Respiratory Therapist (RT) Pathway Program at University of Vermont Health Network
Ready to further your education?
Through our partnership with Vermont State University, our RT Pathway Program allows full-time employees of UVM Health to continue earning full-time wages and benefits while studying to complete their Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy degree and become eligible to earn their Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.
What does a Respiratory Therapist do?
Respiratory Therapists deliver care that helps people manage a wide range of breathing problems caused by disease, accident, or illness. These professionals provide care whenever and wherever breathing is an issue. They work in hospitals or other acute care settings, or are employed in clinics, physicians’ offices, or skilled nursing facilities.
Learn more about our Respiratory Therapist Pathway Program here.
Next Cohort - Important Dates
- UVM Health Applications Open: February of each calendar year
- UVM Health Applications Close: April 1st of each calendar year
- Cohort Selected: May of each calendar year
- VTSU Classes Begin: August of each calendar year
How to Apply: VTSU
- Apply to VTSU at Vermont State University (link opens in a new window)
- Apply to the Respiratory Therapy program (if you meet all pre-requisite requirements)
- Apply for financial aid
How to Apply: RT Pathway Program
Pathway Program Application Deadline – April 1st of each calendar year
RT Pathway Program applications will only be accepted during the defined application period.
Please have ready the following items to upload with your application:
- Vermont State University RT Program Acceptance Letter
- Résumé
- Cover letter – What interests you in a career in RT? Why should you be selected?
- Reference letter – Must be completed by a non-family member and speak to your ability to be successful in the RT Pathway Program and as an RT.
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Leader Confirmation of Support - Leaders must complete the electronic UVMHN Pathway Program Leader Approval Form (link opens in a new window) prior to the application deadline. Please coordinate with your leader to ensure this is completed.
Eligibility Requirements:
All candidates must:
- Currently work at least 72 scheduled hours per pay period at a UVM Health partner site (part-time/per diem employees are not eligible).
- Be in good standing at a UVM Health partner with no corrective actions above a verbal warning.
Program Details
Offered in partnership with Vermont State University (VTSU), the Respiratory Therapy Pathway Program offers full-time employees of a UVM Health partner the opportunity to further their health care careers while continuing to earn a full-time salary.
Students admitted into VTSU’s Respiratory Therapy program will begin their academic journey in a comprehensive curriculum that includes classroom learning, labs, and hands-on clinical rotations within UVM Health. Additionally, participants will work reduced hours in their current positions at their respective UVM Health partner.
Upon completing Vermont State University’s 67-credit Associate of Science program, graduates will be prepared to earn the RRT credential, obtain state licensure and work as a respiratory therapist at one of our UVM Health partner sites across Vermont and northern New York.
Participation requires full-time commitment across five semesters at Vermont State University. Classes take place at Vermont State University’s Williston campus. Virtual learning options may be available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many work hours are required during the program?
Year 1 – While enrolled in the RT program at VTSU, students will work their regular job for 24 hours per week. Students will receive pay for an additional 12 hours per week to allow time for classwork, lab/clinical instruction, and studying.
Year 2 – Class and clinical hour requirements will increase in year two. Students in this academic year will adjust their work hours to 32 working hours per pay period, receiving 40 paid study hours per pay period.
What is the Financial Structure of the RT Pathway Program?
UVM Health will prepay up to $4,000 per RT academic semester ($20,000 total, last dollar) towards tuition, academic fees, and textbooks. These funds will not carry over between semesters.
Pathway participants will complete the FAFSA and engage in the Financial Aid process with VTSU.
Participants should be sure to review the details of tuition expenses related to VTSU’s RT Program. Any remaining expenses related to tuition, academic fees, and textbooks would be the responsibility of the participant.
https://vermontstate.edu/academic-programs/respiratory-therapy-as/?affordability
Participants in the RT Pathway Program are electing to use their annual UVM Health employee tuition assistance benefit towards related programmatic expenses.
The RT Pathway Program is administered through a platform called Navigator, part of the Guild Education System. Participants will have access to a virtual credit card that may only be used for approved Pathway Program costs.
Pathway participants will be held to all applicable UVM Health educational benefit repayment policies should they terminate employment (voluntarily or involuntarily), terminate participation in a program (voluntarily or involuntarily), or fail to fulfill their entire working commitment.
Am I guaranteed a spot in the RT Pathway Program?
Each UVM Health partner assesses its RT needs annually and determines how many employees it can support through the Pathway Program. This number, in combination with the number of applicants, determines how competitive each application period will be.
Am I guaranteed a role as an RT upon graduation from the RT Pathway Program?
Available RT roles will be posted to Workday, and participants will follow the UVM Health application and interview process. Graduates are required to apply to open RT roles at their partner and may consider RT roles at other partners. Talent Acquisition will support participants in exploring available RT roles, but timing and availability of roles will vary by partner.
UVM Health does not guarantee participants an RT role upon completion of the program.
What if I’m not an employee within the UVM Health Network? Can I still apply?
Being a full-time employee at a UVM Health partner is a requirement for application and enrollment. To be eligible for the program you’ll need to be hired as a full-time employee in any department at any partner.
Interested in joining our team?
Call 800-722-9922 and choose Option 3 to talk with one of our talent acquisition partners about full-time UVM Health job opportunities.
What if I’m per diem or part-time? Am I eligible?
To be eligible, you need to be a working a full-time employee at a UVM Health partner.
What pre-requisite courses are required for this program?
Students interested in Vermont State University’s Respiratory Therapy program must have successfully completed Anatomy & Physiology I and II to apply. Please visit VTSU’s website for a complete listing of application eligibility requirements and criteria.
If you do need to take any pre-requisite courses, check out Pathfinder, which is a program offered by UVM Health in partnership with Community College of Vermont and will support employees who are seeking to enter a UVM Health Pathway Program to begin taking prepaid preparatory, prerequisite and corequisite courses.
I’ve taken pre-requisites in the past. Do I need to retake those courses?
Possibly, depending on the timeframe and your grades. VTSU will review the courses and grades on your transcript to determine whether they meet the requirements for this program.
If you do need to retake courses, check out Pathfinder, which is a program offered by UVM Health in partnership with Community College of Vermont and will support employees who are seeking to enter a UVM Health Pathway Program to begin taking prepaid preparatory, prerequisite and corequisite courses.
I’ve started RT school in the past, but did not finish. Do I need to start over?
The RT Pathway Program is designed to align with VTSU’s five-semester RT curriculum. For the purposes of this program, all coursework and lab/clinical instruction must be completed in its entirety. Please contact VTSU Admissions for specific questions related to your academic history.
Once I am enrolled in the Pathway Program, are there any tax implications that I should be aware of?
Amounts paid under this Program have tax implications. Amounts that are paid to you, or your educational institution towards tuition, academic fees, books, supplies, or other related expenses, constitute payments that will be treated as taxable income and subject to all applicable state and federal withholdings should they exceed the annual tax-free threshold for employer-provided educational assistance under Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Appropriate taxes will be applied to any amounts above the annual tax-free threshold by payroll and withheld from your regular paychecks.
Please consult your personal tax advisor, as University of Vermont Health cannot provide you with individualized tax advice.
Can I apply for the Pathway Program if I am already actively enrolled and attending the academic program on my own?
Our Pathway Programs are designed to support employees through the entirety of the academic program. Off-cycle enrollments will not be accepted.
RT Pathway Program Application
(all required)
Please complete the below form and a member of our team will be in touch.
Questions?
Please contact:
Rebecca Aldrich, Workforce Development Program Manager – Rebecca.aldrich@uvmhealth.org (link opens in a new window)
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