Respiratory Care The University of Toledo

Overview

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.

The Respiratory Care students of the University of Toledo 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.