Respiratory Therapy
The Respiratory Therapy program at Wallace State is structured to provide its graduates with the training necessary to successfully complete the requirements for the entry-level practitioner as defined by the National Board of Respiratory Care.
Respiratory Therapy
Wallace State’s programs boast a top-notch reputation with outstanding licensure and job placement rates, small class sizes and an award-winning faculty. Choose Wallace State’s Respiratory Therapy degree for a career in a highly-rewarding, high-demand field at a fraction of the cost of attending a university. And if you do choose to continue your education and transfer to a four-year university, you’ll be two years ahead on an advanced degree, with employment potential and cost savings to boot.
Discover your story in Respiratory Therapy at Wallace State!
A respiratory therapist is responsible for administering, under physician’s prescription,
many types of breathing therapeutics, and utilizing specialized breathing, aerosol
and humidification equipment. These include the use of oxygen or oxygen mixtures,
chest physiotherapy, mechanical ventilation, and aerosol medications.
Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat all types of patients, ranging from premature
infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people whose lungs may be diseased.
Respiratory therapists provide temporary relief to patients with chronic asthma or
emphysema, as well as emergency care to patients who are victims of a heart attack,
stroke, trauma, drowning, or shock.
They perform limited physical examinations, and conduct diagnostic tests that assess
breathing capacities and determine the concentration of oxygen and other gases in
patients. The respiratory therapist works closely with the physician and also directly
with the patient in the treatment situation by performing regular assessments of patients
and equipment.
This program is designed to provide necessary training for successful completion of
the requirements for the entry-level practitioner as defined by the National Board
for Respiratory Care.
Job opportunities are expected to be very good, especially for respiratory therapists
with cardiopulmonary care skills or experience working with infants. Employment of
respiratory therapists is expected to increase significantly through 2029 due to substantial
growth in the numbers of the middle-aged and elderly population and the expanding
role of respiratory therapists in the early detection and treatment of pulmonary disorders.
There are also job opportunities for respiratory therapists with advanced cardiopulmonary
care and neonatal care experience.
Although hospitals will continue to employ the vast majority of therapists, a growing
number can expect to work outside of hospitals in home health care services, offices
of physicians or other health practitioners, or consumer-goods rental firms.
National median annual earnings of respiratory therapists were $70,540 in 2022. (Source:
U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics) Additional career advancement
opportunities exist in education, administration, research, and in commercial companies
as clinical specialists, pharmaceutical sales, and technical support.
The Wallace State Community College Respiratory Therapy Program, CoARC program number 200255, offering the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S) Degree, at its Hanceville campus location, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).
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. (http://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/)
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
264 Precision Blvd.
Telford, TN 37690
(817) 283-2835
Program Overview
Respiratory Therapy
- Ashley Lancaster
- 256.352.8305
- ashley.lancaster@mogrenlandscape.com
Degrees/Awards Offered
AAS
Availability
- Day
Respiratory Therapy
Curriculum: Program of Study
Pathway Map: Associate in Applied Science
Career Outlook
View Gainful Employment Information
Schedule & Catalog
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