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Respiratory Care

Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care (B.S.)

93%
The average pass rate for UToledo students taking the national respiratory care credentialing exams. That’s 30 percent above the national pass rate, and proof-positive that our award-winning respiratory care program is one of the best in the area.

93%
The average pass rate for UToledo students taking the national respiratory care credentialing exams. That’s 30 percent above the national pass rate, and proof-positive that our award-winning respiratory care program is one of the best in the area.

Respiratory Care Bachelor's Degree Overview

The University of Toledo’s accredited respiratory care program has received the Ohio Board of Regent’s prestigious Program Excellence Award. In 2017, it received the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award from the national Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Respiratory care is an allied health specialty. Respiratory therapists assist physicians in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with lung and heart conditions.

If you like options, this is a great career.

  • Respiratory therapists see a diverse group of patients, from newborns to the elderly.
  • They work in diverse settings — hospitals, skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, home care and physicians' offices.
  • They have diverse career opportunities, from therapy and management to sales and education.

UToledo respiratory care students take two years of general courses and health science pre-requisites. They then apply to the professional portion of the program, which includes almost 1,000 hours of clinical experience.

Our focus is on competency-based learning as well as outcomes-based training and education. Our students attend several simulations each year in our cutting-edge simulation center to test their critical-thinking and judgment skills.

Registered respiratory therapists with associate’s degrees can complete their bachelor’s in two years.

Respiratory Care Bachelor's Degree Highlights

  • Top accredited bachelor’s degree program.
    • UToledo received the prestigious Program Excellence Award from the Ohio Board of Regents. Just 14% of the country’s 360 respiratory care programs grant bachelor’s degrees.
    • The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care has awarded the program the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award for exceeding thresholds for credentialing examination success, attrition and positive job placement.  
  • Almost 1,000 hours of clinical experience. Respiratory care students work under the guidance of clinical instructors at The University of Toledo Medical Center and clinics on our Health Science Campus. Students also rotate to regional health-care systems and community hospitals. They care for all kinds of patients, from the critically ill to premature infants.
  • An above-average pass rate on national exam. 93% of UToledo respiratory care students pass the national credentialing exam each year. That’s 30% higher than the national average. Graduates must pass this exam to become licensed and practice respiratory therapy in Ohio and all other states except Alaska.
  • Degree completion track. Are you already a registered respiratory therapist with an associate’s degree? Earn your bachelor’s in two years. Our professional support courses cover many health-care issues relevant to the practicing professional. Choose a specialization to enhance your career.
  • State-of-the-art simulation center. UToledo respiratory care undergrads polish their skills in some of the nation’s most comprehensive lab facilities.
     
    UToledo’s cutting-edge Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center on the Health Science Campus houses a virtual hospital with an ICU, trauma suite, obstetrics and delivery suite, and operating room equipped with human patient simulators and clinical equipment. There’s no better way to prepare to treat real-world patients than to work with simulation manikins that respond to treatment in real time.
  • Expert faculty. All faculty members are nationally registered respiratory therapists with advanced degrees and extensive clinical experience.

Career Opportunities

The job market continues to be strong for respiratory therapists. UToledo has a 100% job placement rate for recent graduates.

Our graduates work almost exclusively in hospitals. They have been hired by all area hospitals and every children’s hospital in Ohio and at the University of Michigan.

An increasing number of respiratory therapists are now working in:

  • Skilled nursing facilities
  • Physicians' offices
  • Home-health agencies
  • Specialized care hospitals
  • Medical-equipment supply companies

UToledo graduates also have become educators and program directors at institutions throughout the country.

The exams to become certified or registered respiratory therapists are optional, but most states require at least the certification exam. Many employers also insist on at least one of these credentials. 


Professional Licensure Information

Our Alumni

"The education I received from the Respiratory Care Program at The University of Toledo contributed enormously to my interprofessional approach, orientation to detail, and time management. The program exceeded at providing me with all the important materials needed to succeed clinically and educationally in my career. On a day-to-day basis, patient populations we work with can range from a 22-week-old neonate to a 101-year-old. As a student I experienced a wide variety of settings beyond the acute care hospitals, such as pulmonary function laboratories, management, sleep laboratories, home health care and long term acute-care facilities."

Kierra Jackson, RRT, class of 2020

"The Respiratory Care program at The University of Toledo helped me by providing many new advanced opportunities and laid down a foundation that helped me get a head start in the medical field. This program has provided hands on opportunities at a variety of hospitals, simulation labs, community outreach opportunities and inter-professional education. Being a part of this program has helped me succeed in the goals I set for my career today."

Nikki Strauss, RRT, class of 2020


Respiratory Care Bachelor's Degree Plan of Study

Respiratory care bachelor’s degree sample classes:

  • Respiratory Care Therapeutics
  • Research Analysis in Respiratory Care
  • Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care

View Plan of Study

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Respiratory Care Bachelor's Degree

4-year program

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Last Updated: 1/28/2023