Respiratory Care

Specific Admission Requirements for Program

• Criminal Background Check;
• Urine Drug Screening;
• Meet the criteria for admission to HGTC. This includes submission of official high school transcript, including graduation date or copy of GED; and official college transcripts;
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age by the semester of admittance to RES 152.
• Submit a Health Sciences Division Student Health Record Form indicating the candidate can perform the physical tasks required in the program prior to enrollment in the first respiratory care course.
• Complete and pass the General Hospital Orientation.
• Proof of CPR certification for Health Care Providers prior to enrollment in the first respiratory course and throughout the curriculum.
• GPA of 2.5 on all required general education courses with a grade of “C”.
• A minimum grade of “C” (75) is also required in all courses required for Respiratory care.

Having met one of the following two admission options:

Option A: Completed (minimal grade of C) BIO 210, ENG 101, and MAT 110 or MAT 120, a GPA of at least 2.5 for the Respiratory Care General Education courses, and be eligible to take HUM, PSY 201, BIO 211, and BIO 225. Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) score of 65 or above. Scores are valid for 2 years from testing date. Students may retest every 30 days. There is a 5-year time limit on BIO courses and a 10-year time on MAT courses. (If student has a bachelor's degree, there is a 10-year time limit on BIO courses.)

Option B: Successfully completed (minimal grade of C) the (7) Respiratory Care General Education courses (BIO 210, BIO 211, BIO 225, ENG 101, MAT 110 or MAT 120, PSY 201, and Humanities) and a GPA of at least a 2.5. TEAS Score of 58 or above – valid for 2 years from date of testing. Students may retest every 30 days. There is a 5-year time limit on BIO courses and a 10-year time on MAT courses. (If student has a bachelor's degree, there is a 10-year time limit on BIO courses.)

• Readmission and progression guidelines, see the Respiratory Care Student Handbook.
• No waitlist must reapply for future fall admissions.
• Admissions applications accepted until seats are filled – No Application Deadline. 

COURSE SEQUENCE & PROGRESSION REQUIREMENTS

Earn a minimum grade of "C" in all general education, support and RES courses. Failure of one required course will result in the student being dropped from the program with eligibility for readmission. A student who has a second failure in any one of the required courses, or failure in any two of the required courses will not be eligible for readmission to the RES program. Failure is defined as receiving a grade below "C" in any course. Students may apply for readmission to RES program after 2-year time period from 2nd course failure.

Admissions Information

• Program Admissions Application
• STEPS Session
• Respiratory Care Readmission Application

Student Resources

• Program Cost

Forms

• Clinical Requirements
• Background Check

The Respiratory Care Program, CoARC Number 200622, Associate in Applied Science Degree on the Grand Strand Campus, has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).  CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented. The conferral of Continued Accreditation (approved July 2024) denotes the program has made significant progress towards meeting the Entry into Practice Standards of Accreditation.

Respiratory Therapists have excellent career opportunities with work schedules that can be flexible, whether you are employed full-time or part-time. Financial rewards are excellent and the work is challenging. Career opportunities are available in the following settings:

For more information about careers, visit O*Net Online for an overview of South Carolina and National earnings statistics, and Career Services for more employment, career, and professional development resources.

Program Mission

• To provide the opportunity for individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds to enter the respiratory therapy profession.
• To graduate students who exemplify the core values of the profession of Registered Respiratory Therapist.
• To have the faculty, students and staff contribute to the health and well-being of our community, and society through competent practice leadership, education, and humanistic ethical practices.
• To adapt technological advancements into the clinical practice.

Goals

“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 Outcomes

Respiratory therapists provide patient care, which includes clinical decision-making and patient education. The respiratory care scope of practice includes, but is not limited to the following basic competencies:

• acquiring and evaluating clinical data;
• assessing the cardiopulmonary status of patients;
• performing, and/or assisting in the performance of, prescribed diagnostic studies such as: obtaining blood samples; blood gas analysis; pulmonary function testing; and polysomnography;
• evaluating data to assess the appropriateness of prescribed respiratory care;

• establishing therapeutic goals for patients with cardiopulmonary disease;
• participating in the development and modification of respiratory care plans;
• case management of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases;
• initiating prescribed respiratory care treatments, evaluating and monitoring patient responses to such therapy and modifying the prescribed therapy to achieve the desired therapeutic objectives; managing life support activities;
• conducting and evaluating prescribed pulmonary rehabilitation;
• providing patient, family, and community education;
• promoting cardiopulmonary wellness, disease prevention, and disease management;
• promoting evidence-based practice by using established clinical practice guidelines and by evaluating published research for its relevance to patient care.

Program Outcome Data can be found at: Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care Programmatic Outcomes Data.

Applicants to the Respiratory Care program should be aware a current, unrestricted license or certification may be required to practice in the state in which you intend to reside/practice. Each state is unique in its licensure requirements. Students are encouraged to reach out to the program chair for more information and assistance with understanding professional licensure.