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Respiratory Therapy

 

It is very important that you read the information on this page completely and thoroughly. Please don't make the mistake of merely looking at the prerequisite chart, as the other information and suggestions below can save you a great deal of effort, and help you avoid common mistakes, as you strive for admission to IU's competitive respiratory therapy program.

The linked outline in the right hand column provides you with a useful overview of the contents of this page, and an easy way to navigate.

 

Description of the Profession

Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat patients with cardiopulmonary disorders, and participate in health promotion / disease prevention. They care for all types of patients, from premature infants to the very old; practice in many settings, ranging from patients' homes to critical care units; and utilize a range of diagnostic procedures, from the physical exam to use of sophisticated equipment. Learned skills include administration of inhaled medications to maintaining critically ill patients on ventilators.

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Skills and Characteristics Important to this Profession

Skills important to a career in respiratory therapy include the ability to adapt to changing technology, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, patience and empathy, the ability to work independently, but also the ability to work with a team of care givers, and impeccable attention to detail (for instance, with regard to assessing the patient's therapy needs, administering correct doses, and so on).

 

Respiratory Therapy at Indiana University

Description of the IU program

IU Bloomington does not itself offer a respiratory therapy program, but you may complete the prerequisites at IUB and then apply for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) offered through the IU School of Medicine Health Professions Program (SoM HPP) at IUPUI - the Indianapolis campus. The IU BSRT program is part of a hospital and university-based consortium, and is an Indiana University degree.

The IU BSRT course of study requires the completion of two years (55 credit hours) of prerequisite work at IUB or another campus or college. If admitted to the BSRT program, you would go on to complete two years of professional training at IUPUI. Upon successful completion of the program, you would take the CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) exam in order to become a licensed respiratory therapist. (By passing additional exams, you could also become an RRT, or Registered Respiratory Therapist. RRTs have better job opportunities, pay, and job retention than those who only acquire their CRT.)

Prior to being admitted to the professional program, students must fulfill all preprofessional requirements. See below.

BSRT admission overview

Admission to the IU respiratory therapy program at IUPUI is moderately competitive. Job shadowing of CRTs or RRTs, successful completion of prerequisite coursework, your grade point average (GPA), and the admission interview are all part of the admission process. No personal essay, admission exam, or letters of recommendation are required.

  • The minimum cumulative GPA (CGPA) required to apply is 2.5.
  • A minimum grade of "C" is required in each Math/Science prereq ("C-" not acceptable) to be eligible to apply.
  • Important details pertaining to each admission component are provided elsewhere on this page.

Prerequisite courses required for admission

Course numbers pertain to IUB, and prerequisite information refers only to the IU School of Medicine Health Professions BS program at IUPUI.

Some important points to bear in mind as you plan your BSRT prerequisites:

  • There is very little, if any, time to take non-prerequisite courses without delaying your application and admission to the BSRT program.
  • Try to avoid overlapping anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and physics. Students often struggle when they take two of these classes in the same semester.
  • It is not uncommon for students to discover respiratory therapy a bit later in their academic career, which can make it even more challenging to avoid the above course overlap and still complete the prerequisites in time to begin the BSRT during their third year. As you plan your prereqs, bear in mind the following:
    • You also have the summer terms to complete prerequisites.

    • The BSRT program allows applicants to complete courses during the summer right before the start of the professional coursework: Applicants are often admitted on the condition that they successfully complete all prereqs prior to the start of the professional program in the fall.

    • The BSRT program will accept equivalent courses taken at other two and four-year schools, so many pre-respiratory therapy students do take summer courses back home.
  • Carefully read the IMPORTANT NOTES associated with the courses listed below!

 

Written & Oral Communication Credits
Elementary Composition: ENG-W 131 or W170 3
Second writing course: ENG-W 231 preferred; or ENG-W 270; ENG-W 240; BUS-X 204; or any College of Arts & Sciences Intensive Writing course 3
Verbal Communication: CMCL-C 122 preferred; or CMCL-C 121 or HPER-R 362 3
Math & Science Cr

Mathematics: Two types of math required. Some examples of approved combinations include:

Pre-Calculus MATH-M 25 + Trigonometric Functions MATH-M 26; MATH-A, V, M, or S 118 + MATH-M 119; MATH-M 26 + M 119; MATH-M 26 + MATH 118; MATH-M 25 + MATH 118; COLL-J 112 + MATH-M 26; MATH-M 211 by itself  1  4

 4 - 6
Statistics: One of the following: PSY or SPEA-K 300; PSY or MATH-K 310; STAT-S 300; SOC-S 371; ECON-E 370, or approved equivalent course. 1  2 3 - 4
Chemistry with lab: CHEM-C 101 + 121 or CHEM-C 103 or C117  1 5
Human Anatomy with lab: ANAT-A 215 1 5
Human Physiology with lab: PHSL-P 215 or BIOL-P 451 (P451 - jr standing) 1 4 - 5
Microbiology Lecture - no lab required: BIOL-M 200 (Spring only). BIOL-M 250 also accepted, but M200 is recommended 1 3

