The Respiratory Care Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care Education (CoARC). The program provides educational experiences and all course work necessary to prepare the student as a respiratory therapist and qualify the graduate for the credentialing exams offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Students desiring admission into the Respiratory Care Program must first meet the basic entrance requirements for Temple College. They then must file for admission to the Respiratory Care Program.

Program Admission Criteria

1. A completed portfolio should be submitted to the Respiratory Care Department by the third Wednesday in June. The portfolio should contain the following:
   1. Texas Success Initiative scores - all candidates should have passed all three parts of an assessment test by this time in order to be considered for enrollment.
   2. Departmental aptitude test: ATI TEAS V - all candidates should achieve the minimum passing score established by the department for the test.
   3. Complete a structured tour at Scott & White hospital (on hold during covid-19) and turn in the appropriate report form.
   4. Copies of all relevant transcripts: (1) High School, (2) College/University, (3) Military Service schools, (4) other (proprietary schools, etc.)
   5. Two letters of reference.
   6. Complete a series of mandated immunizations, including Hepatitis B (the first two inoculations in the series must be completed by the end of June of the year the student seeks admission into the program).  There is also a two shot series thirty days apart. All CDC recommended vaccines for health care workers.
   7. Complete a physical exam and receive medical clearance to participate in the program.
   8. Special consideration will be given to those prospective students desiring admission who are transferring from military programs and/or those programs accredited by CoARC.
2. Interview with the Respiratory Care selection panel. Candidates will be interviewed separately by at least three different panel members.
3. Letters of notification should be mailed by the close of business on the Friday following the selection process.

Criminal background checks are required by clinical affiliated healthcare institutions, and it is the responsibility of the student to pay for and have such a background check performed no more than 30 days prior to the beginning of the first clinical course. Drug screenings are also required and may be done for cause at any time by Temple College or any health care facility associated with Temple College. Permission for the criminal background check must be given by the student. Failure to give permission will result in the student being ineligible for admission to the program.

Promotion

Students must maintain a “C” or better course grade in all respiratory care classes in order to continue in the program on schedule. In all other supporting classes the student must maintain at least an overall “C” (2.0) average. Failure to maintain academic requirements may temporarily or permanently discontinue the student’s progress in the program. Re-admission to the program is not guaranteed, but depends on the availability of available training slots and resolution of issues related to the non-passing grade at the time the student desires re-entry. Re-admission is also contingent upon review and evaluation of the student’s grades, performance and remediation while previously enrolled in the program, as well as work completed since that time. In these circumstances the Department Chairman and Faculty will meet to approve the student’s readmission into the program and determine needed course requirements. A grade of “D” in any Respiratory Care course will result in the student having to “Stop Out;” i.e., being dropped from the program until the next year, when the course may be repeated. A particular course may be repeated only once. If a student is unsuccessful the second time they will be dropped from the program permanently. A student may not make more than two D grades in the entire program without being dropped. A grade of “F” in any respiratory course will result in the student being dropped from the program without recourse to reapply.

Several fees will be assessed by the program. The first, is incurred in the first semester as part of the cost for RSPT 1410 and is $70 for access to DataArc, a clinical tracking software package that tracks student activities throughout the program. Liability insurance for clinical practice is purchased through the College at approximately $28. The cost of this fee is assessed as part of the cost for the first clinical course (RSPT 1360) and covers the student for the rest of the program.

Students must take a comprehensive NBRC-like exit exam as a major curriculum component in order to fully satisfy the requirements for the last clinical course (RSPT 2362). Students will have an additional opportunity to pass the exit examination if they are unsuccessful on the first administration. When all curriculum requirements are satisfied an Associate of Applied Science Degree is awarded. The student then becomes an advanced respiratory therapist graduate. Graduates are then eligible to begin testing with the National Board for Respiratory Care. The credentialing process starts with the Therapist Multiple Choice (TMC) Exam and upon passing at a minimum level, a graduate becomes a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), and may then also apply to the Texas Medical Board and become credentialed as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP). If the TMC passing score was high enough, the graduate may sit for the Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE). Upon passing the CSE the candidate becomes a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). Students are encouraged to become student members of the American Association for Respiratory Care, Texas Society for Respiratory Care, and the Association of Respiratory Care Students (a TC student club). Each of these organizations will aid the student in becoming more familiar with the field of respiratory care.