MINIMUM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Meet College admission requirements.
2. Complete pre-professional phase general education requirements prior to the fall semester enrollment date.  Students enrolled in or lacking pre-professional phase course requirements may apply for conditional admission consideration.
3. Submit complete application packet for admission to the Respiratory Therapist Program by the published date each semester.  The packet should include the following documents:
1. Completed Respiratory Therapist Program Application
2. Copies of all high school and college transcripts.  Note:  Even if the applicant is attending or has ever attended Wallace Community College, he/she must still submit a WCC transcript.  A transcript request to the Office of Admissions and Records at any WCC location is required.  Admissions and Records requires 72 hours for processing requests.
4. Complete the Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test (HOBET) with a minimum composite score of 46.  After submission of the application packet, the applicant is scheduled to complete the HOBET.  Cost of the test is incurred by the applicant ($20.00).  Information regarding the date, time, and location of the test is included in the application packet.  Wallace Community College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990.  Applicants who require accommodation in taking the HOBET should notify the WCC Disability Services Office when submitting their program application.  If accommodation is not requested in advance, its availability on site cannot be guaranteed.

Admission to the Respiratory Therapist Program is competitive, and the number of students is limited by the number of faculty and clinical facilities available.  Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOLLOWING PROGRAM ACCEPTANCE

1. Upon admission to the Program, complete a health form, including immunization records.  Accepted applicants must be able to perform all essential functions identified for the program.  Reasonable accommodations are considered. 
2. Upon admission acceptance, comply with the Wallace Community College Substance Abuse Control Policy for Students in the Health Sciences and complete a scheduled initial drug screen.  Students may be subjected to random drug testing during the length of the Program.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants will be ranked according to evaluation of all admission criteria received by the Respiratory Therapist Admissions Committee prior to the published deadline date.  Admission to the professional phase of the program is competitive and the final acceptance is determined by applicant ranking according to criteria established by the Committee.  Admission of all applicants is conditional pending completion of the documentation related to the performance of essential functions and the ability to comply with the College’s substance abuse control policy.

Applicants will be notified by mail as to the Respiratory Therapist Admissions Committee’s final actions.  A summary of the method by which points are awarded is presented below:

PROGRESSION POLICY

To progress through and graduate from the Respiratory Therapist Program, the student must:

1. Complete each course listed in the Program curriculum requirements with a grade of “C” or higher (pre-professional and professional phase courses inclusive).
2. Receive a passing score on the Cumulative Clinical Proficiency Examination administered at the end of each professional phase term.
3. Maintain ability to meet the Essential Functions for the Respiratory Therapist Program with or without reasonable accommodations.
4. Maintain current CPR at the health care provider level.
5. Maintain current professional liability insurance as provided by College procedures.
6. Maintain a satisfactory level of mental and physical health, including current immunizations, Hepatitis B vaccinations (or signed waiver), and annual TB testing.
7. Abide by the policies, procedures, and rules of behavior of the agencies from which clinical education experiences are obtained (to include initial and random drug screening) and by the prescribed dress code for clinical education.
8. Abide by the policies, procedures, and rules of behavior of the College as published in the College Catalog and Student Handbook and as specified in other materials provided by the Respiratory Program.
9. Follow established guidelines required by the College for maintaining accidental and health insurance.
10. Read and sign the Student Clinical Rotation Contract as outlined by the College.

Students who accumulate excessive absences in the professional phase of the program are subject to counseling regarding attendance and work ethic. 

Students may repeat any RPT-prefix course only once.  Failure to achieve a “C” or higher on a second course attempt will result in termination from the program without the possibility of readmission.

RE-ADMISSION AND TRANSFER POLICY

Readmission

Students who withdraw or are unable to progress in the Respiratory Therapist Program may apply for readmission.  Readmission requests are considered on an individual basis and decisions are based on the readmission policies in effect at the time of request.  Students must apply for readmission in writing to the:

Respiratory Therapist Admissions Committee
Wallace Community College
1141 Wallace Drive
Dothan, Alabama  36303

Requests for readmission should be postmarked no later than 60 days prior to the desired date of readmission.  Failure to submit a timely request will result in denial or delay of readmission.  Students who apply for readmission are given due consideration by the committee.  Final decisions concerning readmission are dependent on space availability in the course/s for which readmission is being requested.

Transfer

Receiving advance placement in the Respiratory Therapist Program requires:

1. Unconditional admission to Wallace Community College with a clear academic status.
2. Completion of a health form, including immunization records
3. Ability to perform all essential functions identified for the program.  Reasonable accommodations are considered. 
4. Compliance with the Wallace Community College Substance Abuse Control Policy for Students in the Health Sciences and completion of a scheduled initial drug screen.  Students may be subjected to random drug testing during the length of the Program.
5. Ability to meet and comply with standards and policies in the current College Catalog and Student Handbook.
6. Official transcripts verifying a minimum grade of “C” earned in courses which represent collegiate coursework relevant to degree requirements of the Respiratory Therapist program.
7. Validation of identified knowledge and/or skills associated with professional phase courses under consideration for advance placement.
8. Eligibility to return to previous respiratory therapist program in good standing.
9. Completion of at least 25% of total required hours for the A.A.S. Degree in Respiratory Therapist at Wallace Community College.

NOTE:  Before completing this program, students must prove competency in computer applications.  Students who fail to demonstrate adequate competency in Computer Science by passing a computer competency exam must successfully complete CIS 146.