Respiratory Therapy

The program is delivered on campus in Keiser University's signature one-class-at-a-time format, with courses taught in four-week terms and new classes starting every month. Students carry a full-time load and typically complete the 76-credit-hour degree in about 24 months.

The curriculum is sequential: each Respiratory Therapy course is a prerequisite for the next and must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher to progress. Alongside classroom and lab instruction, students complete a series of supervised clinical practicum courses with rotations at affiliated hospitals and healthcare facilities, gaining experience in patient assessment, ventilator management, blood gas analysis, chest physiotherapy, and emergency response under licensed supervision. Day and evening options may be available at select campuses; the program is offered on campus rather than online.

The 76-credit-hour curriculum combines general education coursework with a sequence of respiratory therapy major courses and clinical practicums covering respiratory care theory, pharmacology, diagnostic procedures, intensive and neonatal/pediatric care, and supervised clinical practice.

Required Courses

Tuition at Keiser University is charged per 16-week semester based on the credit hours a student schedules; a full-time load (12–17.99 credits) is approximately $12,408 per semester per the university's Undergraduate Tuition & Fee Disclosure (subject to annual review). Across roughly five full-time semesters, estimated tuition for the 76-credit program is about $62,000. Enrollment also includes a one-time $55 application fee and a one-time $145 registration fee.

As a clinical health program, Respiratory Therapy carries additional program-specific costs beyond tuition, including a per-course education/resource fee, books, clinical compliance tracking, immunizations and medical screenings, uniforms and equipment (such as a lab coat and stethoscope), and NBRC credentialing exam fees. Because these fees are subject to change, students should confirm current amounts with the campus financial services office.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify, including federal Pell Grants, FSEOG, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and Federal Work-Study, as well as Florida's FSAG and EASE programs, institutional scholarships, and veterans/military education benefits. Keiser's FAFSA School Code is 015159, and students should file the FAFSA annually. A Net Price Calculator is available at https://www.keiseruniversity.edu/NPC-index.html.

Estimated total program tuition of about $62,040 (full-time semesters at ~$12,408/semester); actual cost varies with pace and transfer credit.

Graduates are prepared to work as respiratory therapists in a variety of clinical and community settings, including intensive care units, emergency departments, neonatal intensive care units, cardiopulmonary departments, surgical recovery areas, pulmonary function testing labs, sleep disorder centers, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, and respiratory equipment sales and service.

On the job, respiratory therapists identify and evaluate lung disorders, interview and assess patients, perform chest examinations and diagnostic testing, analyze breath and blood specimens, manage mechanical ventilation, respond to Code Blue emergencies, and educate patients and families — all in consultation with physicians.

Upon graduation, students are eligible to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) examinations — the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination and the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) — required to earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential and to apply for state licensure as a respiratory therapist.

Expect a rigorous, sequential program that moves one course at a time through four-week terms, with each class building directly on the last. Because a grade of "C" or higher is required to progress — and Anatomy and Physiology must be completed with a "B" or better to be admitted — the program rewards consistent, focused study.

You will spend significant time in supervised clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals and healthcare facilities, where you will practice real patient care: ventilator management, blood gas analysis, chest physiotherapy, patient assessment, and emergency response. Plan for clinical prerequisites such as a background check, drug screening, immunizations, and required uniforms and equipment. The program is offered on campus, and by the end you should be prepared to sit for the NBRC credentialing exams that lead to the RRT designation.