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NDSU/MeritCare Respiratory Care Program receives 2009 CoARC Excellence in Respiratory Care Education Award

The NDSU/MeritCare Respiratory Care Program received the 2009 Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care Education Award. Only ten programs of approximately 400 throughout the United States received this honor in 2009. Recipients of this award are all accredited programs with 90% or higher RRT credentialing success for the most recent three-year graduate cohort and also exceeded 90% CRT credentialing success and met attrition and job placement thresholds as established by CoARC.

Welcome to North Dakota State University's Respiratory Care homepage.

The Respiratory Care program has been graduating baccalaureate prepared respiratory therapists since the program's approval in 1989. At that time, the RC program was located in the College of Science and Mathematics, Department of Zoology (later renamed Biological Sciences). In January 2006, the program was transferred, along with clinical laboratory science and radiologic sciences, to the College of Pharmacy to officially become the new Department of Allied Sciences. In May 2006, the College changed its name to the College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Sciences to recognize the various healthcare disciplines under its management. Currently, there are approximately 320 pre-professional and professional allied sciences' majors.

A major in RC includes two-three years of academic coursework on campus and a 15-month internship within our local affiliated hospital, MeritCare. Upon completion of the internship, students are eligible to complete a series of national certifying exams leading to the registered respiratory therapist (RRT) credential. Completion of all course requirements leads to a Bachelor of Science degree, major in Respiratory Care.

The Department of Allied Sciences' offices are located in Sudro Hall 118U (Program Assistant, Rita Prunty), 118T (Academic Advisor, Angeline Walswick), and 118H (Director, Polly Olson).

MeritCare's Respiratory Care Program Pass Rates Exceed National Averages

The first time pass rates on the National Board Exams from the most recent 3-year cohort (2006-2008 graduates of MeritCare's Respiratory Care Program) have exceeded national averages on every level.

  • CRT (entry level) Exam: 94% first attempt success rate compared to 79% nationally
  • WRE (advanced level) Exam: 81% first attempt success rate compared to 72% nationally
  • CSE (advanced level) Exam: 69% first attempt success rate compared to 60% nationally

Furthermore, 94% of MeritCare's Respiratory Care Program graduates from 2006-2008 have achieved the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. Additionally, 100% of the graduates who achieved the RRT credential did so within 12 months of graduation.

Last updated: Friday, November 20, 2009 9:35:41AM

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Allied Sciences Department
Sudro Hall, Room 118U
NDSU Dept. 2680, P.O. Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108
Phone: (701) 231-8713 Fax: (701) 231-7606