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Respiratory Care

In 2025, SCC will begin transitioning competitive program applications to an online format, eventually phasing out paper and PDF application packets. This change aims to simplify and enhance the application process for all program applicants. While this digital transition is underway, please continue to click the 'Special Application Requirements' button to view the most current directions/guidance on how to apply to your program of interest.


The Respiratory Therapist (RT) cares for patients of all ages including infants with premature lungs to adults with breathing disorders. They set up and operate life support devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gases, and aerosolized medications for patients in cardiopulmonary emergencies. They respond to "code blue" calls maintaining the patient's breathing, artificial airway, and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Respiratory therapists are trained on advanced medical equipment to diagnose, treat, and monitor lung and heart function. RTs work closely with patients to provide education and care for the following lung conditions and more, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, COPD, sleep apnea, lung cancer, neuromuscular disease, and pneumonia. RTs are an integral part of the healthcare team, working with physicians and nurses in a variety of healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, air transport, rehabilitation facilities, and even in patients’ homes. Respiratory therapy is a fast paced, rewarding career with excellent job growth opportunities.

Minimum entry requirements to apply to the program include applying to SCC, completing the general education courses (see program map), submitting two letters of recommendation, and applying to the Respiratory Care Program by the deadline. The program is competitive entry based on GPA and letters of recommendation.

Once accepted into the respiratory-specific curriculum portion of the program, your general education courses count as your freshman year and you enter the program as a sophomore, leaving 9 quarters of respiratory-specific content to complete.

Technical Standards

Technical standards for the respiratory care industry talk about the physical, cognitive and behavioral standards expected to perform in the industry.

See Technical Standards
 

Additional Application Requirements

Program Start: Fall (competitive entry)
General Education Courses: 45 credits
Respiratory Care Specific Program courses: 135 credits
Number of students each start: 20
Contact:Toni D’Amato 509-533-7307
Application Deadline: Priority deadline is June 30th for fall admission. Applications received after that will be considered for admission based on the program’s capacity or availability and must be received by September 1st.

Review Requirements and Apply

For more information, please attend our quarterly info sessions where you get to meet our program faculty and they answer all your questions! You are welcome to attend in person or virtually, we look forward to meeting you! Please contact the department for information about specific times, dates, and location for each quarter. If you miss one, our faculty will be more than happy to make an appointment to meet with prospective students.


   

  • Work independently and collaboratively demonstrating a respect for others and a sense of community responsibility
  • Demonstrate collaboration and effective communication among all health care team members in the delivery of respiratory care in all patent settings
  • Analyze information and research and apply it in the health care setting
  • Apply the principles of cultural awareness formulating appropriate modifications to health care plans to accommodate cultural differences
  • Design and implement appropriate treatment plans in all healthcare settings where respiratory care is delivered
  • Apply advanced respiratory care competencies in all health care settings

Breaking Ground on Your Pathway


Plan Your Courses

Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you. You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.

Prepare for College-level Math

Math placement is required for this program. If your math placement is below MATH& 146, you’ll need to take the following sequence of courses, starting from the level you placed into:
AE 48 → MATH 87 → MATH 88 → MATH& 146

Placement

English placement is not required for this program.

Spokane Community College's Bachelor of Applied Science in Respiratory Care program offers a cutting-edge learning environment with high tech equipment that will prepare you for bedside practice. The program has a fully functional high-fidelity simulation lab including a neonatal simulator, a large selection of mechanical ventilators to practice on, a fully functional Pulmonary Function Lab as well as all other required equipment you will need to become a successful and compassionate Respiratory Therapist.
 
Spokane Community College’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Respiratory Care prepares graduates with demonstrated competence in cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs). The program prepares leaders in the discipline by providing additional curricular content in research, management, advanced practice, and education.

This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care  www.coarc.com 
1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, TX 76021–4244, (817) 283–2835.

