Respiratory therapy is not only a career that helps its patients breathe better. It is also a job that holds financial security. According to the United States Department of Labor, the medical field will continue to have a demand for respiratory therapists as both hospitals and doctor's offices hire more high-tech professionals on staff. In Illinois, many colleges offer associate degrees specifically for the respiratory therapist career.
College of DuPage
Professors at the College of DuPage's respiratory therapist program are sponsored by the American Societies of Anesthesiology, Chest and Thoracic medicine. They are also endorsed by the American Association for Respiratory Care. The two-year program helps its students become respiratory care practitioners. Graduates are also prepared for the National Board for Respiratory Care exams. According to the college, 100 percent of all graduates of the program are able to find employment after completing their degrees.
During the program, students learn perform cardiopulmonary support in a variety of settings, including clinical and hospital settings, home care environments, intensive care units, emergency rooms and laboratories.
Kaskaskia College
Located in Centralia, Kaskaskia College offers an associate degree program specializing in respiratory theory, biological and behavioral sciences and humanities. This program lasts five semesters and it is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Kaskaskia College also offers classes at various education centers throughout the region. Some of those centers are located in Greenville, Salem, Nashville, Ill., and Vandalia.
Program officials recommend that students have a thorough academic background in biology, algebra and computer processing prior to admitting into the respiratory therapy program.
Parkland College
In Champaign, Parkland College focuses its curriculum to include classroom and laboratory exercises as well as clinical experience at area acute care hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and home care companies. The idea is to give the students a well-rounded education and real world experience. Students perform diagnostic tests, provide treatment and educate patients about their respiratory conditions. According to the community college's website, graduates from Parkland College often start working while they are still completing their associate degree in respiratory therapy.
Southwestern Illinios College
Based in Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College prepares its students for work in the respiratory therapy field by developing a well-rounded program that includes general coursework. The program is highly competitive, and applicants are graded upon their acceptance depending on how well they performed in high school or college level biology, chemistry and algebra courses. The college only takes applications for the upcoming fall semester from September to April.
Tags: Kaskaskia College, Parkland College, Respiratory Care, respiratory therapy, associate degree
