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[Christopher.Collins]

Hello old friends and new members. As most of you know Ive been rather busy latley with a divorce, move and other things related to starting over. Now that I have finally left the wife, going back to school is finally an option.

Heres where I need you guys, see Im the kind of person who sometimes dives into some things instead of researching it first. Not to mention I have never really looked much into going back to school, so this experience is new all together.

Because of convinent location, being specialized in healthcare trades I have looked at Concorde Career College in Memphis, TN. I am very interested in their Assosiates of Science in Respritory Therapy program. This school has several campus's between here, CO, FL, TX, OR, MO and also here in TN. Here is their website: http://concorde.edu/ if anyone cares to look.

While speaking with my Battalion Cheif he told me that they are known to be rather overpriced because it is a private (for profit) school. I trust his word, he is very intelligent and good with money. Other than that though I really dont have any other unbiased opinions. I have met with the school several times and like what I see, they arnt trying to sell themselves, in fact have been quite honest with me. My only gripe is it does appear to be one of thoes tech schools generally geared towards thoes who havnt graduated high school though.

So heres some questions:

1) Looking at the tuition for the AS of Applied Science in Respritory Therapy the total tuition including registration, books, uniforms, physical and taxes is $25,038.95 Any idea if this is reasonable? Is there any one place I can look to find out a mean cost for such programs without checking each indavidual school?

2) What does it mean for a school to be accredited? Looking at job descriptions these days that word follows any college under qualifications. I asked the admissions representative this and wasnt pleased with her answer. She pretty much said, "how could a school teach a course if it isnt accredited?" Thats really the only red flag Ive got so far.

Any advice and feedback from CRTs would be greatly appreciated.

In case anyone is wondering why I dont consider community college... the one closest to me has a bad reputation. I was told to avoid it even for something as simple as getting my IV upgrade.

THANKS AS ALWAYS AND STAY SAFE!

Edited July 18, 2009 by Christopher.Collins

[Christopher.Collins]

... they arnt trying to sell themselves...

That should read; they arent trying to oversell themselves... or in other words over-glorify or try to hide and cover things through compensation, bells and whistles

[Lone Star]

2) What does it mean for a school to be accredited? Looking at job descriptions these days that word follows any college under qualifications. I asked the admissions representative this and wasnt pleased with her answer. She pretty much said, "how could a school teach a course if it isnt accredited?" Thats really the only red flag Ive got so far.

For a school to be 'accredited' means that it has been recognized for it's quality of education. The definition I found for an accredited school is:

To recognize (an institution of learning) as maintaining those standards requisite for its graduates to gain admission to other reputable institutions of higher learning or to achieve credentials for professional practice.

Any trade school can teach you how to do something.....but if they're not accredited, then there's no guarantee that the credits you've earned for that course will transfer to any reputable college.

It's good to see that you haven't fallen off the face of the planet, old friend!

Edited July 18, 2009 by Lone Star

[chbare]

Any trade school can teach you how to do something.....but if they're not accredited, then there's no guarantee that the credits you've earned for that course will transfer to any reputable college.

In addition, some states and employers may not recognize non accredited education.

Take care,

chbare.

[EMS49393]

There is an associates degree for respiratory therapy? Forgive my ignorance, but I just assumed that it required at least a 4 year degree. Every one I know in that profession has at least a bachelors.

The community college I went to here in Little Rock cost me $77 a credit hours plus fees. I averaged around 1200/semester plus books for full time. I'm a history major and was only taking classes I didn't have when I focused on my paramedic crap, i.e. some fun humanities and a couple additional history classes. The tuition in-state in Maryland for the college I'm applying to next semester is $8000 a year full-time. It's going to cost me 14K because I won't be a state resident. I'm looking at around 30k to finish a Bachelors in History/secondary education. You do the math.

My opinion, since you're asking for opinions, is that school is WAY over-priced. Do they guarantee you a great job with great pay and benefits that you'll love until you retire? For that price, they certainly should. I'd keep looking. It's unwise to jump into something that expensive, especially if you have strange feelings towards the situation.

Honestly, I wish that little cheap community college offered a four year degree. The teachers were amazing and the school was easy to get around in, with great class sizes. It is the absolute ONLY thing I'll miss about Arkansas.

