Respiratory Care

Associate of Applied Science Degree
RCT3

Program Description
The goal of the respiratory care program is 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 (RRTs). Learning opportunities develop academic and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. The program emphasizes specialized training in areas such as pulmonary and cardiac pharmacology, medical gases, humidity/aerosol therapy, positive pressure ventilation, incentive spirometry, patient assessment, postural drainage, percussion/vibration, assessment of diseases and conditions, critical respiratory care, advanced critical care monitoring, pulmonary function testing, and pediatric and neonatal respiratory care. In order to begin the clinical requirements, students must complete tuberculosis skin test, supply proof of immunization, undergo a background check, and submit to a drug screen test. Program graduates receive a respiratory care associate degree which qualifies them to take the examinations to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist.

The Gwinnett Technical College Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care:

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
1248 Harwood Road
Bedford, Texas 76021-4244
(817) 283-2835

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care Programmatic Outcomes Data: http://www.coarc.com/47.html

Students may become certified by taking the Entry Level Certification Examination administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Upon successful completion of the Certification (CRT) Exam, the graduate is eligible to take both parts of the Registry (RRT) Exams. To work in the state of Georgia, all respiratory care practitioners must apply and be granted a license. The only way to obtain a license is to pass at least the Entry Level Certification Exam. This program is only offered full-time, during the day. (Program Length: 4 Semesters plus prerequisite core completion)

Prerequisites
Length of time to complete prerequisites varies depending on applicants' transfer credit and/or testing results. The time to complete prerequisites is not including in the total program lengths listed. It is the student's responsibility to notify the admissions office once pre-requisites have been completed. File completion does not guarantee an interview or acceptance. Prerequisites must be completed by deadline. (ENGL 1101, CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L, or ALHS 1127, PHYS 1110 and PHYS 1110L, or PHYS 1111 and PHYS 1111L or ALHS 1126, MATH 1111 or 1101 or 1113, BIOL 2113 and BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114 and BIOL 2114L, BIOL 2117 and BIOL 2117L) Minimum 2.5 GPA

Graduation Requirements
All respiratory care students are required to pass three comprehensive examinations in order to graduate from the program. The three comprehensive exams are administered in RESP 2170, Advanced Respiratory Care Seminar.

Employment Opportunities
General hospitals, clinics, sales and service of equipment, Veterans Administration hospitals, home healthcare, nursing homes and physician offices.

CURRICULUM

*All prerequisites must be completed prior to September 1 of each year for the January start date. Files completed after September 1, will be considered ONLY if there is space available after reviewing all early admission/priority deadline completed files. Student must have a minimum 2.5 GPA on the 7 prerequisite to be considered.