Respiratory Care | Labette Community College

Labette Community College’s Respiratory Care program is in alignment with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) CIP Code 51.0908: Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist. A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians, to assist in developing respiratory care plans, administer respiratory care procedures, supervise personnel and equipment operation, maintain records, and consult with other health care team members. Includes instruction in the applied basic biomedical sciences; anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the respiratory system; clinical medicine; therapeutic procedures; clinical expressions; data collection and record-keeping; patient communication; equipment operation and maintenance; personnel supervision; and procedures for special population groups.

Labette Community College established its Respiratory Care Program in 1984. Since that date, over 300 students have graduated from the program.

The Respiratory Care Program Goal is 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). Through guided study in the classroom and clinical settings, the graduates of the Respiratory Care Program are prepared to:

Take the national credentialing exams administered by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC). Graduates are eligible to take the advanced Level Registry Examinations upon passing the Certification Examination.
Function as advanced level respiratory therapists performing both routine patient care and critical care procedures in the hospital, clinic, laboratory and home setting.
Matriculate into a college or university to earn a higher degree.

What is Respiratory Therapy?

Be An RT

Academic Curriculum Map

If you select this program, you will automatically be assigned to the Health Science major until you are admitted into the program.

Respiratory Care AAS Course Descriptions

Application Information

Application Deadline: June 8, 2027

Program Application Application Process TEAS Exam Dates

Contact Information

Director of the Respiratory Care Program

620-820-1160

Jennifer Harding

BS, RRT, Clinical Coordinator

jenniferk@labette.edu
620-820-1161
Office Hours

Betty Ellis

Instructor of Respiratory

bettye@labette.edu
620-820-1193
Office Hours

Lori Weaver

A.A.S., L.RT(R), DMS
Health Science Programs’ Specialist

loriw@labette.edu
620-820-1157

Respiratory Care FAQs

Why be an RT?

Learn more from be-an-rt.org

How long is the Respiratory Care (RC) program?

The Respiratory Care program is a 2-year (22 month) Associate of Applied Science Degree program. The course of study for a Respiratory Therapist is comprised of 5 semesters, including summer months.

What does the RC program schedule look like?

Classes vary by semester and consist of 2 days a week of classroom and laboratory instruction. After the first semester an additional 1 to 2 days of clinical practice will be completed as well..

Can any of the RC courses be completed online?

No, all courses are on campus or at a clinical site.

When does the program begin?

August

When is the application deadline?

Early July of each calendar year, see the application for the current deadline.

What are the prerequisites?

English Comp I (or English Comp I with Review), English Comp II or Public Speaking, General Psychology, College Algebra (or College Algebra with Review), Medical Terminology, Anatomy & Physiology. *Anatomy & Physiology must be a 5 credit hour college course that has been completed within the last 5 years.

Regarding prerequisite courses, it helpful to also know:

One, 3-credit hour program prerequisite course can be taken during the first fall semester of the program upon acceptance into the Respiratory Care Program.
Students must successfully complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher prior to August 1 of the year in which they enter the program upon acceptance.
Any course(s) graded as passing, an official transcript key will be required from the transferring institution stating the letter grade is equivalent to a "C" or above.
Program prerequisite course(s) attempted that reflect on an official transcript, must be successfully completed with a final letter grade of “C” or above. Any prerequisite course(s) showing anything below a “C”, such as D, F, UF, W, etc., must be retaken and completed successfully with a final letter grade of “C” or above no later than the summer semester in which one is applying.

What is the approximate cost of the program?

The estimated cost for the 2-year program is approximately $15,800 (In-State) to $17,200 (Out-of-State). This includes books, tuition, lab fees, and other supplies. The range in cost depends on whether the student is considered an in-state, border state (MO, OK, ARK) or out-of-state resident.

Will I be able to work while enrolled in the program?

The RC program is academically rigorous but is designed so students can work part-time. A lot of information is delivered in a short period of time, requiring for most students a period of adjustment during the first semesters of the program. We recommend that students not work full time during the program.

What is the expected salary and job outlook for a Respiratory Therapist?

Respiratory Therapists : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Graduates of the A.A.S., Respiratory Care program at Labette Community College are eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Therapist Multiple Choice Exams.

Kansas allows new graduates to obtain a limited licensure while sitting for board exams. Some states require a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential to apply for a state licensure and a few states require the higher level of credentialing (Registered Respiratory Therapist or RRT). LCC Respiratory Care graduates are prepared for both the entry level, CRT and the advanced level, RRT exams. Program applicants who are located outside of Kansas should consult with the state licensing agency in the state where they are located to determine state licensure requirements.

