Respiratory Care, AS

Health Sciences and Athletics Division
www.elcamino.edu/academics/healthsciences

The degree and certificate in respiratory care are awarded after successful completion of the advanced registry level respiratory care program. The program is designed for students planning to become California licensed respiratory care practitioners and registered respiratory care practitioners. Completion of the requirements also allows students to apply for all state and national advanced specialty credentialing examinations. Students will acquire the skills to provide a wide range of high technology and high-touch therapeutic interventions to patients in acute and chronic care settings. Competencies are assessed through the use of classroom, laboratory, and clinical performance evaluations in simulated and actual patient care situations. Program success is determined through examining attrition rates, employment rates and licensure exam pass rates.

General Information

Students without previous medical training are strongly advised to complete RC 170 . Students must complete all other non-respiratory coursework required for the Associate in Science degree in respiratory care. The program has three phases that require specific courses and sequence.

For more program and admission information, go to www.elcamino.edu/academics/healthsciences/respiratorycare.

Preclinical Phase

In the pre-clinical phase of the program, the student takes all the non-clinical Respiratory Care courses, which may include RC 170 . The student shall also complete, at a minimum, RC 172  and RC 174 , ANAT 30 , CIS 13 , ENGL 1A  and the associate’s degree mathematics competency. In addition, due to the rigorous schedule in the clinical phase, it is recommended the student complete all the other general education and science courses required for the Associate in Science degree. For example, Psychology, Humanities, as well as Health and Physical Education courses or equivalent. (See academic counselor for specific coursework required for the associate degree in Respiratory Care.)

Admission to the Clinical Phase

Admission to the clinical phase of the program is limited by clinical space and budget considerations. In order to gain admittance to the clinical phase of the program, the student must complete the preclinical phase with a minimum grade of C in all courses. The student must also submit a program application and completed physical exam form with the required lab tests and readiness for clinical duties certified by an appropriate health care professional. Students may submit completed applications and physical exam forms when all the required preclinical coursework is completed. Applications are accepted by the program director up to the last day of the spring semester and students are assigned seats in the next clinical class based on verification of all required coursework, available space, qualifications, and academic merit. A new clinical class starts in the summer session each year.

Initial-Clinical Associate Degree Phase

In this clinical phase of the program, the student takes all the combined Respiratory Care science classroom and clinical courses required to receive the Respiratory Care program degree which, at a minimum, includes RC 176 , RC 178 , RC 280 , RC 282 , RC 286 , 288, 289, 290, RC 294 , RC 295 , 298. In addition, the student must complete all other courses required for the Associate in Science degree in respiratory care if they have not been completed in the preclinical phase. This phase always starts with the admission to RC 176  in the summer session of any given year.

Final-Clinical Certificate of Achievement Phase

Two semesters of additional classroom/clinical advanced coursework are required to complete the requirements for the associate degree and the certificate of achievement from the advanced registry-level Respiratory Care program. The courses in this phase are RC 284 , 291, RC 292 , RC 293 , 296, 297. This phase follows the associate degree phase and ends at the end of the spring semester, two years after admission to RC 176 , ending with the awarding of the associate degree and certificate of achievement from the advanced respiratory care program.

Program Costs

In addition to tuition fees charged by the college, it is estimated that the cost of books, lab costs, stethoscopes and miscellaneous supplies is approximately $3,500 over a two-year period. Financial assistance is available to students who meet the eligibility requirements.

Admission Requirements and Length of Program

For the high school graduate with a C average or better in science and math, the program will take at least 2 1/2 years to complete, including all prerequisites. A student is formally accepted into the clinical phase of the program after satisfactory completion of prerequisites, general education courses, and introductory respiratory care science courses.

Procedure for Admission

The student should apply for a reservation to register at El Camino College. An appointment with a Health Science counselor should be made so that the matriculation process can be completed. Students wishing to take advanced college work after graduation may choose a specific general education track. All respiratory care science and clinical courses must be taken and completed with at least a C or better.

For more program and admission information, go to www.elcamino.edu/academics/healthsciences/respiratorycare.

For Gainful Employment program information, please visit www.elcamino.edu/academics/healthsciences/respiratorycare.