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 a tuberculosis skin test, supply proof of immunization, undergo a background check, and submit to a drug screen test. Program graduates receive an associate degree of applied science in respiratory care which qualifies them to take the national examinations that are required in order to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist. Completion of this program does not guarantee job placement.

The Gwinnett Technical College Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com):

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
264 Precision Blvd.
Telford, TN 37690
(817) 283-2835

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care Programmatic Outcomes Data: www.coarc.com/Students/Programmatic-Outcome-Data.aspx

Graduates can become Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) by passing both the Therapist Multiple Choice Exam and the Clinical Simulation Exam. 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 Therapist Multiple-Choice Exam. This program is only offered full-time (Monday-Friday), during the day. (Program Length: 4 Semesters plus required core prerequisites)

View the Respiratory Care AAS Program Fact Sheet  for additional information.

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 acceptance. Students must complete all prerequisite courses prior to the admission deadline of October 10th with a minimum 2.75 GPA on the six prerequisite courses and lab. (FYES 1000 , ENGL 1101 ; CHEM 1211  and CHEM 1211L   or CHEM 1151  and CHEM 1151L ; MATH 1111 ; BIOL 2113  and BIOL 2113L ; BIOL 2114L  and BIOL 2114L ; BIOL 2117  and BIOL 2117L ). Biology courses must have been taken within the last 5 years and Chemistry must have been taken within the last 10 years. Please see the competitive health application at http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/enrollment/forms-documents/ for additional information.