[Christopher.Collins]

Thank you all for your feedback.

I am seriously reconsidering this school and may just take something at the comm college regardless of their own reputation. Im already an EMT-B in the state of CT and the for the time and cost I will have to invest in for resciprocity (cuz I was stupid and let my NR lapse) and an IV upgrade I might as well just take an accelerated EMT course instead. I should fly through it. Then I can finally go for my medic.

Theres another thing I dont get. Yes I understand that generally speaking you have to be an EMT before you will even be accepted into a medic course... but what difference does it make what state Im an EMT in? I mean hell, I cant go for my medic untill Im a TN certified EMT but its not like I havnt been a freaking EMT for almost 6 years. Dont they have backround checks for a reason? They have to do one to confirm Im a CT EMT before I get resciprocity anyways, its not like they wont find out. Ill try not to further open that can of worms though, cuz I remember how a lot of you feel about simillar subjects

[spenac]

Also is the accreditation they claim from a real recognized accreditation organization or a fake one they created?

Will the community college accept the credits gotten from them or will all the hours be worthless if you want a higher degree later?

[crotchitymedic1986]

I would make an appointment with your local hospital's respiratory department head/employees to ask their opinion of whether that cost is reasonable, and whether or not your state will recognize it ?

[HERBIE1]

I would make an appointment with your local hospital's respiratory department head/employees to ask their opinion of whether that cost is reasonable, and whether or not your state will recognize it ?

That's the best advice I've seen yet on this. Get it straight from the horse's mouth. They can give you insight into things you may never even have thought of.

[VentMedic]

Any advice and feedback from CRTs would be greatly appreciated.

CRT? Certified? Keep going for the RRT or you'll be recognized just as the EMT of the RT world and won't get to play in the big kid games.

Like the chain medic mills this school has managed to stay afloat by students who didn't make the grade for a college or was promised "easy to sign loan", "very little paper work to fill out or they fill it out for you" and "they'll work with you". The "they'll work with you part only lasts until the check is cashed. It also attracks students who want a more "tech school" atmosphere rather than a structured academic world.

If you look at their other programs this school offers such Medical Assistant, Patient Care Assistant, Massage Therapy and Office Assistant, you will notice that these are all certificate programs and mostly "skills" oriented professions.

Concorde is the medic mill of RT that added a degree program when they went to the mandatory 2 year degree for credentialing.

The 4 year degree is also the future for RT and there is legislation in the works to gain the recognition now for certain areas.

Concorde's credit will probably not transfer to any worthy university.

Look in the RT magazines you will also find this school advertises for instructors frequently.

) What does it mean for a school to be accredited? Looking at job descriptions these days that word follows any college under qualifications. I asked the admissions representative this and wasnt pleased with her answer. She pretty much said, "how could a school teach a course if it isnt accredited?" Thats really the only red flag Ive got so far.

The school does meet accreditation as required by the NBRC for the student to test as a CRT. This part from their website worries me:

Graduates of this program will be eligible and prepared to take the National Board of Respiratory Care Certified Respiratory Therapist Written Exam (also called Entry Level Exam)

Again, as a CRT, you will be the EMT of the RT world. RRT is the credential you want which is what a regular college degree program will provide.

BTW it looks like Concorde does have an "Advanced RT" program for which I'm sure another $20k will get you.

Do NOT waste your time and money on this school.

Do NOT waste your time and money on a program that does not meet the requirements to allow you to test as an RRT.

Get into a program that will allow you to grow since the RT profession is growing.

I would make an appointment with your local hospital's respiratory department head/employees to ask their opinion of whether that cost is reasonable, and whether or not your state will recognize it ?

Unfortunately not all departments are alike. That hospital may also have taken advantage of the new grad RTs from this "mill" and pay them the minimum wage in that profession just to do the minimal skills/tasks required to keep the department open and show a lean budget to management. Thus, their technology might be from 30 years ago and the most exciting thing they get to do is plug in a flowmeter while the nurse takes care of the rest. These departments are then a reminder of how far others who have good education and work in progressive departments have come.

Edited July 19, 2009 by VentMedic