Physics: PHYS-P 201 or P221, but P201 is the better choice for most students 1  3

(no lab required – see note 3)

5

Other Program Prerequisites Cr
Ethics: One of the following: PHIL-P 140 or REL-R 170 or REL-R 373. Other courses with an ethics component may be accepted - check with program to confirm 3
Human Growth & Development: HPER-F 150 or EDUC-P 314 or PSY-P 315 5 3
Social / Behavioral Science elective: PSY, SOC, or ANTH preferred 3
Computer Science & Technology: CSCI-A 110 or CSCI-A 201 or BUS-K 201 or other computing elective 1 3
General Electives to bring total preprofessional credit hours to 55 1 -5
Total preprofessional credit hours 55

 

Important prerequisite course notes (pertaining to the table above):

  1. Math / science prerequisites courses must be completed with a "C" or higher ("C-" not acceptable).
  2. All statistics courses assume proficiency in a ceratin level of math, depending on the specific course. Check the academic bulletin of the school / department through which the course is offered to confirm required or recommended prerequisites. You should consider taking one of the pre-respiratory therapy math combinations before registering for a statistics course.
  3. Physics lab not required. IUB physics options do include the lab, but students may take a lecture-only physics elsewhere. Before doing so, check with the respiratory therapy program to make sure it will transfer.
  4. Consult the HPPLC pre-respiratory therapy advisor or contact the program directly to confirm other math combinations.
  5. PSY-P 315 has a prerequisite of PSY-P 101 and P102, or P155. P101/102 are recommended for most students. Recommended prerequisite or corequisite for EDUC-P 314 is PSY-P 101or P155.

Some additional course possibilities

While there is very little room for elective credit among the respiratory therapy prerequisites, here are some optional ideas for elective courses you might consider, if you have time.

  • Additional Psychology courses
  • Death & Dying (HPER-H 220)
  • First Aid (HPER-H 160)
  • EMT Certification (HPER-H 401 + HPER-H404, concurrently. Must take HPER- H160 before or with 401/404)
  • Exercise Physiology (HPER-P 205)
  • Gerontology (HPER-H 324)
  • Health Care Administration (SPEA-H 320)
  • Medical Terminology (CLAS-C 209)
  • Nature of Cancer (HPER-H 320)
  • Nutrition (HPER-N 220 or N231)
  • Personal Health (HPER-H 263)
  • -Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (HPER-H 333)

 

Job Shadowing (Clinical Observation)

Job shadowing (sometimes called "clinical observation") is the best way for you to get a first hand look at a given profession and determine whether or not it is one you wish to pursue. HPPLC advisors strongly encourage you to take advantage of any such opportunities that arise during high school, or, if you are already in college, to arrange shadowing as soon as possible.

  • The IU BSRT program requires a minimum of 3 hours of clinical observation as part of the admission process. HPPLC advisors recommend you undertake substantially more than 3 hours to help you decide whether respiratory therapy is a good career choice for you.
  • For each observation experience, print and complete the Respiratory Therapy Clinical Observation Form: first read the How To Apply page on the School of Medicine Health Professions site; then click the Application & Required Forms link. At the bottom of the latter page, you will find the BSRT observation form, which you will submit with your application.
  • You might be able to arrange shadowing through the IU Health Bloomington Hospital Student Placement Services. In addition, at the bottom of the SoM HPP Application & Required Forms page, you will find a list of facilities that may offer observation opportunities (but note that some of the information there may not be entirely current, it's a place to start, though).

 

Admission Interview

The respiratory therapy program will contact qualified applicants who have submitted required documents (including clinical observation forms) to schedule an interview appointment with the admissions committee.

  • The committee normally consists of 2-4 faculty members, and interviews are about 20 minutes long.
  • In addition to helping to determine who is admitted, the interview is intended to help you assess whether you have a clear understanding of what the profession involves, and whether you are adequately prepared to succeed in the program.
  • Other purposes are to assess your overall communication skills, to provide you with more information about the program itself, and to answer questions you might have.
  • If you have not heard back about an interview date within 30 days of the application deadline, contact the respiratory therapy program. Admission decisions are usually made by the end of February.

 

IU BSRT Admission Statistics

The minimum cumulative GPA (CGPA) required to apply is 2.5.

A minimum grade of "C" is required in each Math/Science prereq ("C-" not acceptable) to be eligible to apply.

Of 29 qualified applicants, 16 were offered admission:

Fall 2011 Admission GPA GPA
Minimum CGPA admitted 2.95
Highest CGPA 3.91
Mean (average) CGPA 3.44
Median CGPA 3.44

 

Application Information and Instructions

Deadlines and Requirements

  • All application materials are due January 1 of the year prior to when you anticipate beginning the respiratory therapy professional coursework at IUPUI. (Late applications will be considered on a space-available basis.) Students typically submit their application at the end of Fall semester of sophomore year.
  • As part of the application, you will submit a plan for how you will complete the remaining prerequisites prior to beginning the professional program. You may then be admitted on the condition that you complete all prereqs prior to the start of the professional program and maintain minimum grade and GPA requirements.
  • At time of application, IUB students must also submit a non-binding Intercampus Transfer (ICT) Application to IUPUI.

