Health Sciences

Respiratory Care

Respiratory Care is a health specialty relating to the diagnosis, treatment, preventive and rehabilitative care of individuals suffering from deficiencies, diseases and abnormalities affecting the process of breathing.  They are trained to be members of the highly technical life support teams, patient educators and rehabilitation specialists.  Some graduates may choose to transfer to four-year colleges and universities for further study and additional degrees.  The completed program is transferrable to many colleges for those wanting to achieve a higher degree.

The Respiratory Care curriculum has a variety of program options sequenced to offer the student the greatest flexibility in achieving their career goals.  While the programs are listed separately, they are actually combined in a unique sequencing format.  They can be taken in phases.  Students may enter at any time into Phase I (Pre-Respiratory Care Certificate), which includes all the general education and related courses (English, math, anatomy and physiology, integrated science, etc.) required by the curriculum.  The student can take all or part of these courses prior to taking the professional courses.  The student determines the length of time they want to spend in this phase before moving into the next phase (Phase II).

Phase II may be started only in the fall semester and completes the technical or professional training.  Here, students study respiratory care procedures and concepts in class, laboratory and clinical facilities.  The curriculum blends classroom, laboratory and hospital experience.  Much of the time is spent in supervised patient-care learning while working with physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and other members of the health care team at clinical sites. 

The Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), on the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

Students graduating from the Respiratory Care program are eligible to take the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) Therapist Certification Examination and the Advanced Practitioner Credentialing Examinations given by the NBRC.  Upon successful completion of these registry examinations, graduates are designated as Registered Respiratory Therapists.  Graduates from the program are eligible to apply to the South Carolina State Board of Medical Examiners for state licensing.

Special Requirements

Students in the program are required to purchase and maintain two monogrammed uniforms, two lab coats, white shoes, stethoscope and a watch at an approximate cost of $150.  A graduation pin is available for approximately $40.

Students are required to join the professional association (AARC) at the student rate of $50 and attend some workshops and scheduled professional meetings at their own expense (approximately $70/year).

Students must attain a grade of “C” in all respiratory care, mathematics and science courses to successfully complete the program. Students may not repeat mathematics, science and/or major courses more than once and permitted to repeat no more than two different curriculum courses.

In addition to the college’s placement test and the admissions requirements of the Health Sciences department, specific admission criteria to the Respiratory Care program are:

• Acceptable admission criteria (one or more of the following):

  • HOBET 50 composite percent (minimum reading 50 percent, mathematics 50 percent, algebra 50 percent) and MTC writing sample score of 30; or

  • SAT 910 (minimum verbal 430, mathematics 480) and MTC writing sample score of 30; or

  • ACT 19 (minimum verbal 18 and mathematics 23) and MTC writing sample score of 30; or

  • Successful completion of the Pre-Health Care certificate with a 2.5 GPA and “C” or higher in each course; and

• High school diploma or equivalent

• High school or college credits in mathematics/science (algebra, chemistry, physics or biology) preferred.  Required to be completed prior to starting program.

• First aid and CPR Certificates - A Community and Basic Life Support CPR for Adults and Children certificate from the American Red Cross or Heart Association is due before entry into the first respiratory class and must be current (within 3 months of starting the program)

• Hospital observation scheduled by the Admissions Office.

• Program interview scheduled after completion of the hospital observation

• Health form completed and turned in prior to start of first semester of classes.

Individual evaluations may be given to applicants who do not meet all of the above criteria.  Students must have a clinical observation before being interviewed.

Major:  Respiratory Care (82 credit hours)

Degree:  Associate in Health Science