The new program will launch at the college’s Wheeling campus in the Fall 2026 semester.
Beginning in the Fall 2026 semester, West Virginia Northern Community College students will have access to a respiratory therapy program at the college’s Wheeling campus. The new program has been developed to fill the needs of the local workforce for qualified respiratory therapists, as the demand for such roles has increased thanks to the pandemic.
According to an article on West Virginia Northern Community College’s website, college president Dr. Daniel Mosser said, “Healthcare providers across our region continue to experience workforce shortages, especially in specialized areas like respiratory therapy. This new program allows students to train locally for a high-demand, life-saving career while helping meet a critical community need.”
The new program will award students with an associate of applied science degree in respiratory therapy. It will prepare students to apply for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) for the Respiratory Therapy Examination (RTE) to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). As part of the program, students will participate in hands-on experiences and learn concepts like anatomy, physiology, and advanced medical equipment.
Respiratory therapists work with patients who have trouble breathing due to chronic respiratory diseases or illnesses. The webpage for the respiratory therapy program states that the responsibilities of a respiratory therapist include the “administration of medical gases and pulmonary drug aerosols; pre and post-operative prophylactic pulmonary therapy; airway care and maintenance; diagnostic testing; cardiopulmonary rehabilitation; and providing and managing total ventilatory support.”
Applications are now open for the new program, which begins in the Fall 2026 semester, and will remain open until July 30. In order to be eligible for the program, students must first obtain American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Students can take this one-day course at West Virginia Northern Community College.
The college is currently seeking accreditation for the program from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Therapy (CoARC).
For more information about West Virginia Northern Community College, visit the school’s website.