Respiratory Therapy, A.A.S. is an Associate Of Occupational Studies program (100% Online) offered by Charter College in Reno, NV. The program takes 80 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $43,130.
Program Overview
Charter College, program # 200687, located at Salt Lake City, UT, has been granted provisional accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) (www.coarc.com) to award an Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care.
Respiratory therapists are healthcare professionals who work with patients with breathing disorders and lung diseases such as COPD and asthma. As a respiratory therapist, you can work in various medical settings such as hospitals, trauma units, neonatal units, nursing homes, cardiopulmonary diagnostic labs, sleep disorder centers, and home care agencies. Some of your responsibilities include administering oxygen therapy, aerosol medications, chest physiotherapy, pulmonary function testing, and arterial blood gas procedures and analysis. You also operate mechanical ventilators and provide patient education. To work in the field, you can earn an A.A.S. in Respiratory Therapy degree and become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), the highest credential level.
Upon Successful completion of the Respiratory Therapy program, you will be able to:
Online with in-person labs at Salt Lake City and clinical practicum in your local area
The A.A.S. in Respiratory Therapy program provides you with the knowledge and technical skills you need to seek entry level employment in this field. In classrooms, labs, and clinical practicums, you learn various respiratory treatment techniques, common medical terminology, and how to professionally engage with patients. In addition, you will complete assignments such as reading, exercises, problem solving, projects, research papers, and presentations.
General Requirements
- Prior to enrollment, an admissions representative will conduct an interview to review available programs and their relation to the career objectives, training needs, and overall…
- Students enrolling in a blended or online program must complete the online orientation prior to the third day (Wednesday) of the first week; this requirement must be completed…
- Students must be at least seventeen (17) years of age. Students may be enrolled in only one (1) program at a time.
- Official transcripts must be provided by a student seeking Academic Credit (AC) or Transfer Credit (TC) for any program, see Advanced Academic Standing for more information.
- To become an official start, students must meet the Admissions Requirements and resolve all financial planning items on or before the end of the seventh business day following the…
- All students must attest to having one (1) of the following:
- If a student does not meet one those requirements, then they must:
- All students must provide a valid, government-issued photo ID.
- Certificate of completion of training on Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Bloodborne Pathogen (provided prior to clinical by Charter College).
- Basic Life Support (BLS) card, which must not expire before the anticipated graduation date.
- Proof of health insurance.
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
- Tuberculosis (TB): Negative screening results or documentation of medical clearance within 1 year of the start date.
- Influenza (flu): Documentation of Influenza immunization within the last 1 year.
- Applicants who delay completing these requirements may find themselves superseded by applicants who began the process later but completed the entire process sooner.
- If an applicant is not confirmed for the current module, they are confirmed for a seat in the next module provided they remain eligible for admission.
- Additionally, all students must provide evidence of one (1) of the following for admission to the program:
- The certificate/diploma or coursework must be completed at an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education…
- Official transcripts of prior education must demonstrate a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher and meet the requirements of the Advanced Academic Standing policy.
- Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher and meet the requirements of the Advanced Academic Standing policy.
- Provide evidence of one of the following: 1) a current national medical assistant certification or 2) passing a national medical assistant certification exam within the last…
School Information
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Accredited by the following:
- ABHES (Health Education)
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Reno Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Percentages are of total fall enrollment. 10 students whose race or ethnicity was not reported are included in that total but shown as no category, so the figures above come to 99.5% rather than 100%.
Application Process
- 1How to Apply
- 2Cost to Apply to Charter College
- 3Apply to Attend Online or On Campus
Program Schedule
Respiratory Therapy, A.A.S. is 1,765 clock hours, completed in 80 weeks.
New cohorts start regularly. Upcoming start dates:
- September 17, 2027
- January 26, 2027
- February 21, 2027
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Both federal and state governments offer assistance programs to help you and/or your parents pay for your education. These fall into two general types: grants and loans.
Grants/ScholarshipsThis type of assistance does not need to be repaid and includes the Federal Pell Grant Program.
LoansLoans are assistance you do repay, like the Federal Direct Stafford Loan.
Third party tuition funding often comes from state, local, or corporate entities, such as vocational rehabilitation programs, workforce investment initiative programs, corporate sponsorships or employer assistance, high school scholarships, etc.
The Federal Work Study Program (FWS) provides part-time employment to assist students in earning money to help pay education expenses.
Charter College works closely with local base and Veterans Affairs agencies in order to help provide benefits for active-duty and veteran students.
Charter students who qualify may receive financial support from state or local native corporations and councils.
Charter College offers a flexible enrollment cycle, starting most programs every 5 weeks throughout the calendar year. Students are expected to meet with a financial aid staff member to review and complete any needed documents, securing all eligible funding and ensuring options have been reviewed by the student prior to their official start date.
When visiting a campus, both in-person or virtually during an online appointment, Financial Aid Advisors assist students with completing all applications and paperwork needed for any financial assistance they may be eligible to receive.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of this program may pursue careers as:
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (Rrt)
- The Highest Credential Level
Curriculum
Required Courses
| Name |
|---|
| Medical Terminology |
| Fundamentals and History of Respiratory Care |
| Respiratory Fundamental Lab |
| Cardiopulmonary Anatomy & Physiology |
| Respiratory Pharmacology |
| Applied Clinical Practicum I |
| Respiratory Diseases |
| Introduction to Critical Care and Mechanical Ventilation |
| Advanced Critical Care and Mechanical Ventilation |
| Advanced Critical Care and Mechanical Ventilation Lab |
| Respiratory Hemodynamic Monitoring |
| Pulmonary Function Studies |
| Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care |
| Applied Clinical Practicum II |
| Applied Clinical Practicum III |
| Applied Clinical Practicum IV |
| Therapist Multiple Choice Exam Review |
| Clinical Simulation Exam Review |
| Applied Clinical Practicum V |
| Homecare and Rehabilitation |
| Totals |
School Information
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Accredited by the following:
- ABHES (Health Education)
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Reno Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Percentages are of total fall enrollment. 10 students whose race or ethnicity was not reported are included in that total but shown as no category, so the figures above come to 99.5% rather than 100%.