Respiratory Care

Degree RequirementsDegree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

For specific course and program requirements, please consult the current undergraduate catalog.

Visit also the Guthrie Respiratory Therapy Program website and Guthrie's Program Catalog (pdf).

The respiratory therapy courses consist of tightly coordinated classroom, laboratory and clinical training. Learn more about the full program curriculum details by clicking on the below button.

Program Curriculum

This program is designed to prepare the student to become an advanced-level Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).  Graduates of this program are qualified to take the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) exams.  The specific objectives of the program are listed below:

• Prepare students as registered respiratory therapists.
• Prepare competent respiratory care practitioners for advanced level careers in respiratory care (educators, researchers, managers, clinical specialist, respiratory care equipment sales representatives, and in other roles throughout the healthcare system.
• Prepare students for leadership roles, professionalism, and a commitment to lifelong learning in respiratory care related fields.

Admission

New students may apply for admission to the program in the fall semester or spring semester.  Students not already enrolled at Commonwealth University must apply for admission to the Commonwealth University Admission office.  Early application is encouraged since class size is limited.  The application form is available online here, or students should call Admissions 1-800-577-6826 or 570-662-4243 or email admissions@mansfield.edu.

Once the application, application fee, and high school and/or college transcripts have been received, the Admission Office reviews the application

Academic high school preparation for the Respiratory Care Program should include at least 3 credits of math and one credit each of biology and chemistry, with a minimum 2.7 grade point average in the math and science courses.  In additional, prospective students must be able to:

• Communicate in oral and written English.
• Hear normal speech.
• Work with both hands simultaneously. Walk unassisted for hours at a time.
• Assist with moving patients.
• Work with blood and body fluids.
• Work with critically ill patients of all ages.
• Analyze information and make appropriate decisions.
• Work as a team.
• Demonstrate compassion and dependability.
• Give of themselves.

Commonwealth University students wishing to change their major to respiratory care should contact the Program Director at the Sayre campus (telephone 570-887-4513 or email Sheila.Merrill@guthrie.org).  Change in major candidates must have a minimum grade point average of 2.7 and meet the same requirements specified above for other candidates for admission.

Admission Requirements

Click on the button below to view the Respiratory Care program Admission Requirements.

Program Admission Requirements

The Robert Packer Hospital provides personalized instruction and extraordinary hands-on practice with equipment and procedures. Because of the program's strong emphasis on clinical competence, graduates are highly rated and aggressively recruited by employers.  

Learn more about the instruction at Robert Packer Hospital and what to expect after graduation.

Learn More

Students in the Respiratory Therapy program are subject to all the academic requirements of the University.

See the full list of requirements for progression in the program.

Click here

Clinical experiences begin when the student arrives on the Sayre campus the beginning of the junior year. While most of the clinical rotations occur at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, each student will have a limited number of rotations to other program clinical affiliates.

Learn about the different clinical affiliates as well as the policies and responsibilities that must be met by the student.

Click here

There are two exams for respiratory care practitioners.  The first is the TMC exam which has a low and high cut score.  Achieving the low-cut score award the CRT credential and state license. Achieving the high cut score allows the graduate to sit for the Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE). Passing the TMC at the high cut score and the CSE earns the graduate the RRT credential.

For the previous three years, our program has had 100% pass rate for both the TMC exam and the CSE exam.  Our graduates continually perform above the national pass rate on both exams. 
The CU - Mansfield Respiratory Care program has been awarded the Distinguished RRT Credentialing award four times (2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018). 

1. Respiratory care program graduates will demonstrate the clinical knowledge, professional attributes, and interpersonal and inter-professional communication skills relevant to the role of a registered respiratory therapist.
2. Respiratory care program graduates will demonstrate technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of a registered respiratory therapist.
3. Respiratory care program graduates will demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer expectations for a bachelor’s degree registered respiratory therapist.
4. To prepare leaders for the field of respiratory care by including curricular content objectives related to the acquisition of skills in management and research.