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Respiratory Care Practitioner |
Course Descriptions | Degree Requirements
Career pportunities
The RCA program prepares you for a career in respiratory therapy. Respiratory therapists work in a variety of settings: hospital, homecare, neonatal nursery, diagnostic testing, and flight for life. Respiratory care is one of fastest growing health professions in the U.S. We provide our graduates with a listing of national placement opportunities.
Program Description
This program prepares you to work in a unique area of health care: the diagnosis, therapy, management, and prevention of diseases associated with cardiopulmonary illness. Due to the demanding training requirements and the critical life support responsibilities of the respiratory therapist, you must have a high degree of personal maturity, strong motivation, a solid science and general studies background, and excellent reasoning skills.
The program consists of five semesters of theory, laboratory, and clinical internships in the techniques of respiratory care. You must take the Respiratory Care courses in sequence and complete them with a “C” grade or higher. Graduates of the program become eligible for registry by the National Board for Respiratory Care.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT
To enter the program, you must meet all basic skills requirements including computer literacy, complete at least four of the seven required General Education courses (with a “C” or higher in natural science courses), and undergo a screening and selection process. You must also obtain CPR certification before entering into the clinical setting, pass a drug screening,and background check before you are accepted into the program.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application | Immunization Form
The application process is opened from Feb 1 through April 15 of each year. Applications will not be accepted after April 15 without direct consent from the program director. To make application simply click on the link above, print the application, and return it to the Respiratory Care Program, or bring it to MT 101 by the deadline.
A new program begins every fall semester. Admission to the program is a selection process. If a student meets the minimum requirements for admission, the student will be required to take an entrance exam (math and aptitude), and participate in an interview process. If the student receives a conditional acceptance after completing the above process, the student must successfully pass a drug screening and background check. Only 25 students are accepted each year.
The Pueblo Community College Respiratory Care Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). For program outcomes please visits http://www.coarc.com/47.html.