Respiratory Care

Admission:

~15 students admitted each Spring

Application Deadline:

October 15

Requirements:

All materials must be submitted by the deadline; applicants must meet all admission criteria.

Entrance Requirements:
(Minimum grade of C required)

• BIO 110 or BIO 113 (or equivalent)
• BIO 240 (or equivalent completed within last 10 years) or
• BIO 245 (or equivalent completed within last 10 years) &
• BIO 246 (or equivalent completed within last 10 years)
• Additional Courses for Bonus Admission Points
  (Minimum grade of C required)
• ENG 101 or equivalent
• ENG 102 or equivalent
• PSY 100 or equivalent
• HUM 216 or equivalent
• HPE 112 Introduction to Medical Terminology

Please visit our Respiratory Care Program Admissions webpage for more information.

This is a two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program for Respiratory Care students. ECC will prepare you for this exciting career with a combination of classroom, lab, and clinical experiences. All students will learn and practice skills in area hospitals throughout the program. Afterward, you'll be ready for a job as a respiratory therapist in various healthcare settings.

• Support in ICU/ER: Manage serious breathing and heart-lung problems, including operating advanced ventilators.
• Patient Assessment: Interview and examine patients to understand the severity of their breathing issues.
• Treatment Planning: Work with doctors to create personalized care plans, including ventilation and oxygen therapy.
• Run Tests: Perform tests like ABGs, lung function tests, and capnography to check breathing and oxygen levels.
• Analyze Results: Review lab tests (e.g., blood gases, electrolytes) to help guide treatment decisions.
• Deliver Care: Provide treatments like inhalers, manage ventilators, and assist with or perform emergency intubation.
• Track Progress: Monitor patient data and adjust treatment to improve outcomes.
• Educate Patients: Teach patients and families how to use inhalers, oxygen equipment, and CPAP at home.
• Improve Outcomes: Help reduce complications, shorten ICU stays, lower readmission rates, and improve survival.

Visit the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) to learn more about the cardiopulmonary care you'll be performing as an RT. 

A cutting-edge, state-of-the-art lab space has been designed to enhance hands-on learning for the Respiratory Care program. This advanced facility features hospital beds and specialized respiratory equipment, creating an immersive simulation of a real hospital environment. Graduates of a two-year Respiratory Care program qualify to take the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credentialing exam administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

• Respiratory Care Practitioner
• Respiratory Therapists