Respiratory Therapist Pre-Admission Conference

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is an equal educational and employment opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of; race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, family medical history, or genetic information.  Further, we vigilantly prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, military service, or any other non-merit based factor.

The school of Respiratory Care prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, marital status, sexual orientation, or handicap in the recruitment and admission of students, in the employment of faculty, and in the operation of all programs, activities, and services.

The mission of the Somerset Community College Registered Respiratory Therapist Program is to provide the didactic, psychomotor, and affective instruction and resources necessary to enable students to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes which are necessary to become successful, competent, professional Registered Respiratory Therapists.

The Faculty of the Registered Respiratory Therapist Program believes that:

• the purpose of this program is to serve students who wish to become
• Registered Respiratory Therapists; and that by doing so, the program serves the future patients of these students;
• knowledge, skills, behavior, and attitudes are of equal importance in the development of Respiratory Therapists;
• the graduates of the program should possess competence at the level of the advanced practitioner, with adequate knowledge in the scientific foundation, critical thinking skills, and strong ethical principles;
• the program faculty and students hold sacred the dignity and worth of all people regardless of race, creed, sex, disadvantage, handicap, or social status.
• becoming a professional Registered Respiratory Therapist is a noble objective worthy of intense effort.

Description:

This program prepares the graduate to take an active role in the maintenance and/or restoration of cardiopulmonary health for their patients.  The curriculum includes intensive course work in the supporting sciences and respiratory specific diagnostics and therapeutics. Classroom instruction is supplemented with learning opportunities in the skills laboratory on campus as well as at clinical sites in area hospitals. Students enrolled in the program are required to achieve a minimum grade of “C” in each of the Respiratory Care courses. Graduates are eligible to take examinations offered by the National Board of Respiratory Care to be awarded the credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist (R.R.T).

Goal:

To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).

Professionalism
People Skills
Physical Dexterity
Adequate visual acuity
Adequate auditory perception
Sufficient strength, gross motor, and fine motor coordination
Sufficient verbal and written communication skills
Problem-solving abilities
Critical thinking

Students must have completed the following requirements to apply:

1. Apply to SCC
If you are not currently enrolled at SCC, your first step in the application process is to apply to the college. This application is for admission to the College only. It is not an application to the Respiratory Therapy Program.

Note: if you have been out of college for a semester or more, you will need to complete a new application.

2. Transcripts

• College Transcripts – request official transcripts from all previously attended college or universities to be sent to the Admissions Office.
• High-School Transcripts – First time college students must request an official high school transcript or GED to be sent to the Admissions Office.
• SCC Admissions Office – 808 Monticello Street Somerset, KY 42501

3. ACT Score

An ACT score is needed for the Respiratory Therapy Program.

• Applicants receive points for only the ACT or ACT residual scores; no other placement exam scores are used.

ACT National Test Information

• ACT exam is scheduled directly through the ACT at www.act.org

ACT Residual Information

• Schedule by appointment only; SCC Somerset Assessment Center 606-451-6850
• Picture ID required
• ACT Residual may only be taken every 60 days
• Must be enrolled at SCC
• The ACT Residual test results can only be used at SCC

4. Letter of Intent is required

• Example Letter of Intent: I, John Doe, am applying to the Respiratory Therapy Program at SCC for the May 2022 class (remember to sign and date).

5. GPA – Preferred 2.0 or higher

6. Pre-Requisites (“C” or better)

• BIO 137 (Anatomy and Physiology I)
• MAT 110 (Applied Math) or MAT 150 (College Algebra) 
• ENG 101 - Writing I

7. Obtaining Program Application

• The program application is now online! You can find it linked at the bottom of this page.
• Make sure all information is complete and legible before submitting.

Submitting the Program Application

Submit the following

• Signed application and signed statement of understanding
• Signed and dated Letter of intent

The signed program application, statement of understanding, and letter of intent must be submitted to the Program Coordinator of Respiratory Therapy by May 2, 2025. 

The Selection Process

Application deadline for the program’s next admission cycle is May 2, 2025.

• Courses completed during the Spring 2025 semester will be used in the admission process
• When the selective admission committee meets, a points sheet is completed on each applicant and the top 20-25 applicants are recommended for admission based on program resources.
• Admission to the program is based on an objective points system
• You will receive one of three emails: an acceptance email, an email stating you’re an alternate, or a non-acceptance email

 

Respiratory Therapy Admissions Point System

Points are awarded as follows: In Preference I the ACT scores achieved in the  Reading, Writing, and Math sections are recorded with the corresponding points to be awarded (example:  ACT scores of 25 or better in each section receives 10 points each). The maximum possible points received in Preference I is 30 points.

In Preference II each general education course completed in the approved curriculum will receive points according to the final grade received in each course (example:  BIO 137 grade of “A” will receive 4 points, “B” will receive 3 points, etc.)  The maximum possible points received in Preference II is 40 points.

