Respiratory Therapist

Associate Degree: 10-515-1
Campus: Fond du Lac

The Respiratory Therapist associate degree prepares students for a health career that involves the assessment and treatment of breathing disorders including chronic lung problems such as asthma and bronchitis or other respiratory problems resulting from conditions such as a heart attack or trauma. Students develop the skills to recommend therapeutic interventions, administer treatments, operate life-support systems, perform CPR and airway management, provide patient education and conduct cardiopulmonary testing. Students begin their coursework with theory and preclinical instruction in a simulated therapeutic and diagnostic laboratory. Clinical rotations through different health care settings offer students experience in areas such as acute, home care and outpatient settings.

An aging population and an increase in diagnosed cardiopulmonary disorders have created a high demand for skilled professionals.

The program is accredited through the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

Note: Moraine Park Technical College is currently accepting applications for this program.

Due to current demand, once admitted to the program there is a minimum wait of 2 - 3 years to enroll in clinical core classes. As a result, Moraine Park cannot guarantee continuous full-time enrollment for students with precore status. (Precore status is assigned to all accepted nursing students who are either working to complete the clinical prerequisites or who have completed prerequisites but are waiting for clinical course  availability.