Respiratory Care: Registered Respiratory Therapist Advanced Standing (RRT)

Applicants for Bachelor and Master of Science

Admissions Requirements
Individuals holding the RRT credential may apply to enter the Respiratory Care Program prior to any quarter. Submission of an application for admission should be made to the Office of College Admission Services with all official transcripts, NBRC RRT certificate, and a personal interview at least 30 days prior to the first day of the quarter which the individual desires to begin classes.  General education and professional prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation.  All other program policies and procedures apply.

Respiratory Care:
RRT Advanced Standing Curriculum for Bachelor of Science

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 as well as departmental policies at all times. 
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 through other sources or through non-academic experiences, knowledge, skills and professional attitudes 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 which teaches that area or skill.) 
3. Advanced standing can be awarded as credit for successful completion of national certification (CRT/CPFT) or registry examinations (RRT/RPFT).

WHO IS ELIGIBLE 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, CRT, CPFT, 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 course work at other approved respiratory care programs may petition to have these courses transfer in lieu of specific course work 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 course work transferred from other respiratory care programs and the right to disallow such transfer credit in such course work 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 "C" (2.0) for each course being transferred.  A student cannot receive transfer credit for any respiratory care course work if he/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 CRT OR RRT CREDENTIAL
Advanced standing is available to individuals who have successfully completed the National Board for Respiratory Care's Respiratory Therapy Certification (CRT) or Respiratory Therapy Registry (RRT).  Those eligible for advanced standing must submit the following documentation: 

1. A notarized copy of the CRT or RRT certificate indicating that it is a true and accurate copy. 
2. Official transcripts of all previous respiratory care and general education course work attempted and/or completed. 
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 program.  advanced standing.  These are available in the Admissions Office. 
5. A letter directed to the Committee on Progress and Promotions for Respiratory Care requesting advanced standing.