Respiratory Care is a two-year program that prepares students to administer care and life support to patients with breathing disorders and cardiopulmonary abnormalities. Respiratory Care Practitioners participate in three phases of patient care: diagnosis, treatment, and patient management.

Licensure/Certification Eligibility Requirements:

California state licensure requires completion of a CoARC accredited Respiratory Care program, a minimum of an associate degree from a regionally accredited agency, a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential, and a board-approved law and ethics course. Visit the Respiratory Care Board of California website for more information http://www.rcb.ca.gov/.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing this program will be able to:
- Obtain the RRT credential.
- Obtain gainful employment as a Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP).
- Demonstrate competency in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains when providing respiratory care.

ADMISSION PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS

Students are admitted into the program once a year in the Fall semester. Special Respiratory Care application forms are available on the Respiratory Care College website. Applicants who have previously applied, and wish to reapply, must resubmit applications. Approximately 25 students are admitted to the program each year. Selection is based on criteria approved by the Skyline College Administration and consistent with state regulations. For further information on the Respiratory Care Program, please call (650) 738-4457.

Prior to starting classes, students admitted to the program are required to complete a satisfactory physical examination, immunization documentation verifying freedom of communicable disease, a social security referenced background check, and a drug test.

Full-time registration is required, and all courses must be taken in sequence. Credit may be given for previous comparable coursework. A minimum grade of C is required in all coursework. To determine specific General Education requirements, contact the Counseling Department.

Admission to the Respiratory Care Program requires the following minimum entrance requirements:

High school graduation or equivalent.

Completed with a grade of C or better:

- A college level Intermediate Algebra course, or higher.

- A college level English Composition course (equivalent to ENGL 100 or ENGL 105).

- Medical Terminology equivalent to HSCI 484.

- Chemistry equivalent to CHEM 192 or 410.

- Human Anatomy equivalent to BIOL 250.

NOTE: Students admitted into the program must complete Human Physiology equivalent to BIOL 260 by the end of the first fall semester; and Microbiology equivalent to BIOL 240 by the end of the first spring semester. Students are strongly encouraged to complete these courses prior to admission into the program.

Career Opportunities

Respiratory Care Practitioner