|
|
|
 |
Gary L. Cross, RRT
Program Director - Respiratory Therapy
Tidewater Community College
1700 College Crescent
Virginia Beach, VA 23453
(757) 822-7263
gcross@tcc.edu |
Tidewater Community College offers a certificate program for Respiratory
Therapy Technician and an Associate in Applied Sciences for Respiratory
Therapist.
These pages will provide the following information about
the programs:
Tidewater Community College and Respiratory
Therapy program applications (two separate forms) are available
in the Admissions Center at the Virginia Beach campus in the
Princess Anne building. Applications must be submitted
between July 1 and December 15;
it is strongly recommended that you apply as soon after July
1 as possible as selection may begin before the application
deadline. You will be contacted after the deadline date
concerning your application. If the deadline has passed,
please contact the program director. If openings are available,
applications will be accepted.
Please complete the yellow Health Professions Program Application
and the attached green Evaluation of Previous Educational Experience
form (if you have had previous college credits). You may
submit these forms to Gloria Singleton, Domicile Health Science
and Records Room A100A, Tidewater Community College, 1700 College
Crescent, Virginia Beach, VA 23453. Be sure to
have official college transcripts sent directly to Tidewater Community
College, Central Records/Office of the Registrar, P.O. Box 9000, Norfolk, VA 23509-9000 from the appropriate institution's registrar.
If you are not a student at Tidewater Community College, please
call the Admissions Center at (757) 822-7172 to receive a TCC
application. If you have applied to the program you may
contact Gloria Singleton at (757) 822-7340 to check on your application
status. Please take the time to verify receipt of your application
and transcripts. Only students with completed applications
can be considered for the program.
Positions are limited, and prospective students are considered
and ranked according to the health sciences technologies admissions
priority scale and date of application. Depending upon the
number of applications, only fully qualified applicants may be
considered for the program. Program admission consideration
will be based on the academic record, date of application process
completion, and area of residence. All in-district students
will be given first priority. This policy is currently under review
and subject to change. It is strongly recommended that
applicants apply early and make sure all transcripts are received
before the deadline.
Requirements include: high school graduation or GED, BIO
141, ENG 03 and MTH 03, college transcripts on file, and all students
must attend an information session/interview with program faculty.
Students with deficiencies may require developmental studies,
which must be completed before they are considered for admission
to the program. Students must submit two applications:
the college admission form and the health science form.
It must be noted that The Commission on Accreditation of
Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredits programs
upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for
Respiratory Care.
Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
1248 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX 76021-4244
817-283-2835
Fax: 817-354-8519
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: 727-210-2350
Fax: 727-210-2354
Email: mail@caahep.org
Information on grants, loans and scholarships is available
from the Financial Aid Office and can be reached by calling
(757) 822-7292.
The Veterans Affairs Office will assist you with your application
if you are eligible for educational benefits and can be reached
by calling (757) 822-7235.
Information packets containing the information on these pages
can be downloaded at this site, or copies of the necessary
documents may be requested at (757) 822-7255.
If you have any additional questions, please call Vickie Rogers
in the Counseling Center (757) 822-7211, or attend the Repiratory
Therapy "Open
House" which is held on the third Thursday
of each month from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Lynnhaven
Building on the Virginia Beach Campus, room E-108.
Download the Health Professions Programs
and Open House Information flyer.
Tidewater Community College maintains and promotes equal opportunity
without regard to ethnicity, color, gender, age (except where
gender or age is a bona fide occupational qualification), religion,
handicap, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Disclosure
of social security number, age, gender, and ethnicity is optional
Frequently asked Questions
- What is Respiratory Therapy?
Respiratory Therapy is one of many allied health professions.
The profession developed out of needs of critical and rehabilitative
heart and lung patients of the early 1940's. Respiratory care
practitioners work as members of the critical care team in treating
individuals who are seriously ill. Using sophisticated medical
equipment, they help people with such lung disorders as asthma,
emphysema, pneumonia, and bronchitis. This may include using
equipment that will mechanically breathe for the patient.
- Can I specialize in Respiratory
Care?
Yes, there are specialty positions in pediatric care, newborn
care, pulmonary rehabilitation, home care, pulmonary function
diagnostics, exercise stress testing, and adult critical care.
Respiratory Therapists can also specialize in teaching and management
positions.
- What credentials can I receive
upon graduation?
