Admissions
Prerequisites
The prerequisites for the Respiratory Care Program are defined by your affiliated college or university.
You must successfully complete the required preprofessional and professional college course work before you are eligible to begin the respiratory care rotations at Mayo Clinic.
International Applicants
U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Immigrant status is required for admission to the Respiratory Care Program.
Admissions Policy
Modern allied health education requires that the accumulation of scientific knowledge be accompanied by the simultaneous acquisition of essential skills, and professional attitudes and behavior. The goal of MSHS programs is to graduate the best possible healthcare practitioners. Further, MSHS must also ensure that patients are not placed in jeopardy by students with impaired intellectual, physical or emotional functions. Therefore, admission to educational programs in the school is offered only to those applicants who meet qualifications for education and training in the art and science of the respective allied health profession. Applicants should possess the following general qualities:
- Critical thinking
- Sound judgment
- Excellent communication skills
- Emotional stability and maturity
- Empathy
- Physical and mental stamina
Ability to learn and function in a wide variety of didactic and clinical settings
Fluency in written and spoken English is essential for success in the program and to ensure patient safety. Applicants must demonstrate objective competency in English through the admission interview and may be required to submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination or equivalent examination.
Applicants will be judged not only on their scholastic accomplishments, but also on their physical and emotional capacities to meet the requirements of the program's curriculum and graduate as skilled and effective practitioners, with reasonable accommodations, if applicable. To preserve the welfare of students and patients, each MSHS program will establish minimum standards which are deemed essential for safety in practicing that respective profession. Applicants seeking accommodations should initiate their request with the specific Program Director.
In addition to these general qualities, admissions committees for each program may require additional specific admission standards. Documentation of these program-specific standards is available from each individual Program Director.
Additional Admission Requirements
Applicants offered admission to MSHS programs must also comply with the following prevailing institutional policies and procedures:
- Immunization
- Background Study
- Drug Screen
- Health Insurance
- HIPAA, Confidentiality, and other training deemed necessary by Mayo Clinic and/or the MSHS Program in which you are offered admission.
Specific questions about these requirements may be directed to the school.
Failure to comply or to provide requested documentation is grounds for rescinding an admission offer or terminating admission.
Mayo School of Health Sciences upholds all federal and state laws that preclude discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities or veteran's status.
Respiratory therapists generally work between 35 and 40 hours a week. Because hospitals operate around the clock, therapists may work evenings, nights, or weekends.
Respiratory therapists spend long periods standing and walking between patients' rooms. In an emergency, they work under a great deal of stress.
Gases used by respiratory therapists are stored under pressure and are potentially hazardous. However, adherence to safety precautions and regular maintenance and testing of equipment minimize the risk of injury. As in many other health occupations, respiratory therapists come in contact with patients who may have infectious diseases, but defined precautions minimize risks.
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