Preference I and II points are then tallied together to result in the applicant’s grand point total.  (Maximum possible = 70 points)

Points System

Other Important Information

• Applicants do not carry over from one admission cycle to the next
• If you are not accepted and wish to apply for the next class, you must complete the application process again
• The more general education classes completed, the better the chances of being accepted
• All general education classes do not have to be completed before entering the respiratory therapy program. However, more points are earned for each completed general education course as outlined on the Selective Admission Sheet.

Selective Admission Committee Members

• Program Coordinator
• Program Clinical Coordinator
• Program Faculty
• College Faculty Member
• Dean of Health Sciences

Students admitted into the program are expected to attend an orientation session scheduled prior to the beginning of the semester.

During the orientation session:

• The respiratory therapy handbook will be given out and its content covered by the program faculty.
• The Director of Clinical Education will discuss all requirements needed for clinical rotations (scrubs, student ID’s, etc.).

• The tuition for the Respiratory Therapy Program is the same as the tuition for all SCC courses.
  • The tuition and fee schedule may be found at Tuition & Costs and in the KCTCS Catalog.
• Liability Insurance fee of $11 per semester (added directly to tuition bill).
• Financial aid is available in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans through the Financial Aid Office. Any student seeking financial aid should contact the Financial Aid office.

*Prior to taking RCP 204

After successful completion of the 2^nd semester courses, students may be eligible to apply to the Kentucky Board for Respiratory Care for a Limited Student Practitioner's License. This license permits the student to be employed to perform procedures (for which they have received training) under direct supervision of a respiratory therapist who holds a mandatory certificate. Various clinical sites that are affiliated with the program routinely hire students in this capacity which allows them to work as they complete the remainder of the curriculum.

Clinical Sites

• Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital – Somerset, KY
• St. Joseph London – London, KY
• Rockcastle Regional Hospital & Respiratory Care Center – Mt Vernon, KY
• Advent Health – Manchester, KY
• University of Kentucky Hospital – Lexington, KY
• St. Joseph Berea - Berea, KY
• Ephraim McDowell Medical Center - Danville, KY
• Baptist Health Corbin - Corbin, KY
• Laurel Heights - London, KY
• St. Joseph Main - Lexington, KY

Scheduled clinical hours vary each semester.

Students are responsible for their own transportation to clinicals.

This list is subject to change without notice.

Once admitted to the program, students must provide proof of required immunizations and maintain CPR certification.
Once admitted to the program, students will also be required to complete an orientation to each clinical facility.

Background Check & Drug Screening

The Respiratory Therapy Program & our Clinical facilities requires a criminal background check and a drug screen once a year before students are allowed to participate in clinical experiences. If you do not “pass” the test, the facility may refuse to allow you to practice in their facility. If we cannot place you in a facility for clinical experiences, you will be dismissed from the program. The cost of these check/screens will be the responsibility of the students.

At the Clinical Site

It is important students keep a few things in mind when at a clinical site:

• We are guests at those facilities and the host always has the right to ask the guest to leave
• As a Respiratory Therapy student at SCC, you represent the program and college, and the respiratory profession
• Never do, or say, anything that diminishes the image of any of the three
• You are potentially being evaluated for future employment
  Think of clinicals as an extended job interview
• Clinical sites have assigned areas/lots for student parking
• Most clinical facilities are smoke-free
• Odor and fragrance free; students are not to go to clinical with any natural odors or applied scents; including scented lotions
• The dress code during clinical activities will be of a professional nature
• Most clinical facilities have restrictions of body and/or facial piercing; limiting to piercing of ear lobes (male and females)
• Visible tattoos must be covered when in clinical; either by clothing or disposable bandages

Since students begin their clinical practice courses during the first semester, you will have to provide the Director of Clinical Education copies of the following documents once admitted to the program:

• CPR Certification Card (must be American Heart Association – Basic Life Support)

Immunizations or titers showing immunity to the following:

• MMR
• T-DAP
• Varicella (or medical documentation of chicken pox)
• Flu
• Hepatitis B vaccinations
• TB skin test (PPD)
• COVID-19 Vaccine
• Background Check & Drug Screening

For more information about the Respiratory Therapy profession please visit the American Association for Respiratory Care website at www.aarc.org.

To review our program outcomes data and national comparisons to other Respiratory Therapy programs please visit www.coarc.com.  

Articulation agreements are in place with Northern Kentucky University and the University of Cincinnati for program graduates to seamlessly complete the Bachelor of Science degree in Respiratory Therapy.

Somerset Community College is accredited by:

The Southern Association of College and Schools (SACS)
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, GA 30033
(404) 679-4500
www.sacs.org 

The Respiratory Therapy Program is accredited by:

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
264 Precision Blvd
Telford, TN 37690
(817) 283-2835
www.coarc.com 

CoARC Programmatic Outcomes Data: https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/ 

The following link will take you to the Respiratory Therapy Program Application and Memorandum of Understanding. Please submit the form as instructed.

Application and Memorandum

This application should only be submitted after completing this presentation and signing the accompanying memorandum of understanding.
**Remember to include the Letter of Intent with your submitted application and memorandum of understanding.