College of Health and Human Services

Respiratory Care is a dynamic health profession focused on helping patients with cardiopulmonary conditions breathe and live better. At The University of Toledo, students gain the knowledge and hands-on clinical experience needed to become highly skilled respiratory therapists ready to make an impact across diverse healthcare settings.

Respiratory therapists care for patients of all ages and backgrounds, from the most fragile newborns to older adults, providing essential diagnostic, therapeutic, and life-saving care for patients with a wide range of breathing and cardiopulmonary conditions. Our program prepares graduates to confidently work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, home care, and specialty care environments.

Respiratory care practitioners work closely with physicians to support patients experiencing a wide range of conditions, including:

• Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Emphysema and pneumonia
• Cystic fibrosis
• Infant respiratory distress syndrome
• Trauma, shock, and post-surgical complications

Students also gain experience in high-demand specialty areas such as:

• Neonatal and pediatric intensive care units
• Adult intensive care units
• Sleep study laboratories
• Pulmonary function testing labs
• Labor and delivery settings

With a bachelor’s degree, graduates are prepared to deliver advanced respiratory care across acute, chronic, and home-based healthcare environments.

More Information About the Program

Program Goals

The Respiratory Care Program is designed to:

• Develop competence in cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) domains aligned with Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) practice
• Prepare students for leadership roles in respiratory care, including management, education, research, and advanced clinical practice
• Support opportunities for specialization and professional growth within the field

Estimated Additional Student Expenses

In addition to tuition and fees, students should anticipate the following program-related costs:

• Approximately $1,000 for textbooks
• Approximately $350 for supplies (program scrubs, lab coat, stethoscope, PPE, watch with secondhand, etc.)
• $61.70 (may vary) for criminal background check
• $40 for Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• $150 for Trajecsys software subscription
• $50 AARC student membership
• Variable costs for clinical site medical clearance (vaccinations, titers, drug screening, PPD, etc.)

Accreditation

The University of Toledo Respiratory Care Program (Program #200178) is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) which can be contacted by mail at 264 Precision Blvd., Telford, TN 37690, by phone at 817.283.2835 or on the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care website. 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. For additional information comparing the student outcomes for the UT program with those from all other accredited programs in the country.

Functional Abilities

Licensure Information

The University of Toledo’s Respiratory Care Program leads to licensure as a respiratory therapist and satisfies the academic requirements established by the State of Ohio. Licensure requirements may vary by state.

Students planning to practice outside Ohio should review the Professional Licensure Information page for state-specific requirements or contact Program Director/Advisor Nicole McKenzie, Ph.D., RRT at 419.530.4515 for guidance.