About the Respiratory Care Program
Students must apply and be formally accepted into this program prior to enrolling in any Respiratory Care program courses. See Admission Procedures and Application Planning Guide. 
The fall 2009 Application period is open from Sept. 1, 2008 through Apr. 1, 2009.
- What does a Respiratory Therapist do?
- What are the job opportunities?
- What is the average/starting salary?
- Where is the program offered?
- What are the department admission requirements for this program?
- What is the procedure for acceptance?
- How do I improve my chances of getting accepted?
- What classes do I take to become a Respiratory Therapist?
- What kind of time commitment is required to complete the program?
- Are there any other requirements I should be aware of while completing this program?
- How much will it cost to complete this program?
- After I complete the program, are there any other requirements before I can work?
What does a Respiratory Therapist do?
Southwestern Illinois College's Respiratory Care (RC) program prepares students for entry-level and advanced-level practitioner positions in the Respiratory Care profession. Respiratory Therapists (RTs), under the supervision of a physician, see patients of all ages to assist in the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of pulmonary problems. The practice of respiratory care entails: monitoring, evaluating and reporting patients' cardiopulmonary status, providing treatments to keep the airway open, sleep studies, metabolic studies, patient and family education, home care, discharge planning and follow up, as well as outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation. Contact the SWIC Career Activities and Employment Center for possible job shadowing or mentoring opportunities in Respiratory Care.
For further information regarding the field of Respiratory Care, refer to the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) web site at www.aarc.org and the U.S. Dept of Labor Occupational Handbook www.bls.gov/oco/.
What are the job opportunities?
Respiratory Therapists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, skilled care facilities, physician's offices, home health care agencies and medical product companies. Job opportunities for Respiratory Therapists are very good, especially for therapists with experience working with infants.
SWIC RC graduate survey results (averaged over a three year period); indicate 100 percent of graduates are employed in the practice of respiratory care within six months after graduation.
What is the average starting salary?
Respiratory Therapists starting at about $35,000, salaries vary depending on the size and location of the health care facility. The Human Resources Study from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) indicated that the average salary for Respiratory Therapists with a CRT credential was $56,160 in the year 2006.
Where is the program offered?
RC courses are offered at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville with clinical experience at hospitals/clinical facilities within the district or in the St. Louis region. The required general education courses can be taken at the Belleville, Sam Wolf Granite City, or Red Bud Campuses.
What are the department admission requirements for this program?
To apply for admission to the Respiratory Care Program, applicants must submit the following:
Official Transcripts/Proof of completion of pre-requisite courses.
The following pre-requisite courses must have been completed within 10 years preceding April 1, 2009 with no grade lower than a "C". College course grades supersede high school grades when both appear on official transcripts. The most recent grade in courses meeting these requirements is used in determining an applicant's admission qualifications and rank.
- Biology
- Chemsitry
- Official High School Transcripts/GED
- Official Transcripts from all colleges, universities or accredited schools of Respiratory Care attended.
- Those students who have completed college level coursework must have a Southwestern cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater to be considered for admission. Applicants may earn additional points on their application for general education courses completed with a "B" or better.
- ACT or SWIC GPA Option
- Compass Test Results
The Compass test identifies skill levels in math, reading and language. Students must score high enough to be eligible to enroll in ENG 101 and MATH 94. If results are too low, students must complete required developmental courses prior to enrolling in ENG 101, all BIO, SPCH 151/155, PSYC 151, SOC 153, and POLS 150.
- Compass Test Results
The Compass test identifies skill levels in math, reading and language. Students must score high enough to be eligible to enroll in ENG 101 and MATH 94. If results are too low, students must complete required developmental courses prior to enrolling in ENG 101, BIOL 105, PSYC 151, SPCH 151, and MGMT 214.
What is the procedure for acceptance?
Each fall semester, the Respiratory Care program generally accepts 30 students. Selection of qualified applicants for the Respiratory Care program will be based upon a numerical ranking procedure, using ACT scores or GPA, high school and/or college grades and percentage of those general education courses required for graduation completed prior to admission with a grade of "B" or better. See Respiratory Care Application Planning Guide. . Information on the ACT test, the numerical ranking procedure and the admission process is available from the Southwestern Office of Admissions.
To arrange a meeting with a counselor or obtain more information on the entrance requirements for the Respiratory Care program, call or visit the Belleville Campus, 2500 Carlyle Ave. 618-235-2700, ext. 5206; Candice Moore 235-2700, ext. 5355; the Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, 4950 Maryville Road 618-931-0600, ext. 6633; or the Red Bud Campus, 500 West South 4th St. 618-282-6682, ext 8114.
Applicants will be notified of their status regarding admission as quickly as is possible given the number of applications received; typically late March or early April. In the event that there are fewer qualified candidates than there are spaces available, applications will continue to be accepted until the program's maximum capacity has been reached or until the first week of classes during the Fall semester. Contact Admissions 618-235-2700, ext. 5541/5542 or the Counseling Center 618-235-2700, ext. 5206 to obtain information of a possible application deadline extension. The college reserves the right to fill the program in those years when there are fewer applicants than spaces available by whatever means it deems necessary to assure both academic integrity and fairness in the selection process.
In the event that there are more qualified applicants than spaces available in this program, those applicants residing outside Southwestern's district or in a district that does not have a joint agreement with Southwestern for this program, will not be eligible for consideration or admission if there are more applicants than positions to be filled. Resident status is determined by address on file with Admissions by April 15.
