Respiratory Therapy Program:

Associate in Specialized Technology Degree

The Respiratory Therapy program at Western School of Health and Business Careers, Monroeville (WSHBC) is designed to provide students with the technical and practical training necessary to work as respiratory therapists in a variety of health care settings. The program is designed to teach students the ability to comprehend, apply, and evaluate clinical information relevant to their roles as respiratory therapists, as well as show the technical proficiency and the professional behavior consistent with employer expectations. The core curriculum is structured to include a lecture component, a laboratory component, and an integrated clinical component. The final externship portion of the curriculum consists of supervised experiences in a clinical environment, which requires competencies, logs, and evaluations completed by the student. At the conclusion of the program, graduates who have diligently attended class and their externship, studied, and practiced their skills should have the skills to seek entry-level employment as respiratory therapists.

The Respiratory Therapy program at WSHBC is programmatically accredited by the Commission on Accreditation or Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Therefore, graduates of the program are eligible for and encouraged to take the Certified Respiratory Therapy (CRT) exam offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which may enhance employment opportunities. Certification requirements for taking and passing this examination are not controlled by WSHBC but by outside agencies and are subject to change without notice. Therefore, WSHBC cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take this certification exam, or any other certification exam, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

STATE LICENSURE INFORMATION
In the state of Pennsylvania, graduates must apply for and receive state certification to practice respiratory therapy. Passage of the CRT examination offered by the NBRC is required for state certification in Pennsylvania. WSHBC does not control state licensure or certification requirements in Pennsylvania or in any other state, and cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to work as respiratory therapists in Pennsylvania or any other state, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

Contact us today for more information about our Respiratory Therapy program.