Where and When to Find the Application

  • Click here to access the application, available in early or mid Fall. Click on How To Apply > Application and Required Forms. Thoroughly read the information provided before completing the application. Print the application and submit it to the address indicated on the form.

Second Chances (e.g., repeating courses)

  • X Petition: For repeated courses, SoM HPP uses the most recent grade to recalculate the admission GPA. They allow up to 15 hours of repeated courses, and the grade can be deleted up to two times for a given course. Other restrictions apply. Contact the program to confirm policies.
  • SoM HPP programs will sometimes allow applicants to utilize IUPUI policies like Academic Bankruptcy and Fresh Start. You can read descriptions of each policy in the SoM Bulletin, linked from the HPP How To Apply page.
  • If you have had academic difficulty that you feel may hamper your chances of being admitted, call the program to discuss your options well before you intend to apply. You would need to request implementation of Academic Bankruptcy or Fresh Start at the time of your application.

Residency / Non-Residency

  • Preference may be given to applicants who are Indiana residents, and to applicants who complete the majority of applicable course work at a public college or university within the state of Indiana. Each School of Medicine program’s admissions committee determines how the preference policy shall be implemented.

 

Other Accredited Respiratory Therapy Programs

For a complete listing of accredited baccalaureate and masters level respiratory therapy programs, visit the American Association for Respiratory Care site.

For a complete list of all accredited respiratory therapy programs, including associate degree programs, visit the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care. (Before you look up programs on this site, first review the "explanation of terms" link on the same page.)

The ASRT Option

Some colleges, like various branches of Indiana's Ivy Tech Community College, offer a two-year ASRT (Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy). ASRT students are trained to sit for the same CRT exam as BSRT students. The ASRT is a good choice for some students: credit hours tend to be less expensive at two-year colleges, and the ASRT can be earned more quickly than the BSRT.

Note, however, that those who have earned their ASRT may have some limitations with regard to job placement; for instance, some hospitals will only hire those who have earned a BSRT.

On the other hand, as long as job seekers are geographically flexible as to where they begin to build their careers, job placement for all CRTs is effectively 100%, whether they have earned the two-year ASRT or the four-year BSRT.

ASRT-to-BSRT program (IUPUI)

Here as another option: those who earn their ASRT from Ivy Tech or another school may apply for admission to IUPUI's ASRT-to-BSRT program, which enables students to complete additional coursework and garner an IU BSRT degree. Contact the IU respiratory therapy program directly if you wish to learn more about this option.

 

Respiratory Therapy Career Information

HPPLC advisors strongly recommend you talk with the director or advisor of the program with regard national board examinations and credentialing, both of which you complete after you finish your respiratory therapy degree.


Respiratory therapy licensure

  • In all states accept Alaska and Hawaii, graduates of RT programs must pass the CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) exam in order to be licensed.
  • In addition to passing the CRT exam, which is offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, you would also apply to a given state's licensing board and pay a fee. This is all that is required to move your career from one state to another; licensure is very portable.
  • Most CRTs also choose to earn their RRT credential (Registered Respiratory Therapists). The RRT is earned by first passing the CRT exam and then 2 additional exams. RRTs have better job opportunities, pay, and job retention than those who only acquire their CRT.

Salary and Job Market Information

(US Department of Labor / Bureau of Labor Statistics)

  • Respiratory therapy "job opportunities will be very good [through 2016], especially for therapists with cardiopulmonary care skills or experience working with newborns and infants."
  • Annual income of respiratory therapists in 2006 was about $47,420. The "middle 50 percent earned between $40,840 and $56,160," and "the highest 10 percent earned more than $64,190." The "lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,200."
  • You can do additional career and job research at

 

Additional Resources

Further information and help

Respiratory Therapy Program contact information

Respiratory Therapy Program
Clarian Health and Affiliated Universities
1701 N. Senate Blvd./WH 652
Indianapolis, IN 46202

Program Director

Linda Van Scoder (317) 962-8475
Email: lvanscoder@clarian.org
Office location of Linda Van Scoder:
Methodist Hospital, Wile Hall Room 652
(Corner of 18th St. and Capital Ave.)

IU School of Medicine Health Professions Programs
635 Barnhill Drive
Medical Science room 158
Indianapolis IN 46202
Phone: (317) 278-4752,
Email: askhpp@iupui.edu
Web: http://medicine.iu.edu/hpp/

Important

This information was prepared for Indiana University Bloomington students by the Health Professions and Prelaw Center. Please note that specific requirements and policies can change at any time without notice. Students are responsible for obtaining the most current information directly from the application services, and the schools and programs in which they have an interest. Refer to each program's web pages, bulletins, and other publications for the most current information.

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