Respiratory Therapy

Associate of Applied Science

Respiratory Therapy


Mission Statement
The mission of the BridgeValley Community and Technical College Respiratory Therapy Program is to prepare knowledgeable, compassionate, and competent respiratory therapists who are committed to evidence-based practice, patient advocacy, and lifelong learning.  Through rigorous instruction, hands-on clinical experience, and professional development, the program empowers graduates to provide high-quality respiratory care and to contribute to the health and well-being of the diverse communities they serve.

Apply For General Admission Apply to the Program Program Student Handbook

"You must use your BridgeValley email address to complete the program application.  Please scroll down for a full breakdown of the Respiratory Therapy Application Process."

Program Goals
To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).  

Program Outcomes
1. Demonstrate competence in performing all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures required of an entry-level respiratory therapist. 
2. Communicate effectively within inter-professional teams and with diverse populations both verbally and through writing. 
3. Demonstrate critical thinking skills and competence in the application of problem-solving strategies in the healthcare setting.
4. Apply standards of professionalism and ethics by following patient confidentiality, radiation safety, and regulatory compliance

Technical Standards
The Respiratory Therapy Program is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for all students.  Qualified students with documented disabilities may receive reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Students must be able to meet the program’s technical standards with or without reasonable accommodation.  Accommodations are determined on an individual basis through the institution’s accessibility services office and must not compromise patient safety or fundamentally change the essential requirements of the program.  Students are encouraged to contact the accessibility services office upon enrollment.  Technical Standards can be found in the Student Handbook.  

 
 

Accreditation Information

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) 
264 Precision Blvd.
Telford, TN 37690
Phone: (817) 283-2835
Fax: (817) 354-8519
Website: coarc.com
Programmatic Outcomes Data:  https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/ 

The Respiratory Therapy, CoARC program number 200720, AAS degree, on the BridgeValley South Charleston Campus, 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.

The Application Process

  1. Submit a BridgeValley Community and Technical College Application for General Admission for the term you are wishing to start
    1. If you are a currently enrolled BridgeValley student, you are NOT  to submit a new application
  2. Submit a program application for the Respiratory Therapy program
  3. Review the point worksheet to understand how applicants are scored
  4. Submit the following documents to:
    1.  Final Official copies of all college transcripts.  If courses are still in progress, unofficial copies may be submitted. If the applicant has no college history, a final official copy of their high school transcript will be required
      1. For a transcript to be considered official it must be sent to BridgeValley directly from the issuing institution. 
    2. These can be uploaded to the program application or emailed to [email protected].
      1. Copies of any healthcare certifications and/or licenses the applicant may hold.