Welcome
SCC's Respiratory Care program prepares students to become practitioners who evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Respiratory therapists follow specific, well-defined respiratory care procedures under the direction of physicians.
You're a good fit for this program because . . .Â
Overview
The Respiratory Care program can be completed entirely face-to-face, or online with the exception of lab and clinical. The Respiratory Care program offers a full-time and part-time.
Traditional Full-Time Track:Â The program is located on the Lincoln Campus. The full-time track includes traditional face-to-face classes/labs/clinical rotations. The program is 18 months in length and starts in the Fall term. Students can expect to be in class/lab/clinical during the day/evening hours Monday through Friday.
Online Part-Time Track:Â The part-time track provides classes in the online learning environment with lab and clinical rotations completed at a local medical center. The program is 24 months in length and starts in the Spring term. Students should expect to spend approximately 30-35 hours each week on coursework.
Students in the program complete a comprehensive
curriculum in patient assessment, treatment, disease management,
diagnostic evaluation, and the care of patients with lung or heart
problems. Clinical practice for the
program is provided in cooperation with a variety of health care
facilities throughout the region. Upon graduation students are eligible to take the National
Board of Respiratory Care exams and apply for a state license.
Graduates may continue their education toward a baccalaureate
degree by transferring credit to receiving institutions. Students
need to check with the four-year school of their choice for
information on transfer requirements and courses.
The program is
accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, 777 Cannon Drive, PO Box 54876, Hurst TX, 76054-4876, www.coarc.com.
 Program outcome data is available.
Learn more about the Respiratory Care Profession: Life and Breath - A Presentation of the Respiratory Therapy Career (video). Complete the Professional Awareness (see below) assignment after viewing the video.
How to get started
Southeast Community College is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution.
Mission
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 (RRT).Employment Outlook
Employment of respiratory therapists is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2020. Nationally, job opportunities should be very good. As for the Midwest, the job market is reasonably stable, with many graduates getting part-time to full-time employment. New graduates are expected to work eight- to 12-hour shifts to include days, evenings, or night shifts, and some holidays. Recent SCC graduates report an average starting annual salary of $40,976.Starting Term(s)
Fall, Spring terms.
View your calendar conversion plan.
Courses must be completed before applying to the program
Take one of the Anatomy/Physiology options:
Anatomy/Physiology Option 1
Anatomy/Physiology Option 2
Anatomy/Physiology Option 3
Course must be completed before applying to the program
Take ENGL-1010
Course must be completed before applying to the program
Take MATH-1100 or higher
Course must be completed before applying to the program
Take SPCH-1110 or SPCH-1090 or SPCH-2810
Course must be completed before applying to the program
Take PSYC-1250 or PSYC-1810 or SOCI-1010
Program Requirements & Student Responsibilities
- All students must receive a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 in the general education courses and a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in the science courses. Science courses include Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, and Microbiology. General education courses include oral communication, written communication, math, social science, computer technology and related courses required by the programs, such as Medical Terminology.
- A current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR card.
- Submit completed Health Statement to the Health Sciences Division (upon application to the program.)
- A criminal background check (CBC) will be required of each student in this program. Based on the outcome of the background check, a student may be prevented from taking certain courses, accessing certain laboratory experiences, or completing the program. A non-refundable fee of $45 will be assessed for this CBC. Please note: Misdemeanor or felony convictions may prevent a graduate from acquiring a state license. (Contact the State Board of Respiratory Care with questions.) A five panel drug test is required of each student in this program prior to attending clinical. Based on the outcome of the drug test, a student may be prevented from taking certain courses or completing the program. A non-refundable fee of $25 will be paid by the student at the time of the testing.
- Students admitted to a Health Sciences program at Southeast Community College requiring a clinical rotation at a contracted healthcare facility will take initial drug and alcohol tests prior to the first clinical rotation. Information will be provided at program orientation.
- A two-step skin test for tuberculosis and/or a chest X-ray are required. Flu immunization may be required.
- All RESP courses completed with a grade of 75% (C+) or higher to progress through the program. (Classes must be taken in sequence. If a C+ is not achieved, the student will be dropped from the program.)
- Complete four hours of job shadowing (contact Program Chair for specific requirements.)
- Complete program orientation after being accepted into program.
- Program offers web-based courses but requires supervised clinicals/practicums/labs at identified locations.
General Education Requirements
To complete an Associate of Applied Science degree in
Respiratory Care, a student must complete additional credit hours
in the following General Education core areas:
- Oral Communications
- Written Communications
- Mathematics
- Social Science
- Science
Program Prerequisites
Program prerequisite may be transferred to or earned at SCC. This course must be completed before entry to the program:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab
All required program prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.5 prior to entry into the program. Program entry is based on available space and successful completion of all prerequisites. Grades of a "D" or less will not be accepted.
Special Program Prerequisites
- Misdemeanor or felony convictions may prevent a graduate from acquiring a state license.
- Criminal background checks will be conducted on all respiratory students. A criminal background check will be required of each student in this program. Based on the outcome of the background check, a student may be prevented from taking certain courses, accessing certain laboratory experiences, or completing the program. A non-refundable fee of $45 will be assessed for the background check. Contact your State Licensing Board if there are questions.
- Submit a completed Health Statement.
- Maintain an up-to-date Healthcare Provider CPR card.
- Complete a minimum of four hours shadowing experience.
Clinical Experience
During the clinical experience, students will apply classroom knowledge and skills learned in lab while caring for patients in a health
care facility such as a nursing home, hospital or social service
agency. Clinical rotations will be assigned quarterly by the
clinical director. For traditional students, the majority of
clinical experiences will be in the Lincoln area. Some specialty
rotations may be assigned outside of the Lincoln area. Students are
responsible for their own travel and lodging during the specialty
rotations.
When an
online student makes application to the program, they must give the
clinical director names of medical centers within their area. For online students, a facility must be willing to work with
the student and provide a preceptor at the clinical site. The
clinical director will meet with the facility and make the
appropriate arrangements. Clinical hours will be managed on an
individual basis.