Respiratory Care Admissions

Application Information: Applications can be completed between April 4th and must be submitted and completed prior to June 1st. If you are currently enrolled in courses this semester, you should wait until you are able to upload a transcript that includes your courses for this semester before you submit your application. It is imperative that you submit all required information as instructed in the application process. Your attention to detail is important and noted as we begin to review the applications for qualified applicants. Interviews will be scheduled in early June and will be held in person at JSCC Main Campus, Health Sciences Building. Once you have submitted an application or begun the process, please send an email to cward12@jscc.edu to notify me of your application in process or for any questions you may have about our program.

Admission Requirements:

The Respiratory Care program has specific admission requirements. Entrance into the program is competitive. All applicants must complete the following requirements by the application deadline to be considered for entrance into the program:

  • Obtain regular college admission for degree-seeking status. College admission information may be found at www.jscc.edu/admissions or by calling (731) 425-8844 or 1-800-355-5722.
  • Complete all required learning support competencies, if applicable, before applying to the program by the application deadline of June 1.
  • Possess a high school and/or college overall GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Learning support courses are not included in the calculation of the GPA.
  • Submit official ACT results if college courses have not been completed OR complete at least eleven (11) semester hours of college level credit with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and a grade of "C" or better in any science courses or college level math and science courses such as anatomy and physiology I and II and microbiology.
  • Additional points toward admission will be given for students who have completed COL 1030, College to Career Navigation, and HSC 111, Medical Terminology.
  • Submit all official high school/college transcripts to the Admissions Office by the application deadline.
  • College credit for Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II must be within the past five years to count toward the Respiratory Care degree or the courses must be repeated.

Admission Procedures:

  • Submit a completed Respiratory Care Program Application by June 1 for Fall 2024 admission.
  • Attending a program orientation session is strongly encouraged. Orientation gives an overview of the profession and the program selection criteria, important components of the program, and continuation criteria. Orientation sessions are scheduled throughout the year. Learn more about the profession. Observation is not required but is encouraged. Visit https://www.wth.org/  in the “magnifying glass” search area, type the word Volunteering, follow the first link to the volunteering page, and follow the instructions for Job Shadowing on the left side of the menu. Once completed, please contact Scott Laster at Jackson Madison County General Hospital to arrange possible observation hours @ scott.laster@wth.org.
  • Attend an interview, as scheduled by the program faculty, once all application requirements have been completed.

 The number of students admitted to the program is limited by the college and hospital's ability to provide good clinical education and supervision. Selection for admission is based on an evaluation point system, which reflects the applicant's ACT scores or cumulative GPA at the time of application and results of the interview. Additional points may be earned by assessments of GPA for college level science and math courses attempted. Details of the evaluation point system are available from the Health Sciences Office.

Application for admission is considered for one application period only. Applicants who wish to be considered for admission into the next entering class must submit a new application.

If accepted into the program, each student will be required to submit to drug testing and background checks, at student's expense, prior to the clinical portion of the program. Findings or results may interfere with student clinical placement and/or program status.

Transfer (Transfer from another accredited respiratory care program):

Students wanting to transfer into the program must follow the admission requirements outlined above. Additionally, the program director and the director of clinical education from the previous program must provide letters of recommendation that are mailed directly to the program director. Students must also submit a signed letter stating their reason for requesting a transfer.

Transfer into the program will be based on space availability and the circumstances of the transfer. Admission into the program based on transfer is not guaranteed. Students must make application to the program at least 60 days prior to the beginning of the semester they desire to enroll.

Students may be tested over previous Respiratory Care course material and clinical skills. A minimum of 75% must be obtained in all areas in order to be accepted. Placement will be based, in part, on didactic and skill evaluations.

Students must have completed, with a “C” or better, all required math and science courses as outlined in the program course schedule. Anatomy & Physiology I and II courses that are more than 5 years old must be repeated. Due to the rapid technological changes in respiratory care, those having a three or more-year gap in their respiratory care education must repeat all Respiratory Care courses.

Transfer students will take at least the last two semesters of Respiratory Care courses at Jackson State Community College. Twenty-five percent of the overall semester hours of credit needed for graduation must be from Jackson State. Fifteen off the last twenty-four semester hours of credit should be from Jackson State.

Retention Requirements:

In order to remain in the program, students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Earn a “C” or higher grade in each respiratory care course.
  2. All math and science courses must be completed with a “C” or higher grade no later than the semester listed in the program of study.
  3. Maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA or better.
  4. Satisfactorily complete each clinical skill evaluation.
  5. Maintain professional conduct as outlined in the program’s student handbook.
  6. Prior to the start of clinical rotations each student must provide documentation regarding a physical exam, current immunization, proof of health insurance, possession of malpractice insurance, criminal background check, and drug screening.
    1. Health Requirements: All students must submit evidence of good health by returning a completed Physical Examination form. Forms are given to students once admitted into the Respiratory Care program.
    2. All students must have:
      1. Documented initial two-step negative TB skin test or chest x-ray. TB skin test must be repeated annually.
      2. Evidence of immunity for:
        1. Mumps, Measles, and Rubella - positive titer results or proof of two (2) shots.
        2. Varicella zoster (chicken pox) – positive titer results or proof of two (2) shots; or physician proof of history.
        3. Tetanus/diphtheria booster with the past ten (10) years.
        4. Hepatitis B series – proof of series completion or signed declination.
      3. CPR Requirement: All students must submit evidence of completion of an American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support course (AHA, BLS-HCP) which does not expire until after graduation.
      4. Malpractice Insurance: Malpractice insurance is required for all clinical courses. A group policy is provided with the fee assessed with tuition each fall.
      5. Health Insurance: Students are responsible for all costs incurred related to health problems, including injuries occurring during clinical practice.
      6. Criminal Background Check: All students must have a criminal background check performed within 30 days prior to the start of clinical training. Depending on the finding of the background check, a student may not be allowed to start clinical training requiring the student to withdraw from the program.
      7. Drug Screening: All students must have a drug screen performed within 30 days prior to the start of clinical training. Depending on the results of the drug screen a student may not be allowed to start clinical training or continue in the program.
    3. Meet/comply with the requirements of clinical affiliates regarding students.

Readmission to the Program:

Depending on the circumstances, students may have the option to apply for readmission to the program at a later date. A maximum of two program admissions is allowed.

Students will not be allowed to reapply for the Program following a clinical dismissal based on either clinical course failure, clinical dismissal based on Written Reprimands, dismissal due to cheating, or violation of HIPAA rules.

Readmission into the program is not guaranteed. Readmission is based on available space and the circumstances of withdrawal or dismissal. Students seeking readmission must submit a formal, written request to the program director and an updated program application at least 60 days prior to the beginning of the semester for which they desire to enroll. Didactic knowledge and clinical skills may be retested in order to determine placement. Previously completed classes may need to be repeated. Other activities may need to be completed as a condition for readmission depending on the circumstances of withdrawal. Consult with the program director for further details.

All admission and continuation requirements apply to those seeking readmission. Due to the rapid technological changes in respiratory care, a gap of three or more years will necessitate repeating all respiratory care education courses. Additionally, Anatomy and Physiology I & II courses which are more than 5 years old must be repeated.