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Program Overview
The Respiratory Therapy program at Madison College is an intensive full-time, two-year program leading to an Associate in Applied Science degree.
This program is designed 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 therapists (RRTs).
The program includes classroom and lab instruction, simulation experience, and clinical practice at local hospital affiliates.
Respiratory Therapists work in a wide variety of clinical settings to evaluate, treat and manage patients with respiratory illnesses and other cardiopulmonary disorders.
Respiratory Therapists perform respiratory care procedures, such as patient evaluation, treatment selection and assessment of treatment, and are involved in clinical decision-making and patient education.
As a student in the Respiratory Therapy program, you will learn to:
- Assess cardiopulmonary status
- Draw blood samples and perform blood gas analysis
- Modify prescribed respiratory care and cardiopulmonary procedures
- Perform pulmonary function testing
- Evaluate and monitor patient response to treatment
- Provide patient, family and community education
- Participate in life support activities
Please note: upon admission to this program, you will be required to complete a background check and provide documentation of current required-immunizations and current Healthcare Provider CPR certification.
Program Details
Wisconsin law requires background checks for persons who provide care for others or have access to people who receive care. This law applies to students in many School of Health Sciences programs. Please review the Caregiver Background Check information on the School of Health Sciences Forms and Policies.
Students in the Respiratory Therapy program must attend full time.
Classes are offered Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Assigned clinical hours may vary between 6 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.Respiratory Therapy classes are offered at the Madison Truax campus.
Careers in Respiratory Therapy
As an advanced-level respiratory therapy program, graduates are eligible to become Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT).
- Respiratory Therapist
- Certified Respiratory Therapist
- Registered Respiratory Therapist
With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find employment as:
- Acute Care Respiratory Therapist
- Pulmonary Function Technologist
- Respiratory Care Manager
- Neonatal/Pediatric Therapist
- Sleep Disorder Therapist
- Home Care Therapist
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation Therapist
- Respiratory Care Practitioner
Program Resources
The Respiratory Therapy Program at Madison College, CoARC number 200154, Associate Degree in Applied Science, located at 1701 Wright Street, Madison, WI 53704 - Truax campus, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). Find the Report on Accreditation in Respiratory Care Education here. Get programmatic outcomes data here.
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.
Respiratory Therapy Program Faculty:
Program Director, Patty Montgomery BS, RRT
Director of Clinical Education, Chris Becker MSE, RRT
Program Instructor, Lauren Kante, BSHM, RRT-ACCS
Program Instructor, Amy Setchell BSRT, RRT
Program Instructor, Joe Punzel BS, RRT
The Respiratory Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care -
Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2025-2026 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
Pre-Program CoursesThe following courses should be taken during the petition process, prior to program acceptance.First SemesterSecond SemesterSummer TermThird SemesterFourth Semester -
Admission
Apply Now - Secure Your Spot on the Waiting List!
This program operates on a waiting list. To be eligible to enroll in program classes, students must first complete academic preparedness requirements and go through the declaration process.
Before submitting an application, be sure to:
- Review the Waiting List section.
- Review the admission requirements for deadlines, materials, and requirements.
- Estimated Wait Time: Up to 0-1 year wait time between when students are core ready and when they become eligible to enroll in program classes. This timeline may vary depending on how many students complete the declaration process each semester.
- Program Capacity: 30 spots each Fall semester. Up to 6 students who have an apprenticeship contract with an employer sponsor.
- Make sure you can meet the program’s essential functions safely, reliably and efficiently within the scope of practice. If you need accommodations, contact our Disability Resource Services office.
Need help? Learn more about the Madison College experience and get support with your application.
Start your application today and take the next step toward your career goals!
Additional Notes
Students are required to meet the current admission requirements, academic preparedness requirements, and complete the declaration process. Requirements are subject to change based on updates to accreditation requirements or Madison College program assessment data.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Respiratory Therapy career.
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Waiting List
This program uses a waiting list to manage program admission due to capacity limitations and program demand. This means there are typically more applicants than there are open seats in the program. A waiting list helps us manage applications in a way that is fair and transparent.
This program has academic preparedness requirements that must be completed before beginning core classes. When you’ve completed all academic preparedness requirements, you will complete the declaration process.
Pre-core students can run their Degree Progress Report to confirm which academic preparedness requirements are satisfied/not satisfied and view specific ways to satisfy requirements.
