To learn more, visit: https://www.morainepark.edu/academics/programs/respiratory-therapy/
Program Number: 10-515-1
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Campus: Fond du Lac
This program is eligible for financial aid
Full-Time Enrollment Only
Become a respiratory therapist in less than three years with an associate degree from Moraine Park Technical College.
About the Program
Respiratory therapists work as part of a health care team to evaluate, treat and manage patients of all ages with respiratory and other cardiopulmonary disorders.
Respiratory therapists see patients with diseases, infections and viruses of the cardiopulmonary system, such as lung cancer, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and pneumonia. Common respiratory care includes managing mechanical ventilation life support systems, assessing the cardiopulmonary status of patients, drawing blood samples, performing blood gas analysis and pulmonary function testing, initiating ordered respiratory care, evaluating and monitoring patients' responses to such care and modifying the prescribed respiratory therapy and cardiopulmonary procedures. Respiratory therapists also provide patient, family and community education, and participate in life support activities as required. Upon graduation, Moraine Park Respiratory Therapy students are qualified for admission to the entry-level and advanced practitioner examinations to become a registered respiratory therapist.
Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com), Moraine Park’s Respiratory Therapy program (CoARC #2004441) awards an Associate of Applied Science degree, and is offered at the Fond du Lac Campus. CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.
What You’ll Learn
Moraine Park Respiratory Therapy students gain hands-on experience in applying respiratory therapy concepts to patient care situations, demonstrating technical proficiency required to fulfill the role of a respiratory therapist and practice respiratory therapy according to established professional and ethical standards.
Transfer Opportunities
Your academic journey can continue at a four-year college or university. Earn your associate degree at Moraine Park and then apply those credits toward a bachelor’s degree. Starting at MPTC makes completing a bachelor’s degree affordable, accessible and convenient. You can go anywhere as MPTC has transfer agreements with colleges and universities both in Wisconsin and throughout the country.
Visit the Transfer to a Four-Year College page for more information on credit transfer agreements between Moraine Park and four-year colleges, both public and private.
Additional Information
State Licensure Disclosure: Moraine Park’s Respiratory Therapy program prepares students to obtain the educational requirements for licensure to be employed/practice in the state of Wisconsin. No determination has been made if the curriculum matches the educational requirements for preparation, examinations, or licensure for other states. Visit the Accreditation page for more details about accreditation.
Licensing Organization: American Association of Respiratory Care
Clinical evaluation of competencies is the exit assessment graduation requirement for the program.
Admission Process
Standard Admissions steps details
This program also requires:
- Health Requirements
- Criminal Background Check
Core Intent Form Details: Students are provisionally accepted to the Respiratory Therapy Program in “pre-core” status. Before students are able to begin core program classes, the Core Intent Form must be submitted.
Credit for Prior Learning
Transform the skills and abilities developed through previous experience into college credit through MPTC’s Credit for Prior Learning process.
- Transfer credit from other colleges/universities
- Earn college credit for your military training and experience
- Earn college credit via Advance Placement, CLEP, DANTES/DSST or MPTC Challenge Exams
- Earn college credit from previous/current work and life experiences
Visit MPTC’s Credit for Prior Learning page for more information.
Approximate Costs
Tuition
Occupational
- $149.50 per credit (resident)
- $224.25 per credit (out-of-state resident)
Associate of Arts/Associate of Science
- $188.90 per credit (resident)
- $283.35 per credit (out-of-state resident)
Online students are not charged out-of-state fees.
Student Fees
- $5.00 minimum per course Material Fee
- $13.45 per-credit Supplemental Fee for Undergraduate courses
- $4.50 per term mandatory Student Accident Insurance Fee
Please refer to Tuition & Fee Information for additional enrollment fee information.
Financial Aid
Financial Aid is available for associate degree and technical diploma programs (those that are 2 semesters in length and typically with 28 credits or more). Processing can take 4-5 weeks after a student's completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is received. Visit the Financial Aid page to learn more.
While attending Moraine Park during the 2024-25 school year, your estimated cost of attendance for one full year includes tuition of $4,462 (15 credits for fall and spring semester), fees of $338, food and housing of $3,008 (if living with parents, $9,147 if living on your own), books and supplies of $1,465, personal expenses of $3,608, and transportation of $4,017 for a total of $17,002. Your direct costs (those costs paid directly to the college) include tuition & fees. The indirect costs (costs not paid to the college) can vary from individual to individual and your own personal needs.
Course Requirements
Plan of Study Grid
| Clinical Admissions Requirements |
|---|
|
|
| 801-136 |
English Composition 1 |
3 |
| 806-177 |
General Anatomy and Physiology |
4 |
| | Credits | 7 |
| Semester 1 |
|---|
| 501-101 |
Medical Terminology |
3 |
| 515-111 |
Respiratory Survey |
3 |
| 515-171 |
Respiratory Therapeutics 1 |
3 |
| 806-197 |
Microbiology |
4 |
| 890-101 |
College 101 |
2 |
| | Credits | 15 |
| Semester 2 |
|---|
| 103-159 |
Computer Literacy - Microsoft Office |
1 |
| 515-112 |
Respiratory Airway Management |
2 |
| 515-172 |
Respiratory Therapeutics 2 |
3 |
| 515-173 |
Respiratory Pharmacology |
3 |
| 515-174 |
Respiratory and Cardiac Physiology |
3 |
| 801-196 |
Oral and Interpersonal Communication |
3 |
| | Credits | 15 |
| Summer |
|---|
| 515-175 |
Respiratory Clinical 1 |
2 |
| | Credits | 2 |
| Semester 3 |
|---|
| 515-113 |
Respiratory Life Support |
3 |
| 515-176 |
Respiratory Disease |
3 |
| 515-178 |
Respiratory Clinical 2 |
3 |
| 515-179 |
Respiratory Clinical 3 |
3 |
|
3 |
| | Credits | 15 |
| Semester 4 |
|---|
| 515-180 |
Respiratory Neonatal and Pediatric Care |
2 |
| 515-181 |
Respiratory and Cardio Diagnostics |
3 |
| 515-182 |
Respiratory Clinical 4 |
3 |
| 515-183 |
Respiratory Clinical 5 |
3 |
|
3 |
| | Credits | 14 |
| | Total Credits | 68 |
Additional Program Requirements
Due to accreditation requirements, completion of mock certification and registry exams are required for graduation.
Program Outcomes
- Apply respiratory therapy concepts to patient care situations.
- Demonstrate technical proficiency required to fulfill the role of a Respiratory Therapist.
- Practice respiratory therapy according to established professional and ethical standards.
