RRT A.S. to B.S. Program

The RRT AS to BS Degree Advancement program is designed to allow practicing RRT’s who graduated from an accredited Associate Degree program the opportunity to meet their educational and professional goals as practicing professionals. The thirty semester credit professional program is offered in a 100% online format, which is perfect for working therapists who need flexibility to complete their Bachelor’s degree while meeting family, professional and personal obligations.  The curriculum allows students to pursue study in specific areas of interest or professional specialty through various projects, papers and/or directed study.  In this way, students have the opportunity to prepare for advanced levels of specialty credentialing, if desired.  A current NBRC RRT credential is required.

Why Pursue a Bachelors Degree?

With a bachelor’s degree in Cardio-Respiratory care from UAMS, you will be up-to-date with current practices and trends that will help you meet broader challenges in the field.  Bachelor’s degrees support a practitioner’s work in expanded roles, such as education, administration, pulmonary disease management, discharge planning, laboratory settings, or research.

You’ll have the values, knowledge, and confidence to take advantage of your opportunities for promotion and increase your effectiveness in the field. Our online respiratory therapist bachelor’s degree will help you advance your practice and benefit from additional compensation in advanced roles.

Having a bachelor’s degree opens the door for promotions into other RT positions. Department managers, supervisors, clinical specialists, industry representatives, research coordinators, clinical educators, and others expand their earning potential. Salaries for these positions are often substantially higher than staff salaries.   These advanced roles often require only a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, making them attainable early in one’s career.

Graduates earning a bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Care demonstrate improved success on credentialing examinations for both entry-to-practice exams and advanced specialty credentials such as neonatal / pediatric specialty (RRT-NPS), adult critical care (ACCS) or pulmonary function testing (CPFT / RPFT).