Students completing
the AAS program are qualified to take the CRT exam, the Advanced
Practitioner Exam and the Clinical Simulation Exam offered by
the NBRC. After passing these exams you are a Registered Respiratory
Therapist (RRT).
- What is required for admission
to the program? What can I do if I do not meet the minimum
requirements for admission, or I feel it has been too long
since completing the required Math and Science courses?
In order to qualify for admission to the program you must pass
BIO 141 Human Anatomy & Physiology I with a grade of "C"
or better, take the placement tests and place into MATH 126
and ENG 111. First priority shall be given to all qualified
students who are residents of the political subdivisions supporting
the College.
TCC offers a wide variety of developmental
courses. These courses will provide students with the necessary
knowledge to succeed in the program. Developmental Math, English,
Biology and Chemistry are offered at various times both day and
night. Biology 141 courses are offered each semester.
- When is it necessary to
take the Math and English placement tests given by the counseling
center?
All students who have not passed ENG 111 and College Algebra
must take the placement tests. It is recommended that these
tests be taken as early as possible so that if developmental
work is necessary, a student can complete it prior to the start
of the program. Please call the Counseling Center at (757) 822-7212
for testing dates.
- Are there jobs available?
Since the program's inception in 1975, all graduates have accepted
positions immediately upon graduation. The future continues
to be very bright for employment in Respiratory Therapy.
The number and types of employers
actively seeking qualified respiratory care practitioners have
increased considerably. Today's practitioner may work in large
and technologically advanced critical care units, perform in small
rural hospitals, work for a private physician or act as independent
providers in home care. The projected number of jobs is far in
excess of the projected number of graduates expected over the
next several years. Entry-level salaries should continue to increase
over the next few years at or above those of other allied health
occupations.
- Is there a four year degree
in RT?
Yes, many colleges across the country offer B.S. degrees in
Respiratory Therapy. Another option is to transfer to a four-year
institution upon completion of your TIC Associate Degree.
ODU and TCC have a transfer agreement in place where TCC graduates
with A.S. degrees can go in as juniors in a four- year degree
program. If attending full-time, a student can earn a BS degree
from ODU in approximately three semesters. Virginia Tech also
offers a similar transfer program.
- What salary can I expect
to earn?
Salaries are quite good for Respiratory Therapy Practitioners.
A Respiratory Therapy Technician can expect to make approximately
$19,000 upon graduation, while a therapist can expect to begin
at approximately $24,000. These salaries are based on a 1993
census.
- Are all classes offered
only during the day?
Respiratory Therapy classes are only offered at the Virginia
Beach campus of TCC during the day (identified by the prefix
letters RTH). You may take all non-Respiratory Therapy courses
in the curriculum either during the day or evening at another
campus such as the Portsmouth campus, Chesapeake campus, or
at the Norfolk Center.
- Must courses be taken
in the order they appear in the curriculum?
You must take all Respiratory Therapy courses in the order in
which they appear in the curriculum. Each course prepares you
for the next course, and each is offered only once a year. You
may take any non-Respiratory Therapy course during the semester
it appears in the curriculum or before that semester. It is
recommended that non-Respiratory Therapy courses be taken prior
entry into the program to lighten a student load.
- How many hours a week will
I be in class?
You will attend class an average of 26 hours a week during the
program. Of course, if you have already completed any required
course work you will attend class fewer hours.
- I do not believe I can
handle so many credit hours every semester. What courses can
I take before I enter the therapist program?
Any course that is not a Respiratory Therapy course (RTH prefix)
can be taken before you are accepted into the program. You can complete courses such as BIO 141 and 142, ENG
111, PSY 231, ECO 120, SDV 101 before you enter the program.
However, if this is your desired approach it is extremely important
to contact the counseling center as soon as possible.
- How long will it take
to complete the Respiratory Therapist Program?
The present program is structured to allow an entering college
freshman with only BIO 141 to complete the 72 semester hour
curriculum in six semesters after admission. However, many students
may choose to complete all non-RTH coursework prior to entry
into the Respiratory Therapy program lengthening the time of
completion.
- Where are the clinical
assignments in the program?
