Why this career might be right for me

Do you like to help people? Do you want a job in a dynamic, growing health care profession? We have a career for you. As a Respiratory Therapist ( RT), you can provide care for patients who struggle to take their next breath. RTs never take a breath for granted.

Our Associate of Applied Science Respiratory Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). We will prepare you for a rewarding profession that will reach patients from acute care settings to rehabilitation programs such as asthma education (GINA). Use your specialized skills and the latest technology to make a true difference in a patient’s quality of life: Become an RT at PCC.

Program graduates may sit for the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialing exam which is required in the United States to work as a Respiratory Therapist.

As a graduate, you can use your experience at Pueblo Community College as a stepping stone to complete your bachelor's degree. 

Did you know?

• Respiratory Therapy specializes in the promotion of cardiopulmonary health and management.
• Respiratory Therapists care for patients in all age groups, from premature infants to the elderly.
• Career opportunities are excellent for Respiratory Therapists and salaries are highly competitive, according to the American Association for Respiratory Care.
• Respiratory Therapists apply scientific principles to prevent, identify and treat acute or chronic cardiopulmonary diseases.
  
  

Where RTs Work

• Hospitals
• Diagnostic laboratories
• Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs
• Home health
• Medical transport (air and ground)
• Physician offices
• Long-term care facilities
• Ventilator rehabilitation facilities
• Higher education
• Respiratory equipment sales and industry
• Research and development
• Pharmaceutical sales
• Management and leadership roles
• Emergency rooms
• Operating rooms
  
  

What Will I Learn

• Advanced pathophysiology of cardiopulmonary system
• How to treat patients with breathing disorders and diseases
• How to perform diagnostic procedures in the pulmonary function lab or bronchoscopy
• Other subjects including pharmacology, chest-tube management, intubation, ICU and critical care clinical practice, arterial blood gas analysis, ECG interpretation, oxygen therapy, chest physiotherapy and ventilator management
  
  

Our Experienced Faculty

• More than 50 years of combined clinical experience in all areas of Respiratory Therapy
• Instructors hold a valid credential to teach in post-secondary education
• Maintain a strong working relations with surrounding hospitals and their Respiratory Therapy departments.
    

Respiratory Therapist:

• A specialty profession helping patients with heart and lung conditions
• A rewarding career with a competitive salary
• A secure job opportunity
• A respected profession
• A way to make a difference in someone’s life
  
  

If you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.