Mandatory workshop in Brightspace
Prerequisites:
- Algebra (testing, college coursework or bachelor’s degree in a related biological science)
- Chemistry (high school or college coursework)
- English and Reading (testing, college coursework or bachelor’s degree)
Course Requirements:
- Written Communication or English 1
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210. -
Transfer Opportunities
Wisconsin Private Schools
Completion of an A.A.S. Degree at Madison College after 2018, and meeting admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a B.B.A degree in Technical Sales at MSOE.Out-of-State Schools
Franklin University will guarantee acceptance of Madison College graduates with an AA, AS, or AAS. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer up to 94 additional credits toward their baccalaureate degree. -
Career Outcomes
After completing the Respiratory Therapy program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be prepared to:
- Apply respiratory therapy concepts to patient care situations.
- Demonstrate technical proficiency required to fulfill the role of a respiratory therapist.
- Practice respiratory therapy according to established professional and ethical standards.
Graduates are qualified to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) examinations.
Find the Report on Accreditation in Respiratory Care Education here. Get programmatic outcomes data here.
Madison College's Respiratory Therapy program has a WTCS transfer agreement with Cardinal Stritch University, to earn your Bachelor of Science degree in Respiratory Therapy.
For further information regarding Madison College's Respiratory Therapy program, please contact Program Director, Patty Montgomery.
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Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2023 2024 2025 Number of Program Graduates 21 19 23 Number of Surveys Sent 21 19 23 Number of Surveys Returned 19 17 19 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 19 17 18 Percent Available for Employment 100.0% 100.0% 94.7% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 0.0% 0.0% 5.3% Available for Employment
2023 2024 2025 Graduates Employed 18 17 17 Percent of Graduates Employed 94.7% 100.0% 94.4% Employed in Related Occupation 18 17 17 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 0 0 0 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Seeking Employment 1 0 1 Percent Seeking Employment 5.3% 0.0% 5.6% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2023 2024 2025 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.6 3.9 3.8 Number of Satisfaction Responses 19 17 19 Very Satisfied (4) 12 15 16 Percent Very Satisfied 63.2% 88.2% 84.2% Satisfied (3) 7 2 3 Percent Satisfied 36.8% 11.8% 15.8% Unsatisfied (2) 0 0 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Very Unsatisfied (1) Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2023 2024 2025 Number of Primary Reason Responses 19 17 19 Preparation for Getting a Job Percent Preparation for Getting a Job Career Change Percent Career Change Improvement of Existing Skills Percent Improvement of Existing Skills Preparation for Further Education Percent Preparation for Further Education Personal Interest Percent Personal Interest Other Percent Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% When Employment was Obtained
2023 2024 2025 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 18 17 17 Before Enrollment 1 1 0 Percent Before Enrollment 5.6% 5.9% 0.0% While Attending the College 5 4 7 Percent While Attending the College 27.8% 23.5% 41.2% After Training at the College 12 12 10 Percent After Training at the College 66.7% 70.6% 58.8% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2023 2024 2025 Number of Employment Location Responses 18 17 17 In College District 14 14 14 Percent In College District 77.8% 82.4% 82.4% In Wisconsin, Not in District 2 1 2 Percent of In Wisconsin 11.1% 5.9% 11.8% Outside of Wisconsin 2 2 1 Percent Outside Wisconsin 11.1% 11.8% 5.9% Employer Location Unknown 0 0 0 Percent Location Unknown 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Salary Trend 2023 2024 2025 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 15 16 16 Average Monthly Wage $5,381 $5,321 $5,247 Average Hourly Wage $31.29 $30.94 $30.51 Average Work Hours per Week 37.5 37.9 41.0 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 3 1 1 Average Hourly Wage $32.44 $33.00 $33.76 Average Work Hours per Week 32.0 30.0 24.0 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2025 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions American Family Children's Hospital Respiratory Therapist Aurora Health Care Respiratory Therapist Summit Divine Savior Healthcare Respiratory Care Practitioner Portage Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital Respiratory Care Practitioner Milwaukee Mayo Clinic Respiratory Therapist Rochester MN SSM Health Respiratory Therapist Janesville SSM Health Respiratory Care Practitioner SSM Health Respiratory Therapist 3 Unity Point Meriter Respiratory Therapist 2 UW Health Registered Respiratory Therapist UW Health Respiratory Therapist 4 * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.
** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.
*** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu