Respiratory Care Graduation and Certification Requirements

General Graduation Requirements

Meeting graduation requirements is ultimately the responsibility of the student. Students are encouraged to work with their advisors in selecting courses to meet their educational objectives.

Students must apply for graduation before the deadlines published by the Student Services Department. Diplomas and certificates are mailed six to eight weeks after the end of the semester in which the students are approved to graduate.

Commencement ceremonies are the culmination of the student's program of study. Each spring, Trinity College conducts a graduation ceremony where faculty, staff, family and friends come together to recognize academic achievements. All eligible degree and certificate candidates are encouraged to participate in commencement activities.

If the student has six credit hours or less to complete, the student is eligible to participate in graduation ceremonies. The student must submit a written request to the Department Director for approval early in the Spring semester.

Requirements for graduation for degree/certificate programs include:

Successful completion of both the general education courses and the specific major courses with the degree/certificate curriculum plan
Compliance with all special requirements listed by the individual program
Achievement of a satisfactory cumulative grade point average (2.0 on a 4.0 scale)
Satisfaction of all financial obligations

Respiratory Care Graduation Requirements

To meet graduation requirements, students must:

Complete the Comprehensive Self-Assessment Examination (SAE) as required by the National Board of Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC).
Fulfill the course requirements of the Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care curriculum.
Complete the last 19 semester hours in Respiratory Care at the College.
Earn a minimum of 74 hours of credit attaining a "C" (2.0) cumulative grade point average which includes a "C" or above in each required respiratory care and general education course in the curriculum.
Meet all financial obligations incurred with the College.
Be recommended by faculty and conferred for graduation by the College Governing Board.

(No degree will be awarded until all requirements are met)

Certification/Licensure Requirements

Upon completion, an eligible graduate who has successfully demonstrated competency in both clinical and didactic phases of the program earns the opportunity to write the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC) entry level certifying and advanced registry examinations. See www.nbrc.org.

The Entry-Level Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) examination is designed to objectively measure essential knowledge, skills and abilities required of entry level respiratory therapists. The examination consists of 160 multiple-choice questions distributed among three major content areas: clinical data, equipment and therapeutic procedures. Individuals who achieve passing scores will be awarded the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential.

The Registry Examination System (RRT) measures essential knowledge, skills and abilities required of advanced respiratory therapists and sets uniform standards for measuring such knowledge. The CRT credential is a prerequisite for admission to the Registry Examination. The Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) examinations consist of a written portion and a clinical simulation portion. Individuals who achieve passing scores on both will be awarded the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.

Registered Respiratory Therapists must provide evidence that they are continuing to meet current standards of practice and have successfully renewed their national credentials issued by the NBRC.

Policies for licensure vary with each state. In general, a student with a felony conviction may have difficulty in obtaining a state license. An individual application is reviewed on a case by case basis. The decision is not made until the individual makes application for a license to practice respiratory care. Applicants with felony convictions are encouraged to contact the licensing agency in the state in which they wish to practice.

See also:

Untitled Document

Students, Faculty and Staff

Interested in Trinity College?

Site Tools