Respiratory Therapist

The A.S. Degree or Certificate of Achievement Respiratory Care prepares students seeking a career as a licensed Respiratory Therapist. Upon completion of the degree students will be eligible to take the state licensure exam. This two year program is close to full-time and includes classroom, lab and clinical learning experiences. Pre-requisites must be completed prior to applying to the program. 

Major learning outcomes are focused on safety, oxygenation and ventilation as well as communication competencies. Graduates are prepared to take on job responsibilities upon entry into the workforce. 

Once the program is in effect there would be 30 graduates each Spring as enrollment occurs every Fall semester. 

Respiratory Care students will demonstrate their competencies through knowledge, skill and attitude throughout the program. Upon graduation a position as a respiratory therapist or transfer to a four-year university are fundamental goals. Maintaining adequate numbers of Respiratory Care Therapists in our local community is essential. 

The Respiratory Care Program is accomplished over a two-year period and has a lecture and lab component. Practice in the skills lab will allow students to develop and strengthen patient respiratory assessments as well as basic and advanced procedures. Students are given a variety of respiratory care experiences in the actual clinical setting and work with a clinical agency Respiratory Therapist.

Individuals who are interested in the Respiratory Care Program complete an application during the application cycle. They must have the pre-requisites completed with a "C" grade or better. The science and overall GPA must be 2.5 or higher. Applicants are at least 18 years of age, and are a College of the Redwoods student with an ID number and have selected Respiratory Care as their degree category. If there are more applicants than available seats in the program a lottery will be performed, and waitlist established. Those accepted into the program will have a background check and livescan done. All required vaccinations will be uploaded to a College of the Redwoods specific data bank and must be updated as needed. Once enrolled in the program the student must maintain a current CPR card. A course grade of 75% is required for each course in the Respiratory Care Program to progress to the next semester.