State Licensing Contacts

Upon acceptance into LCC’s Respiratory Care Program, program students are required to:

Sign the Respiratory Care Program Conditions of Acceptance
Sign the Student Acceptance Form
Complete a satisfactory physical evaluation, verified by a physician including up to date immunization records to include: 2-step TB skin test results, MMR(2) or Titer, Varicella(2) or Titer, Tetanus (within 10 years), Hep B (3) or waiver, 10 Panel Drug Screen (for clinical placement). Proof of current medical insurance along with other requirements or vaccinations the specific clinical site requires which may include but are not limited to the Flu and/or Covid-19.).
- Accepted applicants will receive the required physical evaluation/health record forms in their official acceptance letter packet. The applicant’s physician/healthcare provider must complete these specific forms as well as provide copies of immunization records/documents.
- A drug screen fee is included in the Respiratory Care Program Student Fee's. The program student will be notified prior to attending clinical when they are to complete their drug screen through Labette Health's 1902 U.S. 59, Parsons, KS 67357 location. Drug Screen's completed outside of the Parsons Labette Health location on the specified scheduled date will not be accepted nor covered under their Respiratory Care Program Student Fee's.
Obtaining current BLS/CPR Certification for Healthcare Providers *A BLS/CPR course will be offered on LCC's Main Campus during the Fall Semester for Respiratory Care Program Students to complete this requirement. Online CPR Certification will not be accepted.
Respiratory Care Students will be provided a Respiratory Care Program Student Handbook that contains specific information about the program to include the programs Academic/Didactic and Clinical Policies and Procedures in which each program student is required sign acknowledging they have read and agree to abide by throughout the duration of the program. For general LCC policies, see the LCC Catalog available on the College’s website.

Respiratory Care Program Application Process

Those interested in the Respiratory Care Program are admitted to Labette Community College on the same basis as other students, but admission to the college does not ensure admission into the Respiratory Care Program.

Applicants need to thoroughly read the Labette Community College Respiratory Care Program Information & Application Packet for the current application year. Applicants may request more program, application and profession information by contacting the Health Science Programs’ Specialist, Lori Weaver, at 620-820-1157 loriw@labette.edu.

Selection for LCC’s Respiratory Care Program is based on the following factors:

Previous academic record, high school and/or college official transcripts, GPA of 2.0 (minimum) based upon program general education prerequisite courses successfully completed with a “C” or above.
Schedule a meeting with LCC’s Health Science Programs’ Specialist to go over program and application process information, prerequisite course grades, course enrollment schedules as well as answer any questions you may have to ensure you are on the correct course path to apply to the program when you intend to.
General education courses that satisfy the Respiratory Care curriculum:
- Anatomy & Physiology (5 credit hour that includes lab) *must be completed within the last 5 years
- College Algebra (3 credit hour) or College Algebra with Review (5 credit hour)
- English Comp I (3 credit hour) or English Comp I with Review (5 credit hour)
- English Comp II or Public Speaking (3 credit hour)
- General Psychology (3 credit hour)
- Medical Terminology (3 credit hour)
TEAS Test Scores 50%< - Schedule a test date for the TEAS test by emailing teas@labette.edu.
Click and thoroughly read this and print the necessary Clinical Observation and Reference pages (6 & 7) prior to completing the program application form.
Three personal references, one of which should be from a former in-person instructor or employer. *References from relatives will not be accepted.
Clinical Observation with a clinical preceptor/instructor for a full 8-hour day at one of the clinical education settings provided within the Respiratory Care Program Applicant Information Packet. Clinical observations are required to be completed prior to the application deadline date.
Submitting a background check through Pre-Check. (*This LCC Respiratory Care Program Background Check is for clinical placement only and it is suggested applicants wait to submit this until May – June of the application year) *Applicants who are under the age of 18 are required to have parental/legal guardian signature forms completed and submitted to PreCheck. ***Do not follow the online instructions below if you are under the age of 18 years old prior to the program application deadline date and email: respiratory@labette.edu for the necessary background check forms and further instructions
Submission/completion of all LCC’s Respiratory Care Program Application forms and requirements by the application deadline date. Applicants will need to provide their first and last name along with the appropriate form link &/or QR Code to each of their references as well as the Registered Respiratory Therapist they shadow at their clinical observation for confidential completion of these required applicant forms. Instructions to complete each of the program applicant requirements as well as the following forms are included in the Respiratory Care Program Information & Application Packet.
- TEAS Exam Dates
Upon completion of application requirements by the current year’s deadline date, applicants who have a complete and qualifying application will be reviewed and scheduled an interview after the application deadline date with the Respiratory Department by the Health Science Programs’ Specialist.
After program applicant interviews have been completed, the Health Science Programs’ Specialist will prepare and distribute the official applicant decision letters via USPS.

Accreditation

The Labette Community College, CoARC program number 200304, Associates of Applied Science in Respiratory Care, Parsons, Kansas, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

CoARC accredits Respiratory Care 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.

CoARC Program Outcomes Data