Breathe Easy About Your Future

The Respiratory Care program prepares you to evaluate and treat patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary disorders. You'll learn how to use specialized equipment, perform diagnostic tests and provide life-saving treatments. Our online respiratory care program offers flexibility with both traditional and part-time options. Our graduates are ready to take the National Board exams for a rewarding career in this high-demand, high-reward healthcare field of respiratory care. Breathe easy knowing you've chosen a career path with purpose and stability.

PROGRAM GOALS


Prepare Graduates

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


Master Therapeutic Techniques

You will gain practical experience with medical gases, humidity therapy, therapeutic aerosols, oxygen administration, airway clearance techniques and basic airway management through hands-on laboratory and clinical practice sessions.


Treatment Planning Expertise

You will learn how to evaluate chronic cardiopulmonary conditions and develop effective treatment plans based on patient needs, modifying plans in response to patient outcomes, demonstrating the critical thinking skills essential for respiratory therapists.

 

Respiratory Care

A.A.S.

Locations: Lincoln / Online

Our fast-paced program is designed to prepare you for success in the workplace through a combination of classroom learning, hands-on labs and real-life clinical experiences with committed faculty focused on teaching safe clinical practices.

ESTIMATED TUITION

$9,695

CREDIT HOURS

62

PROGRAM LENGTH

4 Terms

SCHEDULE

Full-Time / Part-Time

STARTING TERM

Fall / Spring

A.A.S. Program Costs
Tuition
$9,695
Supplies/Fees
$725
Books
$1,120
Tools
$100
Total
$11,640
Avg. Annual Salary
$64,168*

 

WHY SCC?

What options does SCC offer for completing the Respiratory Care program?


We offer flexible learning options including the traditional full-time track in-person or the online part-time track based on your needs.

How is the Respiratory Care program structured at SCC?


The program begins with classroom and lab practice to build your foundation, with clinical experiences increasing toward the end of the program.

What facilities and technology does SCC provide for Respiratory Care students?


We have innovative learning spaces with the latest equipment and technology in our state-of-the-art Health Sciences Building. You'll collaborate with other health science students to practice comprehensive patient care in an Inter Professional Simulation.

What certifications will I be eligible for after completing SCC's Respiratory Care program?


Upon completion, you'll be eligible to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care exams and apply for state licensure.

 

CAREER OUTCOMES

Respiratory Therapist

Evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders. Perform diagnostic tests, develop treatment plans, and monitor patient progress. Work in various settings including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.

Pulmonary Function Technologist

Conduct specialized lung function tests to help diagnose respiratory diseases. Operate complex testing equipment, analyze test results, and report findings to physicians. Help patients understand testing procedures and ensure accurate measurements.

Sleep Disorder Specialist

Evaluate and treat patients with sleep-related breathing problems such as sleep apnea. Conduct sleep studies, analyze data, and help implement treatment plans like CPAP therapy. Educate patients about sleep disorders and proper use of respiratory equipment during sleep.

 

Next Steps

Program Chair
Angela Poppenhagen
Instructor Respiratory Care
apoppenhagen@southeast.edu

 

Additional Resources

Accreditation

COARC logo

The Southeast Community College Respiratory Care Associate of Applied Science Program (CoARC # 200261) located on the Lincoln Campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

264 Precision Blvd.
Telford, TN 37690
817-283-2835

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.

Respiratory Care program outcome data.

SCC Program Goal:  To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practices as performed by registered respiratory therapist (RRTs).

State Licensure or Certification Requirements

The Respiratory Care curriculum is accepted in all 50 states. This program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Students successfully completing this program will sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exam.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution

Southeast Community College is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution (NC-SARA) institution. As such, SCC is unable to offer online or distance courses to students in the following areas at this time: American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

* Avg. Annual Salary is based on reported data from SCC graduates and calculated in accordance with the methods found in the latest SCC Graduate Report