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We are excited that you are interested in becoming a respiratory therapist. Please contact David Northrop, (913) 271-0621 or dnorthrop@missouriwestern.edu if you have questions.

Eligibility Requirements:

The Respiratory Therapy (RT) program has a selective entrance policy and can accept up to 24 students. Application to the program is made separately from application for admission to Missouri Western State University. Applicants are encourage to apply as soon as they are interested in becoming a Registered Respiratory Therapist.

Applicants are selected into the Respiratory Therapy Program on a “first come and qualified” basis (including incoming freshmen). Strong applicants for admission into the Respiratory Therapy Program will have intimate knowledge of the profession (below), have shown academic proficiency and have a strong desire to provide medical care to people.

  • The applicant must have intimate knowledge of the respiratory therapy profession. This can include experience working beside a respiratory therapist or shadow experiences. (Contact Program Director David Northrop if you wish the program to coordinate a shadow experience)
  • The applicant must have a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.5 and earn a grade of C or higher in each support class. (Contact Program Director David Northrop if GPA is below a 2.5 and interested in becoming a respiratory therapist)
  • The applicant should be on track to complete all general studies and respiratory therapy support courses before beginning the final two years of the Respiratory Therapy Program. Below is a sample plan of general studies and respiratory therapy support courses for the first two years. Sample Plan(Contact Program Director David Northrop if lacking required classes)

The Respiratory Therapy Program strongly encourages you to take the “Test of Essential Academic Skills” (TEAS Test) the semester before you begin taking RES classes. This test measures the current aptitude level of an individual seeking entry into the field of Health Sciences. A test result of 58.7% or above indicates that you would have a high likelihood of academic success in the Respiratory Therapy Program. The Respiratory Therapy Program may require the TEAS results when evaluating students for admission. TEAS sign up here: https://www.missouriwestern.edu/mwsu-testing-centers/ati-teas/.

A non-refundable application fee of $50 will be due upon submission at the end of this form.

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