Respiratory Care

AAS DEGREE

Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapy  (70 credit hours)

Program Advisors

Jess Hoskins, Coordinator
(606) 878-4815
jess.hoskins@kctcs.edu

Jason Asher, Instructor
(606) 878-4816
jason.asher@kctcs.edu

Cindy Fouts, Instructor
(606) 878-4756
cindy.fouts@kctcs.edu

Angie Mills, Instructor
(606) 878-4745
angie.mills@kctcs.edu

Location

The Respiratory Care program at Somerset Community College is located at the Laurel Campus.

Program Details

The Advanced Level Respiratory Therapist program at Somerset Community College prepares graduates to provide and manage client care by becoming members within the discipline of respiratory care. Graduates are prepared and eligible to take credentialing examinations administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) to practice as entry level practitioners (CRT) as well as advanced level practitioners (RRT). Like most states in the nation, Kentucky has a mandatory certification law for Respiratory Care Practitioners. This certification gives the holder the right to practice respiratory care in the Commonwealth. Reciprocity exists between Kentucky and most all other states.

Respiratory Therapists work as important members of the health care team and provide treatments to clients with cardiopulmonary disorders. Most therapists are employed in cardiopulmonary medicine or respiratory care departments of hospitals. Others are employed by home health agencies, pulmonary rehabilitation programs, pulmonary function laboratories, medical device companies, and physician offices. For further information regarding this profession, please visit www.AARC.org.

All students planning to apply to the Advanced Level Respiratory Therapist Program in 2013 MUST attend a Pre-Admission Conference prior to the application deadline of May 9, 2013. Pre-Admission Conference Dates for Fall 2012.

Additional Information

• Five semester program
• Leads to an Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) with a general education requirement of 23 hours
• Respiratory Care Technical Coursework (47 hours)
• Theory/Skills presented in lecture/lab format
• Clinical Component: Held in clinical sites which provide services to respiratory patients
• Highly Recommended general education courses of 6-7 hours.

Accreditation Information

The Advanced Level Respiratory Therapist program has been awarded Continuing Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), 1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, TX  76021-4244, (817) 283-2835 or www.coarc.com