Respiratory Care/Therapy

The respiratory care program serves the community by preparing students for careers in respiratory care. The course of study provides vocational education that leads to an associate in science degree. Students learn the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to take the national board examinations for respiratory care and become licensed by the Respiratory Care Board of California as a respiratory care practitioner. The graduate will be prepared to take the National Board of Respiratory Care registry examination. After successful completion of the National Board examination, graduates will be eligible for licensure anywhere in the United States. Respiratory care practitioners work in a wide variety of settings to evaluate, treat, and manage patients of all ages with respiratory illnesses and other cardiopulmonary disorders. The respiratory care practitioner participates in clinical decision-making and patient education, develops and implements respiratory care plans, applies patient-driven protocols, utilizes evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, and participates in health promotion, disease prevention, and disease management. The respiratory care practitioner may be required to exercise considerable independent judgment, under the supervision of a physician, in the respiratory care of patients. Students must receive a minimum grade of “C” or better in all required core courses and the specific courses listed as program electives in order to qualify for the degree or certificate.

Program Requirements

Recommended Pathway

Respiratory Care/Therapy AS

Prior to Program (20 units)

• BIOL201 - General Human Anatomy (4)
• BIOL203A - General Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
• BIOL202 - General Human Physiology (4)
• BIOL203B - General Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
• CHEM101 - Introductory Chemistry (5)
• Any AVC GE Area 2 (3)
• ENGLC1000 - Academic Reading and Writing (4)
• ENGLC1000H - Academic Reading and Writing - Honors (4)

First Fall in Program (12 units)

• RCP101 - Fundamentals of Respiratory Care (6)
• COMMC1000 - Introduction to Public Speaking (3)
• COMMC1000H - Introduction to Public Speaking - Honors (3)
• Any AVC GE Area 6 (3)

First Spring in Program (12 units)

• Any AVC GE Area 3 (3)
• RCP103 - Concepts in Respiratory Care (6)
• RCP104 - Respiratory Care Pharmacology (3)

Summer in Program (5 units)

• RCP105 - Fundamentals of Clinical Respiratory Care (5)

Second Fall in Program (13 units)

• RCP201 - Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care (3)
• RCP202 - Fundamentals of Intensive Respiratory Care (4)
• RCP203 - Seminar and Practicum in Respiratory Care I (6)

Second Spring in Program (12 units)

• PSYCC1000 - Introduction to Psychology (3)
• PSYCC1000H - Introduction to Psychology - Honors (3)
• RCP204 - Seminar and Practicum in Respiratory Care II (9)

Program Outcomes

Respiratory Care/Therapy AS