Program Overview
Associate of Applied Sciences in Respiratory Therapy
Breathe fresh air into your local community as a healthcare professional with an Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) respiratory therapy degree from the University of the District of Columbia. To ensure that you receive individualized guided instruction to master the skills needed to manage the respiratory system and the various cardiopulmonary diseases that can affect it, we are delighted to offer small class sizes of 5-12 students on average.
At UDC, it isn't just about what you can learn in the classroom. During your first semester in the program, you will engage in experimental learning in both the laboratory and with direct patient contact in more than eight healthcare facilities across the D.C. metro area. You'll also have opportunities to attend professional conferences and other experiential activities.
While the path to becoming a respiratory therapist can be challenging, it's just as rewarding. Earning your degree will open doors to a fulfilling career that allows you to make a real difference in people's lives in your community and across the country. Though the curriculum is rigorous, we are proud to say that our program has a 100% pass rate on the entry exam and an 80% pass rate on the registry exam.
View the Respiratory Therapy Student Handbook
Admission Requirements
To qualify for admission into the AAS respiratory therapy program at UDC, you must meet the following criteria:
- Enroll at the University of the District of Columbia as a regular student
- Complete a minimum of 17 hours of pre-respiratory therapy courses
- Earn a minimum grade of C in each course of the program of study.
- Earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher.
How to Apply
Ready to apply for admission into the AAS respiratory therapy program at UDC? Please complete the following steps to be considered for admission:
- Submit an admission application
- Submit a respiratory application by the first Friday in March for the following Fall semester. Respiratory Applications are available before the winter break (in December) of each year in room 116.
- Meet the prerequisites for the program (see above).
- National Criminal Background Clearance check from Global Investigative Services (1700 Rockville Pike Ste 230, Rockville, MD 20852, 301-589-0088, gispi.com). Global will send back your background check directly to UDC.
- Submit a copy of your 10-panel drug screen (must be obtained at Metro Lab 3422 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010, 202-234-1339). Keep your original for your records.
- Submit a copy of your CPR card. Your card must indicate BLS Provider by American Heart Association.
- Submit a copy of your UDC ID card.
If you are a transfer student and have taken courses at another college of university, you will also need to:
- Submit an official transcript if you have taken courses at another college or university.
- If you are a transfer student, you must complete at least one course at UDC before applying to the program and hold a GPA of at least 2.5.
Contact us today to learn more about the qualifying factors for scholarships from the MD/DC Society for Respiratory Care, American Association for Respiratory Care and the Lambda Beta Society!
Note: You must take an ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS ®) as a part of the respiratory therapy application procedure. This exam will be scheduled after your application has been received and is complete. However, the number of students entering the respiratory program is limited to the number of clinical spots available in any given semester.
If you have indicated respiratory therapy as your desired major but have not entered the professional phase of the respiratory program, you will NOT have officially entered the program and will NOT be allowed to take any of the RSPT courses other than 'Introduction to Health Sciences'. Once you have been accepted into the program and have received a letter of acceptance to the professional phase of the program from Professor Taylor, you will be allowed to take any respiratory therapy classes offered at UDC.