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Emergency Alert
UDC Operating Remotely on Friday, Jan. 30

The University of the District of Columbia’s academic and administrative offices will conduct business remotely on Friday, Jan. 30. All on-campus activities, including athletic-related activities, are cancelled.

Campuses will reopen on Monday, Feb. 2.

Staff: Contact your immediate supervisor with questions or for further instruction regarding remote work expectations. 

Faculty: Reach out to your immediate supervisor and/or the dean for questions and further instruction regarding the transition to emergency remote instruction (ERI).  The Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL) is available to support faculty with instructional continuity, including support for Blackboard, Zoom, Webex and other teaching and learning technologies. 

CAL Faculty Support Resources

calhelpdesk@udc.edu 
Virtual Office Hours
Consultation Request Form

For learning technology tools and on-demand faculty resources, please visit CAL’s website.

Students: Due to inclement weather, the university will be closed to face-to-face operations. Instruction will be moved to emergency remote, including synchronous and asynchronous methods. Certain laboratory, clinical, and other hands-on classes for which in-person instruction is a requirement may necessitate a make-up lesson, but every effort will be made to pursue virtual learning to the extent possible. Where synchronous virtual instruction is intended, published class meeting times must be observed so that students’ schedules are not disrupted.

The safety and security of our students, faculty, staff, and the broader community remain our top priority. We will continue to provide updates regarding the status of the university’s academic and administrative offices as conditions change.

Please continue to check our website and social media channels for the latest information.

If you have any safety concerns, contact OPSEM at 202-274-5050. For all immediate emergencies, call 911.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our students and to UDC’s mission. 

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Respiratory Therapy - AAS

Program Overview

About the Associate of Applied Sciences in Respiratory Therapy Program

Breathe fresh air into your local community as a healthcare professional with an Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) respiratory therapy degree from the University of the District of Columbia. To ensure that you receive individualized guided instruction to master the skills needed to manage the respiratory system and the various cardiopulmonary diseases that can affect it, we are delighted to offer small class sizes of 5-12 students on average.

At UDC, it isn't just about what you can learn in the classroom. During your first semester in the program, you will engage in experimental learning in both the laboratory and with direct patient contact in more than eight healthcare facilities across the D.C. metro area. You'll also have opportunities to attend professional conferences and other experiential activities. 

While the path to becoming a respiratory therapist can be challenging, it's just as rewarding. Earning your degree will open doors to a fulfilling career that allows you to make a real difference in people's lives in your community and across the country. Though the curriculum is rigorous, we are proud to say that our program has a 100% pass rate on the entry exam and an 80% pass rate on the registry exam. 

Respiratory Therapy Admission Requirements

Interested in admission into the AAS Respiratory Therapy program at UDC? Review the program of study and the list below to ensure that you are eligible for admission into the program.

  • An active and current student enrolled at the Lamond-Riggs campus.
  • Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher on a four-point grading scale.
  • Good standing with the university, including accounts, academic standing and other university admission requirements.
  • Completed a minimum of 17 hours of prerequisite general education courses (including IGED courses) with a grade of at least a C or above.

Prerequisites and Program of Study 

Admission to the University Does Not Guarantee Admission to the Respiratory Therapy Program

The Office of Admission processes applications to the university. Students are NOT automatically admitted to the Respiratory Therapy program by indicating an interest in Respiratory Therapy or declaring Respiratory Therapy as a major. Students must make an application to the program as Respiratory Therapy admission is competitive.

Transfer Credit Evaluations

All students applying to any allied health program at UDC must submit course syllabi for Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, and Clinical Microbiology at the time of a completed transfer evaluation. General microbiology courses will not be accepted as a substitute for Clinical Microbiology. However, students may appeal for credit. The appeal should include the course catalog description and syllabus or course outline (from the appropriate year) for each course in question, which, if possible, should include the course’s learning outcomes.

Please note: The nursing and allied health programs at UDC-CC will not accept science courses (Anatomy I, II, Clinical Microbiology, Chemistry, etc.) completed online, virtual or hybrid formats at other institutions.

How to Apply to UDC

First-Time at UDC Students (First-Time in College, Transfer, Re-Admit, International)

Please submit your initial application to the university through the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Respiratory Therapy Program Application Process

Current and Eligible UDC Respiratory Therapy Applicants

The Respiratory Therapy Program is now accepting applications for Fall 2026 admission until March 6, 2026. Please follow the instructions below carefully to ensure your application package is complete. Before applying, you must have checked your eligibility with your Allied Health Student Navigator. Only complete application packages will be reviewed.

Admission into the respiratory therapy program is completed in four phases:

Please Note

If a prospective or current Nursing or Allied Health student appears before UDC’s Judicial Hearing Committee, resulting in a sanction of warning and/or suspension from academic activities (including courses), the individual will not be able to enter or progress in the Nursing or Allied Health programs.

Due to space limitations in our clinical placements, we may not be able to admit every student who applies. Any late or incomplete applications will not be considered until those received on time have been reviewed by the program Admission and Progression Committee, at which time eligible late applicants will be wait-listed until it is determined that space is available.

Projected Application Costs

  • ATI TEAS for Allied Health Science: $120.00+tax
  • Background Check: $140.00
  • Drug Screening: $37.00
  • Health Screening: May vary by location

Admitted Respiratory Therapy Students

Accepted students must verify completion of the following requirements prior to agency assignments (a component of all nursing practicum courses):

  1. Acknowledge intent to enroll in writing.
  2. Valid UDC Student Picture Identification.
  3. Proof of purchase of professional liability insurance.
  4. Health clearance by University Health Services.
  5. Drug screening if requested.
View the Respiratory Therapy Student Handbook

Accreditation

CoArc logoThe respiratory therapy program at UDC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) (view CoARC Programmatic Outcomes).  Graduates are eligible for the entry-level licensure/ CRT examination (required by the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia) and the advanced practice RRT examinations, both offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The program is also affiliated with the American Association for Respiratory Care.

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
264 Precision Blvd.
Telford, TN 37690
817-283-2835
Fax: 817-354-8519

National Board of Respiratory Care
10801 Mastin Street, Suite 300
Overland Park, KS 66210
nbrc-info@nbrc.org

Contact Us

Contact us today to learn more about the Associate of Applied Sciences in Respiratory Therapy degree program at UDC!

Benedict Donkor, DHSc

Program Director, Respiratory Therapy
University of the District of Columbia Community College
Lamond-Riggs Campus
5171 South Dakota Ave, NE, Room 116
Washington D.C. 20017
202-274-5864
benedict.donkor@udc.edu

Hector Mendoza Arias, M.ED.

Student Navigator: Allied Health Sciences
University of the District of Columbia  
Lamond Riggs Campus
5171 South Dakota Ave. NE, Office 239
Washington, DC 20017
202-274-6718
hector.mendozaarias1@udc.edu

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