Respiratory Therapy

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Take the first step towards a vital role in healthcare! Our program trains you to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). RRTs care for patients with lung and heart issues. They operate life support systems, assess lung function and set up artificial airways. They work with patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly. As an RRT, you can find work in a variety of healthcare settings, including:

  • Clinics
  • Hospitals
  • Emergency Rooms
  • Intensive care units

At Ozarks Tech, we offer an associate and bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy. In our bachelor’s program you learn advanced clinical concepts, research practices and leadership skills. Both programs prepare you to seek state licensure and take the national registry exam.

This program is selective admission. A new class begins each spring semester. Review the application details before applying.

Brandon Burk
Respiratory Therapy Program Director
417-447-8823

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Accreditation

The Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC), program number 200351, Associate of Applied Science degree at the Springfield, MO campus, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). www.coarc.com

The Bachelors of Science in Respiratory Therapy Program, CoARC program number 210351, located in Waynesville, MO and Springfield, MO, holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

CoARC accredits respiratory therapy 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.

OTC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Our current accreditation status with the HLC is displayed on the page linked below. Our next comprehensive evaluation will be in 2030-2031. View more information on OTC accreditation.

Program Outcomes

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General Admissions to Ozarks Tech

Admission to Ozarks Technical Community College is open to all individuals who can benefit from its educational programs. A focus of the college mission is on the academic, career and personal goals of the student. OTC may admit you as a First-Time student just completing their high school, GED or HiSET requirements or as a Transfer student coming from another institution finishing up a certificate or degree. For more information, visit OTC Admissions.

Wondering how you’re going to pay for college? At OTC, we believe that cost shouldn’t be a barrier to earning a degree. Our staff will work with you to make a financial plan. To browse the resources available to you, see paying for college.

At Ozarks Tech, we want your transfer process to be easy. We accomplish this goal through articulation agreements. These agreements are an official partnership to match coursework between schools. This gives you a more seamless transition from Ozarks Tech to a four-year institution.

We have established an agreement for this program. This will simplify the transfer of your credits to partner schools. To understand how this degree will transfer, review the current articulation agreements. Be sure to consult with your transfer school to ensure you’re on the right path toward completing your four-year degree.

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COSTS & OPTIONS

CREDENTIAL TYPE
PROGRAM
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO:
LENGTH OF PROGRAM
COST*

Bachelor of Science

Respiratory Therapy
  • Learn advanced clinical concepts, research practices and leadership skills
  • Begin working as an RRT after completing a bachelor's degree
  • You wish to supplement your training with cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills gained in general education courses

120 credit hours
8 semesters

$24,569.00*
to
$31,769.00*

Associate of Applied Science

Respiratory Therapy
  • Begin working as an RRT after completing an associate degree
  • You wish to supplement your training with cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills gained in general education courses

76 credit hours
5 semesters

$16,305.00*
to
$20,833.00*

Short-Term Training

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Accelerate your career with OTC's short-term training courses. Gain valuable skills in as little as just weeks and unlock new opportunities for success. View courses. 

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PROGRAM DETAILS

Clicking on the options below will provide overview information, course sequences (when applicable), and specific course descriptions. To see a full catalog of all the offerings at OTC, visit catalog.otc.edu.

Respiratory Therapy (B.S.)

B.S. Degree: 120 Hours

The Respiratory Therapy, Bachelor of Science program, is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). The four-year program graduates are eligible for the national registry exam leading to a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and eligible for state licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner. Registered Respiratory Therapists may work in hospital settings with critical and noncritical patients or for home health companies who specialize in respiratory care and equipment. The Bachelor degree option provides students with additional knowledge in advanced clinical concepts, research, and leadership. 

A grade of "C" or better is required for all BSRT required courses.

This is a limited and selective enrollment program which admits a new class in the Spring semester. 

CORE 42 is a statewide general education course of study intended to ensure that all graduates possess a common core of college-level skills and knowledge. CORE 42 specifies the basic competencies and knowledge areas that all students completing degrees at a Missouri public institution of higher education must complete. CORE 42 is comprised of dozens of courses distributed across five knowledge areas. These courses are designated with a Missouri Transfer (MOTR) course number, which guarantees the one-to-one transfer of these courses among all Missouri public institutions of higher education. Please refer to MDHE Core Transfer Curriculum for detailed information on CORE 42 courses.

All knowledge areas below, designated with the CORE 42 logo indicate all courses in that area have been evaluated and provided a MOTR number for transfer to all Missouri public institutions of higher education.

Any course with an approved MOTR number or additional hours from a MOTR approved course can be utilized to fulfill the Core electives requirement.  Credit received from an OTC course may be greater than the MOTR transfer equivalency.  The additional credit provided form OTC for a MOTR approved course will move the additional credit to the Core electives (e.g. CHM 160 at OTC = 4 credit hours, MOTR equivalency = 3 credit hours; additional 1 hour moved to Core electives).

Respiratory Therapy (A.A.S.)

A.A.S. Degree: 76 Hours

The Respiratory Therapy program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). The two-year program graduates are eligible for the national registry exam leading to a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and eligible for state licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner. Registered Respiratory Therapists may work in hospital settings with critical and noncritical patients or for home health companies who specialize in respiratory care and equipment.

This is a limited and selective enrollment program which admits a new class each summer. Interested persons should contact the Health Sciences Office for applications and procedures. The application deadline for the program is February 15.

A grade of "C" or better is required for all respiratory therapy required courses.

The program is accredited by Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Therapy (CoARC), 264 Precision Blvd, Telford, TN 37690, (817) 283-2835  https://coarc.com/

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*Notices and Disclaimers

*Costs displayed are based on current tuition and fee rates for the program’s required credit hours, as approved by the OTC Board of Trustees, and are subject to change without notice. Estimates reflect both in-district and out-of-district residency rates. Actual costs, degree completion time, and credit requirements may vary based on residency, prior credits, elective courses, program updates, and enrollment factors. For additional information on attendance costs, visit Cost of Attendance, tuition and fees or contact us at 417-447-6900.

**Graduation rates vary by individual. For details on program enrollment, retention, exam/certification, and employment rates, visit Student Outcomes / Student Right-to-Know. Some careers on this list may require additional education and training. For program-specific accreditation visit OTC Accreditation.