Explore a career that’s a breath of fresh air.

If you’re looking for a rewarding career that helps people breathe easier, look no further than respiratory therapy. From infants to seniors, respiratory therapists treat a wide range of cardiopulmonary disorders. It’s a growing field with promising opportunities right here at Regional West!

Regional West partners with Nebraska Methodist College (NMC) in Omaha; Casper College in Casper, Wyoming; and Southeast Community College (SCC) in Lincoln to provide remote respiratory therapy program options. High school students, college students, or people looking to make a career change can explore options that allow them to complete their education remotely while working in Regional West’s Respiratory Therapy department.

Nebraska Methodist College

3+1 Dual Degree Program: Associate of Science (AS) in Respiratory Care + Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Sciences

NMC has collaborated with Chadron State College (CSC) to offer a dual degree program that allows you to earn your associate and bachelor’s degrees working in an advanced professional role with opportunities for greater responsibility and leadership.

Complete the first three years at CSC and in the fourth year finish your education online while working with Regional West’s respiratory therapy team. Join our team for benefits such as health, vision, and dental plans; competitive wages; and a sign-on bonus.

AS in Respiratory Care

Earn your Associate of Science degree in Respiratory Care with NMC’s program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). You can choose to complete the entire program remotely while working with Regional West’s respiratory therapy team.

Scholarships are available, including the Steve Mendenhall Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Memorial Scholarship for respiratory care students interested in working in rural Nebraska after graduation. For more information, visit Nebraska Methodist College’s scholarships page.

Program Admissions Criteria

Applicants are evaluated on:

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
  • High school/college record
  • Fulfillment of program technical standards
  • Previous math and science courses
  • Must complete RRT advanced credential by the end of the fourth year prior to graduation

Program Application Process

To be considered for admission, the following items must be submitted to the Nebraska Methodist College Admissions Office:

  • NMC undergraduate application
  • Written personal statement
  • Program/Career awareness questionnaire
  • Official high school transcript OR official GED test scores if applicable
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended

Application Deadlines: July 1 (fall semester) and Nov. 1 (spring semester)

For more information about each program’s requirements, visit NMC’s Allied Health degree page.

Casper College

Casper College offers the only Respiratory Therapy program in the state of Wyoming. Their AS degree program spans 24 months, including two summer sessions. Students can complete their coursework online and, at the same time, gain valuable experience in Regional West’s Respiratory Therapy department.

Coursework prerequisites include:

  • ENGL 1010 English Composition I
  • HLTK 1200 Medical Terminology
  • MATH 1000 Problem Solving (minimum)
  • ZOO 2040/2041 Human Anatomy and Lab
  • ZOO 2110 Physiology

To learn more about program requirements, visit Casper College’s Respiratory Therapy page.

Southeast Community College

Regional West partners with SCC in Lincoln to offer a remote part-time track to an Associate of Applied Science degree. Over the span of 24 months, you can take classes online and do your lab and clinical rotations in our Respiratory Therapy department. Plan to spend approximately 30 to 35 hours each week on coursework.

Coursework prerequisites include:

  • Human Anatomy with Lab
  • Human Physiology with Lab
  • Introduction to Sociology or Diversity in Society
  • Communication Studies
  • Written Communications
  • Success at SCC

Students must receive a grade point average of 2.5 for the sciences (Anatomy and Physiology and general education courses for admission into the program.

Apply from Sept. 1 through Oct. 15 for admission starting in the spring semester.

To learn more about this program’s requirements, visit SCC’s Respiratory Care page.

Current Professionals

If you’re a current respiratory therapy professional, we’d love to speak with you! Join our team and enjoy benefits such as:

  • Health, vision, and dental plan
  • Competitive wages
  • A sign-on bonus

Learn more about respiratory therapy at Regional West, or head to our Careers page to apply!