The admission procedures for the Respiratory Care program are in accordance with Illinois law. The law requires that programs not having sufficient space and resources to accommodate all applicants will accept those applicants best qualified, using rank, ability and achievement test scores as guides, with preference given to students residing in the district.
How do I improve my chances of getting accepted?
Applicants are rated by a point system. To find out what you can do to accumulate points see the Respiratory Care Application Planning Guide.
For an individual review of your application, contact the Allied Health Coordinators' Assistant, Candice Moore, at 618-235-2700, ext 5355 if needed.
What classes do I take to become a Respiratory Therapist?
Acceptance to the program is required before an applicant will be permitted to register for RC courses.
Associate in Applied Science (020A). View Curriculum >>
This is a 71 credit Hour, 2 year accredited degree program, which can be completed in 4 semesters and 2 summers. Courses include biological and physical sciences basic to understanding the function of the cardiopulmonary system, RC technical courses, and assigned clinical experiences. There are 17 credit hours of general education courses and 54 hours of respiratory care courses. General education courses can be completed prior to admission; otherwise all courses must be completed during the semesters indicated.
Clinical experience courses are completed off campus in various Respiratory Care employment settings. Students may be required to travel outside of the College district for clinical experience courses and must have background checks and drug testing prior to first clinical. Clinical practice courses begin in the first Fall semester and continue every semester until program completion. Clinical practice is conducted in during the day shift.
What kind of time commitment is required to complete the program?
First year students (Fall, Spring and Summer semesters)
- Clinical practice on Wednesdays and Friday (eight hr shift)
- Class/Lab on Monday and Thursday (eight hr day)
Second year students (Fall and Spring semesters)
- Clinical practice on Monday and Wednesday (eight hr shift)
- Class/Lab on Tuesday and Friday (eight hr day)
Students are responsible for their own transportation and attendance to all classes and clinicals assigned by the program. Specific clinical placement cannot be guaranteed. Students may be required to travel outside the college district for clinical experience courses and must undergo background checks and drug testing. Clinical practice begins in the Fall semester of the program. Students should check the location and schedule of classes to ensure availability and access.
Are there any other requirements I should be aware of while completing this program?
- Applicants accepted to this program must attend all required orientation sessions, meet program specific medical requirements and must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations. Any applicants or enrolled students are encouraged to meet with Special Services to discuss potential issues associated with meeting these requirements at 618-235-2700, ext. 5368.
- Auto and Health insurance is required during clinical education courses. Students are personally responsible for any costs incurred for injuries occurring during their clinical experience.
- RC students will be required to possess current CPR certification at the Healthcare Provider level, show proof of immunizations, TB test, physical examination, and verify health insurance coverage before beginning any clinical experience.
Criminal background check, random drug test, and name search on government registries that prohibit employment in healthcare professions are also required prior to clinical experience courses.
Positive results from the drug test and student listing on prohibitory government registry will result in dismissal from the program. Dismissal for positive criminal background check, drug test, or listing on a government registry does not qualify students for refund of tuition or lab fees. Students who have concerns regarding their status with the above regulations are encouraged to discuss the matter with the program coordinator or coordinators' assistant prior to seeking admission.
Students must meet the Illinois and U.S. Constitution requirement to graduate. This may be done in one of the following ways:
- present HS transcript from an accredited IL HS or a GED certificate which clearly states that both the US Constitution and the IL constitution have been passed.
- Complete POLS 150 with a grade of "C" or better.
- Pass the US and IL constitution examination at SWIC. Students are limited to three attempts to score at least 70 percent on this test. For more information regarding this examination and study materials, please call 618-235-2700, ext 5309.
- A student may not apply more than 16 hours of telecourses toward degree requirements. In addition, at least one non-telecourse must be completed in each general education area. On-line courses are exempt from this limit.
- Applicants admitted to the program must follow the requirements for graduation at the time they are admitted and must meet all course, program, degree, and sequencing requirements specified. Students are responsible for program policies as listed in each year's RC Student Handbook. Students who fail to meet program specific requirements will be dropped from the program and may be required to re-apply and compete for admission in the succeeding semester.
How much will it cost to complete this program?
The estimated cost of the RC program for the 2008-2009 academic year is $11,376. This cost breaks down to $75 per semester hour for tuition, $2,596 in RC course fees, $37 in general education course fees, $ 1,918 for RC required textbooks, and $589 for general education textbooks. The total costs incurred are inclusive of the health exam costs, certification exam costs upon graduation, and necessary supplies and equipment; such as lab coat, name pin, etc. View cost sheet.
Financial aid is available subject to financial need and satisfactory academic progress requirements set by the college. The SWIC Foundation office offers many scholarships and there is a student work program for which financial aid eligibility is not required.
After I complete the program, are there any other requirements before I can work?
Upon successful completion of the RC curriculum, graduates are awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree in Respiratory Care and are qualified to challenge the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) entry level RT certification examination (CRT exam) and the RT registry exam (RRT exam). These examinations are offered throughout the year at various sites in the state and country. All States (except Alaska and Hawaii), the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico require Respiratory Therapists to obtain a license. Passing the CRT exam qualifies Respiratory Therapists for State licenses. Supervisory positions and intensive-care specialties usually require the RRT or at least RRT eligibility.
Over a three year average, 100 percent of SWIC RC graduates passed the NBRC certification examination required for licensure.