Admission into the Respiratory Care Program

Applicants must be a HIGH SCHOOL or GED graduate and meet one of the following requirement options.

OPTION I

OPTION II

OPTION III

Prior to registering for the Respiratory Care Program (RCP) courses, students must complete the following courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. Respiratory Care students will not be eligible for the Iowa Vocational Technical Tuition Grant while taking the below courses.

How to Apply

1. Complete an application for admission
   • Applications can be submitted online or you can print and mail your application. Contact the Admissions Office at admission@hawkeyecollege.edu, 800-670-4769, ext. 4000, or 319-296-4000 for an application to be mailed to you.
   • No application fee
   • Be sure to indicate your major on your application form.
2. Send transcripts to the Admissions Office
   • Official high school transcripts and/or GED scores.
   • Previous official college transcripts.
3. Send ACT scores or register for the COMPASS Assessment
   • The ACT is not required, but it is accepted for admissions.
   • If you choose not to take the ACT, you must take the COMPASS Assessment.
   • If you have taken the ACT, your score will appear on your high school transcripts.
   • Hawkeye evaluates English, reading, and math subscores. Each subscore must be 19 or above to be applicable. If any subscore is below 19, you must take the COMPASS Assessment in that area.
   • Students with prior college credit in math, reading, or English courses may be exempt from one or more assessment areas.
   • To schedule a COMPASS Assessment please contact Student Services at assessment@hawkeyecollege.edu, 800-670-4769, ext. 1238, or 319-296-4014. Learn more about the COMPASS Assessment

Admissions Process

1. Applicants will be required to submit credentials (transcripts and assessment scores) as required by the program’s admission requirements.
2. Completed applicant files will be processed as follows:
   1. Applicants not meeting the program’s admission requirements will be sent an admissions inactivation letter.
   2. Applicants meeting all admission requirements will be accepted and tracked while taking the first and second semester courses. Upon completion of this coursework with the required cumulative GPA, students will be able to register for the RCP program courses.
3. The program accepts approximately 30 students and 10 alternates each Fall semester to the RCP program. The program accepts approximately 20 students each Summer semester to the RCP professional core courses. Applicants will be accepted based upon the initial date of a completed applicant file.
4. If necessary, alternates will be contacted to fill unconfirmed positions in the program. Alternates will be given priority for the next program start semester.
5. Students must achieve a minimum "C" grade in all courses required to complete the program.
6. Graduates are eligible to take the national examination for licensure, which is required to practice in any state. Please keep in mind, a social security number is required in order to take exams and apply for licensure.

* Changes are taking place within healthcare facilities nationally. These changes directly affect all health programs at Hawkeye Community College. The Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO), which accredits healthcare facilities across the country, enforced background screening September 2004 and has set requirements mandating that students in a healthcare field must now complete the same background check as hospital employees. As a Health student of Hawkeye Community College you will be required to complete a criminal background check, sex offender, child abuse and dependent adult registry. The outcome could possibly affect your opportunities to participate in the clinical setting.

Useful Areas of Study / Experience

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Communications
• Mathematics
• Human Relations
• Physics