Professional Program in Respiratory Therapy

Program Mission

The Respiratory Therapy Program provides graduates with the technical skills for performing diagnostic evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and patient/family/public education in cases of cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Graduates have the skills to perform diagnostic activities such as obtaining and interpreting physiologic specimens, initiating and managing life-support equipment, and initiating devices that treat sleep disorders.  Respiratory Therapists administer basic and advanced therapeutics which include the administration of pharmacologic agents, the application and monitoring of medical gases, the insertion and management of artificial airways, and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Respiratory Therapists conduct patient/family education that promotes knowledge of disease processes, respiratory therapeutics, and self-care, as well as public education activities that focus on the promotion of cardiopulmonary health.

Program Goal

To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory care practitioners.

Accreditation Status

The Texas Southern University, baccalaureate degree-granting program, located on the main campus at 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, Texas 77004 is accredited through 2025 by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).  CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an outcomes-based process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented. The Program number is 200208.

The Program’s outcomes can be found on CoARC’s outcomes webpage here:   https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/

Admission Requirements

The minimum grade point average (GPA) for Respiratory Therapy applicants is 2.65. Please ensure that you meet this requirement before applying.  Applicants should be sure they have completed all necessary pre-requisite courses before applying to the professional program:

RT Curriculum (PDF)

Applications for admission to this program are accepted and finalized each Fall Semester. All entry-level professional courses begin each Spring Semester. The application process is competitive and requires the submission of an application to the Admissions and Academic Standards Committee in the College through the COPHS admissions office. The application must be submitted electronically and should be accompanied by two letters of recommendation (1 instructor and 1 employer), and original transcripts of all college work completed.

  • Respiratory Therapy Professional Program (RT) courses begin each spring semester. There is only one class admitted per year.
  • Applications will be accepted from September 12 - November 27, 2023.   Apply Here .
  • Application FEE: $45, click here to submit payment.     
  • Resume.  An up-to-date resume should be attached to your online application. 
  • Interviews.  Programs interviews will take place on Wednesday, November 30, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Candidates will be notified by email regarding scheduled interview times and location.  Your TEAS scores must be available at the time of your interview.
    Only applicants who meet admissions criteria (GPA, completed applications, minimum TEAS Scores) will be interviewed.
  • ATI TEAS EXAM.  Applicants are required to take the Test for Essential Academic Skills.  The Remote Online version may be completed (registration instructions are below). The TEAS is a major part of the criteria used to determine admission to the RT program. An example of competitive scores on the TEAS exam for this program are:
    • Composite Score: 70
    • English and Language Usage Score: 70
    • Reading Score: 70
  • TEAS registration instructions:
    • PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:
    • The cost of the exam is $120.00
    • Don’t use internet explorer, use Google Chrome or Firefox to register for the exam.
    • Go to the ATI website: https://www.atitesting.com/teas/register#registernow
    • Select register now.
    • Select Remote Online testing and follow instructions. 
    • Additional Instructions you will need during registration:
      • Credentials: RCS
      • Institution: TX Southern U AH
      • Exp. Graduation Date: May/2026
    • Students are allowed one free transcript sent to the school of their choice
  • Social Security Card:
    All students applying for admission to the professional phase of the Respiratory Therapy Program must have a social security card before they are accepted into the professional program. Social Security cards are essential as a prerequisite for clinical rotation and this information is used by both the RT Program and its clinical affiliates to evaluate students for clinical rotations. Students will not be admitted and allowed to start professional coursework unless they have obtained a social security card.
  • Drug Screening and Background Checks                                                                         All applicants must complete drug screening and background checks before being admitted to the RT professional program.  Further information will be provided to candidates during the interview process.

Background Check & Drug Screening Policy

All students in the professional phase of the Respiratory Therapy Program will be subject to mandatory Criminal Background checks & Drug Screening at least twice during their matriculation in the professional program, including before admission and during the HSRT 454 Critical Care and Internship course.  Students will also be subject to random background checks and/or drug screening throughout the duration of their enrollment in professional courses. Students will be responsible for the associated fees for the aforementioned background checks and screenings. Students should understand that program faculty cannot guarantee clinical rotation privileges for any student who is admitted to the RT program and has a subsequent Background Check and/or Drug Screen that is incongruent with the standards of the program’s clinical affiliates.

Vaccination Policy

Professional RT students are required to have the following vaccinations and/or lab tests upon admission and before the first day of class:

  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
  • Tetanus and Diphtheria (Tdap) Vaccination
  • Varicella (Chicken Pox) History
  • Hepatitis B Vaccination
  • Tuberculosis Skin Tests (PPD)
  • Flu Shot
  • COVID-19 

Advanced Standing

Advanced Standing in the Respiratory Therapy Program is for Respiratory Therapy professionals that have already completed professional RT education in an accredited RT program. These candidates have either an associate degree in respiratory therapy or a certificate of completion. Advanced standing within the Health Sciences is the administrative placement of a student in a specific health program based on program requirements and the applicant’s completion of previous credits. Program applicants who qualify for advanced standing receive an administratively approved, individually prepared degree plan that recognizes previously earned college credits and professional credentials.

Advanced Standing Curriculum

For more information about the Advanced Standing program please contact: 
Dr. Andrew J. Taylor, Ph.D., RRT, RPFT, RRT-NPS, RCP by emailing  andrew.taylor@tsu.edu.

Comprehensive Exam, Exit Exam, and Senior Level Courses Policy Notification

Comprehensive Exams will be offered three times per year, in May, August, and December.

Professional Respiratory Therapy students must take and pass two comprehensive/exit exams. The first of these exams, the Therapist Multiple Choice Examination (TMC), is a written test that students take at the end of their junior year, spring semester. After passing all junior-level courses, students must demonstrate competence by passing this examination minimally at the certification level in order to qualify for HSRT 454: Critical Care & Internship. Students who pass the TMC at the higher level, the registry level, on the first attempt will not be required to repeat this examination. Students who do not pass minimally at the certification level on their first attempt will not be allowed to enter internship and must enroll in the review course, HSRT 420 Comprehensive Review in Respiratory Therapy.  Students must pass HSRT 420 in order to be eligible to re-take the TMC exam. Comprehensive/Exit exams are given in May, August, and December.

After students complete the didactic and clinical components of HSRT 454 Internship, they must re-take the TMC exam and pass it at the registry level if they have not done so already. Students who do not take and pass this exam at the registry level must enroll in the review course, HSRT 420 Comprehensive Review. Once a student has passed the TMC at the registry level the student must attempt the Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE). The CSE consists of clinical problems that are meant to simulate real clinical practice in Respiratory Care. Current passing scores for the comprehensive exams are as follows:

comprehensive exams
Comprehensive Exams Minimum Passing Scores

TMC Certification Level

86 Correct Answers

TMC Registry Level

92 Correct Answers

Clinical Simulations

Information Gathering = 60%

Decision Making = 50%