the Respiratory Care Program Curriculum cannot be repeated more than once for any reason (“W” as well as any grade less than a “C” grade). This includes courses completed at RACC as well as transfer from another institution of higher learning. Course repeats or withdrawals that are greater than ten years may be excluded from consideration in the admissions process at the discretion of the program director.

3. All Respiratory Care Program courses must be completed with a “C” or better for progression within the program.

4. Only one readmission is permitted to the Respiratory Care Program and must occur within one year of program withdrawal.

The Respiratory Care Program at RACC is accredited by the Committee for Accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC) for a maximum of 24 students in each of the ‘RES’ or clinical courses. A cohort of 24 students (maximum) is selected in the Spring semester prior to the first RES course (respiratory Care I or RES 150), which begins each Fall semester.

In the even that more than 26 students submit Letters of Application, a selection process will be used to rank the students. The top 24 ranked students will be accepted into the cohort. The remaining students will be placed on a waiting list for the upcoming Fall semester, based on ranking in the selection process. On the first day of the Fall semester, the wait list will be cleared and the remaining students must reapply for the next academic year.

STEP 1: REVIEW THE RESPIRATORY CARE PROGRAM GUIDE

The guide identifies all courses required to complete the Respiratory Care Program (see sequence).

STEP 2: REVIEW ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO PETITION

To be considered for selective admission, the student must meet the following ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

1. Complete BIO 163 - Anatomy & Physiology I (must be completed within five years prior to petitioning).

2. Complete MAT 121 – Mathematics for Allied Health

3. Take the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills Exam (ATI TEAS®) after completing BIO 163 and MAT 121.

   1. The TEAS exam must be taken at either LCCC or RACC testing locations and the results provided to both institutions.

      1. First meet with an advisor from the Advising Center: Advising Center, Berks Hall B-209, Phone 610-607-6245, advising@racc.edu

      2. The ATI TEAS measures essential skills in academic content domains of reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage.

   2. A minimum composite score of 58.7 is required. A score of 58.7 indicates a moderate level of overall academic preparedness necessary to support learning of health sciences-related content.

   3. The TEAS must be completed prior to March 30 to be considered for fall admission.

   4. A prior TEAS score completed within two years of the TEAS deadline will be considered.

   5. The student assumes financial responsibility in transferring TEAS scores from other institutions.

4. Send transcripts from all educational institutions attended and verify receipt and evaluation of transcripts by April 15 of the Spring semester prior to the intended Fall entry date into RES 150: Respiratory Care 1.

5. Respiratory Care students must have a “C” or better in all courses in the Respiratory Care curriculum.

6. The student must achieve an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher.

7. The student must achieve a science/math GPA of 2.5 or higher (combined GPA of BIO 163 and MAT 121 ).

8. Student selection is based on a ranked score of the composite TEAS score and the combined BIO 163 and MAT 121 GPA.

9. BIO 163 - Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO 164 - Anatomy and Physiology II must be completed within five years of application to the clinical portion of the Respiratory Care Program.

10. No course in the Respiratory Care Program curriculum, or which is a prerequisite for a course in the curriculum, can be repeated more than once. This requirement includes any courses taken at RACC or another institution. It also includes courses from which the student may have withdrawn or in which the student earned less than a “C” grade.

11. No more than 12 credits of the Respiratory Care Program curriculum may be repeated. This includes courses taken at RACC and at other institutions. It also includes withdrawals or courses in which the student earned less than a “C” grade.

12. Course repeats or withdrawals that are older than ten years may be excluded from consideration in the admissions process at the discretion of the program director.

STEP 3: PETITION (APPLY TO THE RESPIRATORY CARE PROGRAM)

Prior to petitioning, a student must receive permission from an academic advisor from the Advising Center. To inquire about petitioning, contact or visit the Advising Center @:

ADVISING CENTER

LOCATION: BERKS HALL B-209

PHONE: 610-607-6245

EMAIL: ADVISING@RACC.EDU

Deadline for petitioning is April 15. To petition into the Respiratory Care Program, students must in addition to Step 2 eligibility criteria:

1. Submit the TEAS transcript (Scores)

2. Once approved to petition, login to review Act 53 of 2020 located on the Pennsylvania Department of State portal: https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/Pages/ACT-53-2020.aspx

3. Complete the petition: To locate and complete the electronic Respiratory Care Program petition documents:

   1. Login to the “myRACC” portal

   2. Select Colleague-Self-Service

   3. Select Academics

   4. Select Respiratory Care Program Petition

4. Complete/sign the attestation of Prohibitive Offenses Disclosure form.

5. Any change in status of information contained in the original attestation must be communicated to the program director.

STEP 4: SELECTION PROCESS

1. Once a student has met all program requirements, selected students will receive a notification of admission by April 30.

2. All students who apply to the Respiratory Care Program will be notified of their admission status by email. A student will receive either a provisional or alternate acceptance status.

3. Provisional Acceptance

   1. A student is provisionally admitted to the program dependent upon completion of all program requirements.

4. Alternate Acceptance

   1. Alternates have met the admission requirements but the number of applications received exceeded the number of students that could be accepted. Normally, the Respiratory Care Program has students who decline admission, and attrition occurs. Should seats become available, students with alternate acceptance status may be offered full acceptance.

   2. Students who apply or are on the alternate list are not carried over from year-to-year. Any students including alternates who are not offered full acceptance two weeks prior to the start of the semester may re-apply again for a future entrance year. Students are required to meet any new admission criteria as published for that future entrance year.

5. Upon receiving notification (full or alternate acceptance), a student will be enrolled in a mandatory online Respiratory Care Program orientation course. 

6. A student must actively engage in the online orientation course by May 15. A student who does not actively engage in the mandatory online orientation course by May 15 will forfeit admission to the Respiratory Care Program.

STEP 5: COMPLETE CLINICAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

In order to comply with clinical agency requirements, the following admission requirements are mandated. The following documentation as outlined in the online orientation course must be completed by July 15.

A student who does not complete mandatory clinical requirements by July 15 will forfeit one’s admission to the program.

Clinical requirements include:

1. State Police criminal records check, child abuse history clearance and FBI check.

2. An applicant convicted of any of the “prohibitive offenses” contained in the Older Adult Protective Services Act or an applicant convicted of any type child abuse will be disqualified from admission to the Respiratory Care Program or continuing in the program regardless of the amount of time that has elapsed from the date of conviction. 

3. Completed physical form which demonstrates evidence of the “Essential Abilities/Qualities of a Respiratory Care Program student.

4. Evidence of a negative drug panel.

5. Evidence of specific immunizations or antibody titers.

6. Evidence of current BLS Certification for the Healthcare Provider by the American Heart Association.

7. Evidence of current health insurance.