Section 1456.20  Approved Respiratory Care Training Program

a)         The Department shall, upon the recommendation of the Respiratory Care Board (the Board), approve a respiratory care program if it meets the criteria set forth in this Section. The institution:

1)         Is regionally accredited or legally recognized and authorized by the jurisdiction in which it is located to confer the appropriate degree or certificate;

2)         Has a faculty that consists of a sufficient number of full-time instructors to ensure educational obligations to the students are fulfilled. The faculty must have demonstrated competence as evidenced by appropriate degrees or experience in their areas of teaching from professional colleges or institutions;

3)         Has a program director, clinical coordinator and medical director; and

4)         Has 62 semester hours or the equivalent of a 12 month course of study which includes, but not limited to, all of the following curriculum/subject areas with structured laboratory and clinical experience:

A)        Basic Sciences:

Biology

Cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology

Chemistry

Human anatomy and physiology

Computer science

Mathematics

Microbiology

Pharmacology

Physics

Psychology

B)        Clinical Sciences:

Cardiopulmonary diseases

General medical and surgical specialties

Pathology

Pediatrics and perinatology

C)        Respiratory Care Content Areas:

Aerosol therapy

Airway management

Assessment of patients' cardiopulmonary status

Cardiopulmonary diagnostics and interpretation

Cardiopulmonary monitoring and interpretation

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and home care

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Chest physiotherapy

Ethics of respiratory care and medical care

Gas therapy

General patient care

Humidity therapy

Hyperinflation therapy

Mechanical ventilation management

Oxygen therapy

Pediatrics and perinatology

b)         Individuals applying for licensure who are deficient in any of the content areas set forth in subsection (a)(4) may complete any one or all of these courses in an approved respiratory care program.  The applicant will be required to submit proof to the Division that he or she has passed the a courses.  Proof shall include, but not be limited to, transcript, curriculum, program materials and course materials.

c)         When the accuracy of any submitted documentation or the relevance or sufficiency of the course work is questioned by the Division or the Board, the applicant will be required to provide such information as may be necessary and/or appear for an interview before the Board to explain such relevance or sufficiency, clarify information or clear up any discrepancies or conflicts in information.

d)         In determining whether a program should be approved, the Division, upon recommendation of the Board, shall take into consideration, but not be bound by, accreditation or approval by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care Education (CoARC), or its successor organization,  or accreditation by the American Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA), or its successor, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

e)         The Division, upon recommendation of the Board, has determined that all respiratory therapy programs accredited or approved by CoARC, or its successor organization, or accredited by CAHEA, or its successor CAAHEP, meet the minimum criteria set forth in this Section and are, therefore, approved.

(Source:  Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 14455, effective August 28, 2006)