Pre-Respiratory Therapy

The Pre-Respiratory Therapy pathway is offered by the Jefferson College of Health Professions to prepare students for the Entry Into Practice BS in Respiratory Therapy (professional phase), which is offered in collaboration with National Jewish Health in Denver, among the top hospitals for respiratory care in the United States

Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat patients with lung and heart problems. They administer medications, manage airways, and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. ​Respiratory therapists play a critical role in healthcare and work in emergency rooms, intensive care units, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and even sleep centers.

As a student in the Pre-Respiratory Therapy pathway, you will build strong skills in critical thinking and problem solving through foundation courses in the sciences, psychology and humanities on the East Falls campus. The courses you’ll complete in the two-year pre-respiratory therapy portion of this program fulfill all necessary prerequisites for preferred placement in Jefferson’s Entry into Practice BS in Respiratory Therapy Program. 

If you successfully transition to the Entry into Practice BS in Respiratory Therapy, offered in collaboration with National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado, you will complete didactics online, which will allow flexibility. For in-person clinical rotations, students will have many opportunities at highly regarded hospitals for respiratory care in Philadelphia or Denver.