Clinical assignments are at the following hospitals:
- Children's Hospital
of the King's Daughters, Norfolk, Virginia
- Hampton Veterans Administration
Medical Center, Hampton, Virginia
- Chesapeake General
Hospital, Chesapeake, Virginia
- Sentara Bayside Hospital,
Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Sentara Norfolk General
Hospital, Norfolk, Virginia
- Sentara Hampton General
Hospital, Hampton, Virginia
- Portsmouth Naval Hospital,
Portsmouth, Virginia
- Sentara Leigh Hospital,
Norfolk, Virginia
- DePaul Medical Center,
Norfolk, Virginia
- Are there any costs involved
in the Respiratory Therapy Program?
When the cost of required software (DataArc CD-Rom), and recommended
texts, uniforms, a stethoscope, state and regional educational
meeting fees and student membership in the national association
for respiratory care is totaled, a student can expect to spend
$800.00 in addition to tuition.
- Are there scholarships
and loans available to select applicants?
Yes. To help qualified and selected students defray expenses,
several local and regional hospitals have created scholarships
and loans. These scholarships and loans are usually available
to students already in the program. Traditional College loans
and scholarships are available to many students, please contact
the financial aid office for more information.
- If I am transferring from
another Respiratory Therapy Program, can I get credit for
some of the respiratory therapy courses?
Yes. Once you have completed the admission into General Studies
for Respiratory Therapy and your transcripts are on file in
the Office of Admissions and Records, make an appointment with
the Program Director for Respiratory Therapy. The Respiratory
Therapy faculty will evaluate your Respiratory Therapy course
work taken elsewhere. For further details contact the director
of the Respiratory Therapy program.
- If I am graduating from
high school in June, what are my chances for acceptance into
the Respiratory Therapy Program for the summer?
You will still need at least one semester of coursework (specifically
BIO 141) to be eligible for the program. Our advice would
be to take 2 semesters and complete ENG 111, Math 03 or higher,
SDV 101 (Orientation to health care), BIO 142 and apply to
the program in the Fall semester for next summer's class.
Printable Information
Packet
To download the packet you will need to have Adobe
Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have
Acrobat Reader, its free.
Information Packet
Printable Student
Handbook
To download the handbook you will need
to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.
If
you
do not have Acrobat Reader, its free.
Student
Handbook
Printable
Technical Standards for Respiratory Therapy
To download the document
you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader
installed on your computer. If you do not
have Acrobat Reader, its free.
Standards
Handbook
Criminal
Background Check
Health Professions students
assigned to clinical rotations or internships
at some healthcare facilities are personally
responsible for completing the required background
checks or screenings and assuring that results
are obtained by the healthcare or medical
facility that asks for them. Prospective
RTH students are required
to complete the background check. Students
are required to bear the costs of such tests.
It will be the decision of the clinical affiliate
(healthcare or medical facility) whether
the student will be allowed to participate
in the clinical activities should there be
positive criminal or sex offender results.
Tidewater Community College does not assume
any responsibility for obtaining or evaluating
the results of a criminal background check,
drug screen or other check, maintaining the
records of results or for delivering them
to clinical sites. Students may not request
to be assigned only to those sites that do
not require such checks. Students who refuse
to undergo a criminal background check or
drug screen or other required check may not
be able to be placed at another facility
and consequently may not be able to complete
program requirements and graduate. Tidewater
Community College will make reasonable efforts
to place all enrolled students in clinical
training.
Students are also reminded
that licensing boards for certain health
care occupations and professions may deny,
suspend or revoke a license or may deny the
individual the opportunity to sit for an
examination if an applicant has a criminal
history or is convicted or pleads guilty
or nolo contendere to a felony or other serious
crime. Successful completion of a health
professions program of study at Tidewater
Community College does not guarantee licensure,
the opportunity to sit for a licensure examination,
certification or employment in the relevant
heath care occupation.
The vendor for criminal background checks is Certified Background. 
Procedure
1. Please complete the vendor information and make direct payment to the vendor.
The vendor will provide you with a passcode and a PDF file of the results.
2. It is your responsibility
to provide your CBI results to the agency
requesting it within 24 hours after the first
day of classes (which is also the day of
final notification of clinical placement
sites). To initiate completion of your CBI
please contact the selected vendor, provide
the required data, sign the release and provide
payment to the vendor.
3. Please be sure to keep a
hard copy of your own PDF file for your personal
records.
Instructions:
1. Go to www.certifiedbackground.com.
2. Click on "Students"
3. In the Package Code Box, enter id05
4. You will see a page with information about our package and its contents,
costs, etc.
Download instruction
sheet.
Contact:
gcross@tcc.edu
Disclaimer
|
|