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Respiratory Care Practitioner |
Course Descriptions | Degree Requirements
Career Opportunities
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.
Entrance requirements
To enter the program, you must meet all basic skills requirements including computer literacy, complete at least four of the six 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 enrolling in the program, and pass a drug screening and background check before you can take clinical courses. You can obtain application information from the Respiratory Care department.
Graduation requirements
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.
The Pueblo Community College Respiratory Care Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).