Respiratory Care Overview
The award-winning Associate Degree in Respiratory Care at Rhodes State College will propel students into an exciting and rapidly growing career. Specialized training in the Rhodes State program will prepare students to manage high-tech ventilators and artificial airways for patients who are unable to breathe on their own. Students will be trained to educate patients and families about lung disease, diagnose lung and breathing disorders, recommend treatment, consult with physicians to optimize therapy, and analyze breath, and blood samples to determine levels of oxygen and other gases.
The innovative educational delivery at Rhodes offers Respiratory Care students experiences with a variety of high tech and alternative delivery opportunities such as high fidelity simulation, diverse clinical experiences, and dedicated faculty with a combined 130 years of experience. Students who wish to continue with a four-year degree can seamlessly transition through one of Rhodes State’s college and university partnerships.
The goal of the Respiratory Care Program is to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
Become a part of this growing field. Watch this video to learn more about the great need for respiratory therapists.
Visit the NEW Borra Center!
Distance Education Options
Rhodes State College is committed to meeting students where they are. Students enrolled in the Respiratory Care Program have a variety of ways to complete their education. Classes can be taken at the student's local community college or university and then can be transferred in to meet the general education requirements of the Respiratory Care Program. All classes that require lectures are remote with the only in-person requirement being at the Borra Center once a week for labs. Students are required to complete clinical rotations, which can be done at a location near their homes.
Scholarship Opportunity
Rhodes State has been awarded a Choose Ohio First (COF) Scholarship grant by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. The grant provides scholarships to students majoring in disciplines that significantly strengthen Ohio’s competitiveness in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine (STEMM) education and industry.
Respiratory Care Highlights
- Innovative educational delivery. Respiratory Care students at Rhodes State will experience a variety of high tech and alternative delivery opportunities such as:
- High fidelity simulation
- Diverse clinical experiences
- Dedicated faculty with a combined 130 years of experience
Respiratory Care Program Briefing
Our program briefings are designed to introduce you to the profession, job opportunities, program requirements, and other important information you will need to get started.
Career Opportunities
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the “Employment of respiratory therapists is projected to grow 23 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than average for all occupations.” This is explained by the fact that as the U.S. population ages, so too will an increased incidence of respiratory conditions, thus leading to an increased demand for respiratory therapy services. Median pay for RTs is about $60,000/year.
additional info about the career
Respiratory Care Plan of Study
Professional Licensure Information
- Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRTs). Once a student has completed either a two-year associate’s degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree, they are eligible to take the national Therapist Multiple Choice exam.
- Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs). Once the respiratory therapist has successfully passed the Therapist Multiple Choice exam, he/she is eligible to take the national Clinical Simulation exam. Upon passing the Clinical Simulation exam, the therapist is awarded the RRT credential.
- For more information about the credentialing process: https://www.nbrc.org/
Licensure:
- All states (except Alaska) require licensure for respiratory therapists practicing in the United States. For more information on each state’s requirements: https://www.aarc.org/advocacy/state-society-resources/state-licensure-information/
- Note: Respiratory Care Professionals in Ohio are required to have the RRT credential as a minimum requirement for state licensure.
Accreditation Information
Rhodes State College Respiratory Care Program number 200324 is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com),
CoARC
264 Precision Blvd
Telford, TN 37690 USA
Telephone: 817-283-2835
The program has been accredited since its inception in 1980.
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.
View Programmatic Outcomes Data
In 2018, 2019 and 2020 Rhodes State College Respiratory Care Program received The Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award. This award is presented as part of the CoARC’s continued efforts to value the RRT credential as a standard of professional achievement. From a program effectiveness perspective, the CoARC views the RRT credential as a measure of a program’s success in inspiring its graduates to achieve their highest educational and professional aspirations.
Respiratory Program Faculty
Pam Halfhill, MS, RRT-TTS
Chair, Health & Diagnostic Services
Program Director, Respiratory Care Program
Halfhill.p@rhodesstate.edu
419-995-8366 (Office)
419-995-8093 (Fax)
Chuck Mulholland, MS, RRT
Assistant Professor & Director of Clinical Education
Respiratory Care Program
Mulholland.c@rhodesstate.edu
419-995-8371 (Office)
419-995-8818 (Fax)
Beth White, MS, RRT-NPS
Assistant Professor & Distance Coordinator
Respiratory Care Program
White.b@rhodesstate.edu
419-995-8198 (Office)
419-995-8818 (Fax)
Meagan Zoladz, MRC,RRT
Faculty
Respiratory Care Program
Zoladz.m@rhodesstate.edu
419-995-8815 (Office)
419-995-8818 (Fax)
Student Success Navigator
Heather Seddelmeyer
Student Success Navigator
seddelmeyer.h@rhodesstate.edu
(419) 204-9857