RESPIRATORY CARE (B.S., A.S.)
School of Health Sciences

Respiratory care practitioners work under the supervision of physicians to treat and manage cardiopulmonary abnormalities and to work with other members of a health care team in coordinating and implementing an overall patient care plan. They possess the knowledge, skills, and behaviors to deliver care in a variety of environments.

Built upon a comprehensive foundation of liberal arts and sciences, MSU’s respiratory care programs prepare students with scientific knowledge supplemented by actual and simulated clinical and field experiences. The A.S. program qualifies eligible graduates for certification and entry into the profession; the B.S. program qualifies those already working in respiratory care for specialization and career advancement.

Application and Admission
At both the associate and the bachelor’s level, admission to the respiratory care program is competitive; acceptance to the University and meeting minimum program requirements do not guarantee admission. Specific requirements for admission at each level are included in the B.S. and A.S. program descriptions.

Transfer applicants must meet basic requirements for University and program admission. Along with their application, they must submit official transcripts of all past work to the University’s Admissions Office and provide outlines, objectives, and course descriptions of any courses they wish to substitute for respiratory courses to the program director. The program faculty will determine whether credit may be granted based on course content and a minimum grade of C. Transfer courses must have been earned at a regionally accredited institution of higher learning in a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in cooperation with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

A.S. Degree Program
The A.S. program prepares graduates to enter the respiratory care profession. Many states, including West Virginia, regulate the practice of respiratory care and require that practitioners be licensed. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to practice.

In West Virginia, practitioners are licensed by the West Virginia Board of Respiratory Care. WVBORC examines, licenses, and renews the licenses of duly qualified applicants and causes prosecution of all persons violating Article 34 of the Code of West Virginia. The board may also revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew any license in accordance with this article.

Application and Admission
To be eligible to apply to the A.S. program, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Admission to the program is limited and competitive; acceptance to the University and meeting minimum program requirements do not guarantee admission.

Admitted students must also meet the following requirements before enrolling in clinical coursework (usually in fall semester of the second year):

• A minimum GPA of 2.5 on general education requirements (BIOL 215, 215L, 216, and 216L; ENGL 101 and 102), whether they are taken at MSU or accepted for transfer from another accredited institution
• A physical examination
• Ability to meet minimum ADA standards (available from the program director)
• Current CPR certification
• Clearance through a criminal background check
• Purchase of uniforms and supplies according to program specifications
• Ability to travel to clinical sites year-round

Drug screenings are also required. Students who fail to meet these requirements forfeit their position in the program.

Program Requirements
A.S. program requirements total 84 hours and include the University’s general education requirements. The program requires a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 and completion of all curriculum coursework with a grade of C or better. A grade lower than C in any course results in automatic withdrawal from the program, although students who are automatically withdrawn may reapply to the program for the following year.

In addition to required coursework, program graduation requirements include completion of the CRT/RRT Combined Kettering Seminar with attainment of a CEU certificate, and successful completion of mock CRT/RRT written examinations with minimum established scores.

B.S. Degree Program
To enroll in the B.S. program, you must already hold an associate degree in respiratory care. Program flexibility makes it possible, although challenging, to work full time and complete the B.S. program through full- or part-time enrollment.

Criteria for admission to the B.S. program include an associate degree in respiratory care; an NBRC CRT with RRT credential or eligibility to sit for the RRT exam; admission to Mountain State University; successful completion of all prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better; and a cumulative college GPA of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0. Other criteria may be considered as well.

Qualification for the senior year clinical practicum may require evidence that the
following requirements have been met:

• A physical examination and required immunizations (PPD, hepatitis series)
  
• Current health/hospitalization insurance
  
• Professional certifications, including current CPR certification
  
• Purchase of uniforms and supplies according to program specifications
  
• Clearance through a criminal background check

Negative drug screenings are also required. Students who fail to meet these requirements forfeit their position in the program.

Program Requirements
All students must earn a total of 128 hours and complete the University’s general education requirements, although courses completed during an associate degree program may count toward hour and academic area requirements.

Respiratory care requirements are met through completion of a specialty concentration. Current areas of concentration include gerontology, management, marketing, and pulmonary rehabilitation; an Individualized Study option is available for students interested in other specialties.