Applicants must meet special entrance requirements and complete a department application. Students are strongly encouraged to complete ALL general education courses prior to admission to the program. (See program prerequisites and courses listed in the degree plan)

Application Process

• Complete General Admission Application as required by the Admissions and Records Office.
• Complete Respiratory Care Program Application by May 15 for fall admission. Late applicationa are considered if space is available.
• Complete assessment testing. An ACT composite of 18 is required, SAT scores of 870. Students who have earned at least 12 credit semester hours on the Program of Study with a GPA of 2.25 or greater may have an ACT composite of 16 or SAT score of 780. (ACT Scores before October 1989 and SAT I scores
  before April 1995 will be considered on an individual basis)
• Texas Success Initiative Satisfied (Contact Couseling Services for futher explanation if necessary).
• Overall GPA of 2.25 or above on all college hours attempted. Students with less than a 2.25 GPA will be evaluated on an individual basis.
• Offical high school and college transcripts on file in the Admissions and Records office and Respiratory Care Department.
• Interview with Program Coodinator.
• Current CPR/Health Care Provider card must be on file prior to fall registration.
• A grade of "C" or better in each of the following courses:
        ENGL 1301 Rhetoric and Composition
• PSYC 2301 General Psychology or
  SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology
• BIOL 2404 Introductory Anatomy & Physiology
• PHED 1101 Physical Activity
• (Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete all academic courses prior to acceptance. See suggested degree plan below.) The program prerequisite courses are the minimum course requiements for entrance into the program. Selection criteria are based on completion of ALL academic courses, which includes BIOL2420-Microbiology, PHE 1101 - Physical Education, and humanities/fine arts.
• Qualified applicants who have been accepted must complete a physical examination prior to enrollment in the program, and submit the following immunization records:
  • Two-step TB skin test
  • Tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td) within the last 8 years
  • Measeles/Mumps/Rubella vaccination/s
  • Varicella vaccination/s or proof of disease
  • Three-injection hepatitis B vaccination series or serologic confirmation of immunity to heptatis B virus (The hepatitis B vaccination series must be completed (all 3 doses) by September 1)
• It is the responsibility of the applicant to furnish all necessary documentation to the Respiratory Care Department (including the interview) by May 15.
• Previous respiratory care students who received a certificate from The Victoria College and are currently registered therapists may receive equivalency credit toward an A.A.S. degree. See Program Coordinator for specific procedure.
• Science courses taken more than five years ago will be evaluated on an individual basis and may have to be repeated.
• It is strongly recommended that students possess basic computer literacy skills upon admission to the program. Suggested computer courses include: COSC 1300, ITSC 1309, or HITT 1211.
• Some clinical agencies may require criminal background checks prior to clinical learning experiences; students who do not have clear criminal background checks may not be able to meet all course objectives.
• It should be noted that as a Respiratory Therapist you must be able to walk at a fast pace, climb stairs rapidly, have good peripheral vision, and lift objects weighing over 25 pounds. Applicants must meet all Technical Standards. (See Technical Standards below).

Transfer students will be accepted on an individual basis.

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The Respiratory Care Program at The Victoria College is designed to prepare students for careers in respiratory care.  The Program has a clinical component which is designed to simulate actual clinical work as a respiratory therapist.  Students will be expected to have the skills and abilities to meet the standards described below, with or without reasonable accommodations or modifications.

Category	Standard	Examples
Physical Demands	Lift over 25 pounds of weight Frequent or prolonged standing/walking Reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching	Lifts supplies and equipment Lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfers patients
Motor Skills (Fine and Gross)	Perform multiple motor tasks simultaneously.  Fine and gross motor skills sufficient to handle equipment and provide safe and effective patient care.  Steady arm and hand movements while manipulating objects or assisting patients.	Operate and manipulate equipment, blood collection devices, and several items at once.  Administer aerosols, suction patients, and adjust pressure gauges.  Lift and transport oxygen cylinders, and move in and out of treatment areas.  Push/pull hospital bed.
Tactile (touch)	Tactile ability sufficient to assess patient's response to therapy.	Distinguish textures, degrees of firmness, temperature differences, and pulse rate
Visual	Ability sufficient to monitor and assess patient and equipment function and to provide safe and effective respiratory care.  Near acuity (able to see clearly at 20 inches or less  Far acuity (able to see clearly at 20 feet or more)  Field of vision (able to see peripherally)  Depth perception (able to judge distance)  Color vision (able to distinguish and identify different colors)	Read written instructions/orders.  Read fine print, monitors, and gauges.  Differentiate color/character of sputum for signs/nature of infection /disease  Chart procedures and observations in a permanent medical record.
Hearing	Ability sufficient to hear and understand patients and staff  Hear normal speech.  Hear without seeing lips.  Hear faint body sounds.  Hear auditory alarms.	Communicate and interact with patients and families.  Communicate and interact with other health care personnel.  Follow verbal instructions.  Hear heart and breath sounds.  Describe or explain ideas to others.

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 *If you plan to pursue a bachelor's degree in respiratory care, continue on a career path to become a physician's assistant, or plan to apply to medical school, you will need to take BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2402 instead of BIOL 2404.
#These courses are not part of the degree plan but are highly recommended.