Respiratory Therapy

Accreditation

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.

The Respiratory Therapy Program, 200677, Specialized Associate Degree, Campus Location Morgantown, WV, holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care www.coarc.com

This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit), to be allowed to admit students. It is recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation.
 

Program Difficulty

Admission into the Associate Degree Respiratory Therapy Program does not guarantee successful completion of the program. Similarly, graduation from the program does not ensure that the student will pass the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialing examination, which are required for licensure and employment as a Respiratory Therapist.

The Respiratory Therapy Program is rigorous and demands a high level of commitment, discipline, and sustained effort. Students should expect long hours of intense academic study, clinical practice, and a significant amount of out-of-class preparation. Success in the program, and in passing the NBRC exam, depends largely on the student's individual dedication, perseverance, and the effort they invest throughout their education and exam preparation.

Graduates are encouraged to continue diligent study and review following program completion to maximize their likelihood of passing the NBRC credentialing exam and becoming a competent, licensed Respiratory Therapist.
 

Technical Standards

Technical standards are the physical requirements (sight, hearing, strength and mobility) deemed necessary by the West Virginia Junior College Respiratory Therapy Program for a student to acquire the competencies required to successfully complete the Respiratory Therapy Program. West Virginia Junior College publications refer to technical standards as functional abilities. 

Functional abilities are non-domain specific abilities, i.e., those physical and mental activities and attributes needed by a Respiratory Therapist to practice safely in terms of essential Respiratory Therapy functions, with or without accommodations. Functional abilities include psychomotor, sensory, cognitive, and affective functions. A student requiring special accommodation should provide written notification to the Respiratory Therapy Program Director and identify the necessary accommodations. For successful completion of this Respiratory Therapy program, students should be able to meet the following functional requirements:

• Psychomotor abilities include gross and fine motor, endurance, strength, and mobility
• Sensory abilities include visual, tactile, olfactory, and hearing
• Cognitive abilities include reading, arithmetic, analytical, and critical thinking
• Affective abilities include communication and interpersonal skills. Examples of the above functional standards include, but are not limited to:
  • Psychomotor – bend, crouch, walk, and climb steps; hand/eye coordination; stand for extended periods (i.e., 8-12 hour shifts); lift, carry, push, and pull a minimum of 50 pounds; administer rescue procedures; and calibrate equipment
  • Sensory – discriminate sights, sounds, colors, odors, and touch
  • Cognitive – follow written and oral instructions, read/write effectively, work independently, organize assignments, identify cause/effect relationships, develop plans of care, and evaluate effectiveness of respiratory therapy interventions
  • Affective – interact with peers, patients, families, and others professionally and effectively; maintain composure during stressful situations; and resolve conflict successfully
  • Students seeking disability-related accommodation must notify the College in writing. The request must include a medical doctor or other appropriate medical professional evaluation listing the nature and extent of the disability and need of accommodations. The College may require an independent second evaluation. Appropriate documentation of the disability is required. If a student cannot meet one or more of the Functional Requirements of the Respiratory Therapy program without accommodation, the Respiratory Therapy program will determine whether accommodation can reasonably be made.

Transfer of Credits

Credit may be given for previous training upon receipt of an official transcript from an accredited college. Transferable credits are limited to a maximum of 75% of the selected program. The College's officials reserve the right to call for additional testing for the granting of transfer credits. Only courses applicable to the program in which the student is enrolled will be accepted.

Students must have earned a grade of a “C” or better to transfer the following courses:

• CMP 100- English Composition
• LME 200- Law and Medical Ethics
• PSY 200- Psychology
• COM 100- Effective Communications
• LOG 200- Logic and Critical Thinking

Advanced Placement 

The West Virginia Junior College Respiratory Therapy Program does not accept prior respiratory care education or work experience in lieu of required respiratory care coursework, and will not offer advanced placement.
 

Clinical/Lab Attendance Policy

Students enrolled in the Respiratory Therapy Program must understand that clinical/lab placement opportunities are limited due to a specific number of available clinical/lab seats. As such, clinical/lab assignments are scheduled by the institution and must be followed precisely.

All students are required to attend their clinical/lab hours at the designated locations and during the specific days and times assigned to them. Students must adhere strictly to their assigned schedules and are expected to fulfill all clinical/lab responsibilities as outlined. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the clinical/lab rotation or program.
 

Graduation Requirements 

To be eligible for graduation from the Respiratory Therapy Program, students must meet the following requirements: 

1. Successfully complete all core respiratory therapy coursework with a minimum grade of 80%.
2. Successfully complete all required coursework, including:
   • General Education Courses
   • Respiratory Therapy Core Courses
   • Laboratory and Clinical Components
3. Satisfactorily complete all laboratory competencies as outlined in the Respiratory Therapy Program.
4. Satisfactorily complete all clinical requirements, demonstrating competency in required clinical procedures and professional behaviors.
5. Fulfill all attendance requirements for lecture, lab, and clinical components as specified in the program policies.
6. Maintain a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification throughout the duration of the program.
7. Remain in full compliance with immunization requirements, background checks, drug screening, and all other clinical placement requirements for the entirety of the program.

Licensure Requirements for Respiratory Therapists

Respiratory Therapists must obtain a license to practice. While the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) provides national certification examinations, each state has the authority to establish its own specific licensure requirements. To become a licensed respiratory therapist, graduates must pass the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exam. Therefore, any respiratory therapy student who may be considering practicing out of state should check with that state’s requirements before beginning classes.