LOS ANGELES VALLEY COLLEGE
RESPIRATORY THERAPY PROGRAM
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
June 24, 2008

The Los Angeles Valley College Respiratory Therapy Program accepts applications once a year for the Clinical Internship which starts in June each year and includes RT 15, 3,4,5,6,7,8,and 11. Applications and all transcripts must be submitted by April 1st each year. Applications may be submitted after February each spring semester only after completion or current enrollment in RT 1 and RT 2.

Required Steps to apply to the Respiratory Therapy Program:

Download Prerequisite Verification file (PDF)

In order to apply to the Program the following steps must be completed by 5:00 PM April 1st each year.

1. All students except current and returning LAVC students need to submit a college application directly though the LAVC Admissions Office. International students must first apply to the international Program.

2. 2. All U.S. transcripts that are not from Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) must be mailed directly from the college attended to the LAVC admissions Office. Hand carried transcripts of any kind are NOT acceptable as official transcripts. Students are also responsible for verifying with the admission’s office that all transcripts have arrived by the April 1st 5 PM deadline. Students must also confirm with the admissions office that transcripts have arrived prior to making a counseling appointment.

3. All transcripts outside of the U.S. must be evaluated according to the following procedures:
• Must have completed 12 units with a “C” average within LACCD prior to submitting petition for credit.
• Submit foreign transcripts to an LAVC approved foreign transcripts evaluation service to obtain credit recommendations towards completion of RT program prerequisites.
• Submit by mail directly to LAVC’s Petitions Committee a sealed copy of the evaluation service’s credit recommendations along with a petition for approval of credit. Credit approval is NOT automatic. (see a counselor for details).
• Translated Foreign transcripts must be mailed and on file to LAVC Admissions office by April 1st.

4. After completing steps 1-3, students must schedule an appointment with a counselor to evaluate all transcripts before enrolling in RT 2. The counselor will provide students with a verification of prerequisites for the Respiratory Therapy Program. Counselor will evaluate if any previously completed college level classes will be acceptable alternative prerequisites.

5. RT program enrollment size into the Clinical Internship is limited. The number of students each year is restricted by the number of clinical positions available at each of the Medical Centers that serve as Clinical Training Centers for the LAVC RT program.

6. The number of students accepted into the clinical internship is limited. Only students who have completed the application process by the 5:00 PM April 1st deadline will be considered for eligibility into the RT 15 Clinical internship.

7. Any late applications or transcripts submitted after April 1st & before the June RT 15 class will only be evaluated if there are any available clinical internships spaces. These late applicants will only be considered after all students who submitted applications and transcripts by the deadline of 5:00 PM April 1st have been evaluated and accepted

8. After completing 1-7 the student may apply to the RT Program. Applications for the Respiratory Therapy Program will be provided by the RT Program director. RT Program applications will be available for submitting at the beginning of RT 2 each spring semester. All RT applications must be completed and submitted directly to the RT program Director by 5:00 PM April 1st.

Selection Process: (in accordance with LACCD policy)

• All applicants must have completed or be currently enrolled in all the prerequisites or co-requisite courses for RT 2.
• All applicants must have completed or be currently enrolled in RT 1 and RT 2.
• All prerequisites and co requisites for RT 2 must be completed with a grade “C” or better.
• The Respiratory Therapy Program Director may ask students to provide written proof of grade “C” or better in any currently enrolled prerequisite course.
• Priority of acceptance of qualified applicants who have completed steps 1-7 by 5:00 PM April 1st will be based on the  active application date to LAVC (provided by LAVC Admissions office) without any significant lapse in enrollment (defined as more than 2 consecutive semesters). The active application must be made directly through the LAVC admissions office. Application dates from other LACCD campuses will not be considered.
• Priority is for 1st time applicants. Applications from returning students who dropped or failed out of a LACCD RT program will be considered if there are any open spots after all new applicants have been accepted.(LACCD policy 6701 only allows students to repeat up to a total of 15 units, or the same course no more than twice in which substandard grades (“D, F”, or NC” were awarded in the district).
• Any falsification of transcript or application information is grounds for denial into the RT Program and possible investigation for student disciplinary action.
• The Respiratory Therapy Program Director will notify all applicants of acceptance or denial in writing upon completion of RT 2.
• Accepted students must notify the RT Program Director in writing, e-mail, or voice mail direct to his office before the given deadline  by 5:00 PM June 2nd ( last day of spring semester).
• Accepted students who do not respond by the specified deadline will be dropped. Their clinical position will then be offered to another qualified applicant.
• If a student applies and is denied because of limited class size or voluntarily does not accept entrance into the RT program, he or she may reapply next year.
• No application will be kept on file and all applications will be destroyed.

In order to graduate from the College and receive an Associates of Science degree in Respiratory Therapy the student is strongly encouraged to contact a counselor well in advance of completion of the RT program. The California Respiratory Care Board requires completion of an approved Respiratory Therapy Program, Passing the National Respiratory Care Board’s Certification Respiratory Therapist (CRT)Exam as well as an AS degree or higher to obtain a license.

Los Angeles Valley College Respiratory Therapist Program Advanced Respiratory Care Practitioners

PHASE 1: PRECLINICAL Courses:

Units

Physics 5 (Math 115 Prerequisite)  …………………………… 3 Chemistry 51 (Math 115 recommended)……………………… 5 Physiology 8 & 9 (Anat 1 & Physio 1/Biology 3 Prerequisite).. 8 Microbiology 20 (Chem 51 Prerequisite)……………………… 4 Psychology 1…………………………………………………… 3 Respiratory Therapy 1 ………………………………………..  1 Respiratory Therapy 2 (RT1 completed or concurrent enrollment. 4 Total         32 Units (RT 2 is only offered in the Spring Semester) ALL prerequisite courses must be completed before entering the Clinical Internship Phase (RT 15) of the RT Program. Application for the internship is completed in spring semester during RT 2.

PHASE 2:  CLINICAL COURSES – One Year: June to June
	SUMMER		Units
		RT 15 – Introduction to Clinical Applications………..	4
	FALL
		RT 3 – Clinical Applications I……………………	5
		RT 4 - Clinical Applications II……………………	5
		RT 6 – Applied Pulmonary Physiology………………	4
	SPRING
		RT 5 - Clinical Applications III………………………	5
		RT 11 - Clinical Applications IV…………………….	5
		RT 7 – Pulmonary Pathophysiology…………………	3
		RT 8 – RT Management……………………………….	1
		Total	32 Units
The Respiratory Therapist Program requires Plan B Graduation requirements for an Associate of Science Degree.  To qualify for an AS Degree an additional 13 UNITS is required in Plan B.

California State Requirements for a License as a Respiratory Care Practitioner

Associate Degree or Higher & COMPLETION of ALL Respiratory Therapist Program Course Requirements

The Respiratory Therapist Program Offers:

A Health Care Profession with EXCELLENT pay and benefits Unlimited Advancement in the Respiratory Care Profession Personally Rewarding Helping Profession Challenging Medical Career for Science Majors Nationally Recognized for Excellence in Education

The Respiratory Care Practitioner’s Role in the Treatment of Patients with CardioPulmonay Disorders:
CPR	Patient Assessment	Chest Physiotherapy
Airway Management	Arterial Blood as Analysis	Cardiopulmonary Function Testing0
Life Support Systems	Medical Gas Administration	Aerosol Therapy/ Medications