Division of Health Professions

The Associate Degree program in Respiratory Care prepares the student to assume responsible positions as part of the Health Care team. The graduate will be eligible to sit for the National Registry Examination, administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (N.B.R.C.). Respiratory Care students participate in various classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences. The laboratory provides students the opportunity for hands-on experience in preparation for clinical practicum. The classroom courses give the student the foundational knowledge in Respiratory Care. College credit may be granted through Tech Prep articulation agreements between RACC and approved secondary schools. The Reading Area Community College Respiratory Care Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) (www.coarc.com).  CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented. Please refer to CoARC’s webpage for additional information: https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/

Program Goals

To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, the student should be able to:

• PLO1 - Integrates theory driven EBP in the assessment, treatment and evaluation of patients
• PLO2 - Demonstrates the ability to recall, apply, and analyze the common core of knowledge required for an entry level registered respiratory therapist
• PLO3 - Demonstrates behaviors according to the respiratory care code of conduct, with ethical responsibility interdisciplinary collaboration and professionalism
• PLO4 - Employs concepts, skills, interdisciplinary communication and decision making in the provision of safe, quality care
• PLO5 - Exhibits accountability, and responsibility for the delivery of care and patient outcomes.

Please visit our Enrollment Information page for details on the Selective Admissions process for the Respiratory Care program.

Major Requirements (47 credits) 

• RES 150 Respiratory Care I  (5 credits)
• RES 212 Pharmacology  (2 credits)
• BIO 255 Anatomy and Physiology II  (4 credits)
• RES 200 Cardiopulmonary Physiologic Processes  (2 credits)
• RES 227 Respiratory Care II  (7 credits)
• RES 237 Respiratory Care III  (3 credits)
• RES 232 Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care  (2 credits)
• RES 255 Respiratory Care IV  (9 credits) 
• BIO 280 Microbiology  (4 credits)
• RES 265 Respiratory Care V  (9 credits)

Program Guide

• Click here to view Program Curriculum Guide