Respiratory Care: RRT Advanced Standing (MS)

Introduction

Individuals may have acquired academic credit in respiratory care courses from other schools and universities. Some individuals may acquire knowledge through experience and on‑the‑job training. When such persons apply for admission into the program, an attempt is made to grant academic credit for equivalent educational courses, equivalent knowledge acquired from experience and/or successful completion of the National Board for Respiratory Care’s certification and registry examinations. 

All students graduating from the Respiratory Care program must meet the same standards for graduation; the awarding of advanced standing does not signify a lesser quality education than that offered through regular course work. What it does, however, is attempt to exempt the student from those areas of the formal program where the student already has the knowledge and expertise in those skills that would be offered. The program has identified the minimum competencies that a respiratory therapist must have in order to provide safe, high-quality patient care. The identification of these competencies is a complex task, and a great deal of care must be taken to ensure a standard of excellence. 

The following policies and procedures are designed to ensure that those individuals who receive advanced standing are qualified to do so, and that the screening process adheres to University and departmental policies at all times. 

It is not in the student’s or program’s best interest to allow individuals who are not qualified to receive advanced standing. 

To allow individuals who are not qualified, to receive advanced standing, is not in the student’s or the program’s best interest. 

Definition

Advanced standing is defined as a special and individually determined status granted to a student in a formal educational setting who has already gained professional experience through other sources or through non‑academic experiences, knowledge, skills and professionalism taught in the program courses. 

Purpose of Advanced-Standing Procedures

The purpose of the advanced-standing procedures is to recognize and give formal educational credit for knowledge and/or ability gained through previous training or experience.

Methods of Granting Advanced Standing

1. Advanced standing can be awarded through transfer credit.
2. Advanced standing can be awarded through the passing of an equivalency examination covering a certain area of knowledge. (An equivalency examination is an instrument or means by which a student accepted into the Respiratory Care program can demonstrate mastery of a knowledge area, content area or skill, and thus be exempted from a course in the program that teaches that area or skill.)
3. Advanced standing can be awarded as credit for successful completion of national registry examinations (RRT/RPFT).

Eligibility for Advanced Standing

1. Transfer students who have been accepted into the RUSH University Respiratory Care program may receive a transfer credit for equivalent courses within the Respiratory Care program curriculum.
2. Credentialed students (RRT, RPFT) who have been accepted into the RUSH University Respiratory Care Program may receive transfer credit and will also be eligible to take equivalency examinations in certain courses.

Policy for Transfer Students

Students who have completed coursework at other approved respiratory care programs may petition to have these courses transfer in lieu of specific coursework in the RUSH University program. Students must submit a transcript of their courses from the program and a copy of the course syllabus for each course in which they desire transfer credit. The syllabus must contain the following: course objectives, lecture outlines, course content, evaluation procedures and related information. These courses will be evaluated on an individual basis for content and total contact hours and credit hours.

The department reserves the right to test the proficiency of any student in coursework transferred from other respiratory care programs and the right to disallow such transfer credit in such coursework in cases which the student cannot demonstrate acceptable proficiency. All transfer credit is subject to the approval of the Committee on Progress and Promotions for Respiratory Care. The student must also have a minimum grade of B (3.0) for each course being transferred. A student cannot receive transfer credit for any respiratory care coursework if he or she left the previous program due to academic probation, suspension or exclusion. All University policies regarding transfer credit must be satisfied.

Policy for Individuals Who Hold the RRT Credential

Advanced standing is available to individuals who have successfully completed the National Board for Respiratory Care’s Respiratory Therapy Registry (RRT), who hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Those eligible for advanced standing must submit the following documentation:

1. A notarized copy of the RRT certificate indicating that it is a true and accurate copy
2. Official transcripts of all previous respiratory care and general education coursework attempted and/or completed indicating award of the bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
3. A notarized copy of the certificate of completion from an approved respiratory care training program as applicable
4. A completed application for admission to the advanced-sanding program. This is available through the Allied Health Centralized Application System (AHCAS)
5. A letter directed to the Committee on Progress and Promotions for Respiratory Care requesting advanced standing.

Credit Based on the RRT Credential

Individuals providing documentation that they hold the RRT credential may receive credit for the following theory courses:

• RCP - 511 Introduction to Respiratory Care Credit(s): 3
• RCP - 515 Respiratory Care Pharmacology Credit(s): 2
• RCP - 520 Respiratory Care Equipment and Techniques Credit(s): 4
• RCP - 521 Patient Assessment Credit(s): 4
• RCP - 534 Clinical Practice I Credit(s): 3
• RCP - 569 Clinical Practice II Credit(s): 7
• RCP - 575 Clinical Practice III Credit(s): 7
• RCP - 577 Clinical Seminar Credit(s): 3

Required Courses

RRT students must enroll in and complete the following required courses:

• RCP - 501 Foundations of Professional Practice Credit(s): 3
• RCP - 563 Research Methods Credit(s): 3
• RCP - 565 Research Project I Credit(s): 1
• RCP - 566 Education Credit(s): 3
• RCP - 567 Management Credit(s): 3
• RCP - 573 Research Project II Credit(s): 1
• RCP - 583 Research Project III Credit(s): 1
• RCP - 585 Clinical Practice IV Credit(s): 4-8 *
• RCP - 589 Disease Management/Home Health Care Credit(s): 3
• CHS - 601 Introduction to Biostatistics Credit(s): 2
• CHS - 605 Introduction to Ethics in Health Care Credit(s): 2

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  *With the program director’s permission, RCP - 585 may be taken twice for four credit hours each, over two semesters instead of as a single, eight-hour course.

Elective Courses

The RRT student must select a minimum of nine semester hours from the following courses to take at RUSH University. All other required elective courses will be assigned proficiency credit:

• RCP - 570 Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics Credit(s): 2
• RCP - 530 Cardiac Diseases Credit(s): 2
• RCP - 531 Critical Respiratory Care Credit(s): 4
• RCP - 532 Pulmonary Function Testing Credit(s): 3
• RCP - 533 Pediatric and Neonatal Respiratory Care Credit(s): 4
• RCP - 512 Cardiopulmonary Anatomy And Physiology Credit(s): 5
• RCP - 522 Pulmonary Disease Credit(s): 3
• RCP - 523 Mechanical Ventilation Credit(s): 4
• CHS - 620 Health Care in America Credit(s): 2

Sample Advanced-Standing Program Student Schedule:

Summary of Minimum Requirements for the MS Degree for RRT Students Holding a Bachelor’s Degree