Upon completion of the program, students will earn a Bachelor of Applied Science in Respiratory Care and will be eligible to apply and sit the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exams for registered respiratory therapist (RRT) and the specialty exams in pulmonary function, neonatal–pediatric, and adult critical care.

Program Map for

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Total Courses/General Education Courses Credits: 45

Total Program Credits: 135

Courses/General Education Courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOL&160
General Biology with Lab  
5
ENGL&101
English Composition I  
5
MATH&146
Introduction to Statistics  
5
Total Credits
 
15

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOL&241
Human A & P 1  
5
CHEM&121
Introduction to Chemistry with Lab  
5
ENGL&235
Technical Writing   1
5
Total Credits
 
15

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOL&242
Human A & P 2  
5
BIOL&260
Microbiology  
5
CMST 227
Intercultural Communication  
5
Total Credits
 
15

Program Courses

NOTE: You must apply and be accepted into the program before taking the following courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
RT 209
The Language of Respiratory Care  
1
RT 213
Electrocardiography  
3
RT 214
Electrocardiography Lab  
1
RT 241
Fundamentals of Respiratory Care I  
3
RT 242
Fundamentals of Respiratory Care I Technical Skills Lab  
2
RT 244
Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology  
3
RT 248
Physical Science for Respiratory Care  
3
Total Credits
 
16

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
PHIL 110
Introduction to Ethics  
5
RT 251
Fundamentals of Respiratory Care II  
3
RT 252
Fundamentals of Respiratory Care II Technical Skills Lab  
2
RT 256
Interpretation of Arterial Blood Gases  
2
RT 308
Basic Life Support Instructor  
2
SURG 105
Blood-borne Pathogens and HIV/AIDS  
1
Total Credits
 
15

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
PSYC&100
General Psychology  
5
RT 261
Fundamentals of Respiratory Care III  
4
RT 262
Fundamentals of Respiratory Care III Technical Skills Lab  
2
RT 263
Respiratory Care Pharmacology  
4
RT 264
Computer Applications in Respiratory Care  
1
RT 265
RT Clinical I  
1
Total Credits
 
17

Fourth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
PSYC&200
Lifespan Psychology  
5
RT 254
Fundamentals of Spirometry  
2
RT 255
Fundamentals of Spirometry Technical Skills Lab  
1
RT 304
Pathophysiology  
5
RT 321
RT Clinical II  
2
Total Credits
 
15

Fifth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
RT 301
Critical Care I  
4
RT 305
Pulmonary Volumes Diffusion and Instrumentation  
2
RT 311
Critical Care I Technical Skills Lab  
2
RT 315
PVDI Technical Skills Lab  
1
RT 322
RT Clinical III  
2
RT 402
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support  
2
RT 412
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Lab  
1
Total Credits
 
14

Sixth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
RT 302
Critical Care II  
3
RT 309
Advanced Pharmacology  
3
RT 312
Critical Care II Technical Skills Lab  
2
RT 325
PFT Clinical I  
1
RT 331
Critical Care Clinical I  
5
Total Credits
 
14

Seventh Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
RT 401
Pediatrics/Neonatal RT  
3
RT 403
Advanced Pulmonary Diagnostics  
3
RT 411
Pediatrics/Neonatal Technical Skills Lab  
2
RT 413
Advanced Pulmonary Diagnostics Technical Skills Lab  
1
RT 421
Critical Care Clinical II  
5
Total Credits
 
14

Eighth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
RT 303
Home Care and Rehabilitation  
2
RT 404
Research in Respiratory Care  
2
RT 415
Disease Management  
4
RT 416
Disaster Management  
2
RT 423
Advanced Pulmonary Diagnostics Clinical  
1
RT 424
Pediatric/Neonatal Clinical  
4
Total Credits
 
15

Ninth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
RT 406
Management in Respiratory Care  
2
RT 407
Patient Management and Problem Solving  
3
RT 409
Research in Respiratory Capstone  
2
RT 410
Fundamentals of Education Course Design  
2
RT 417
Patient Management and Problem Solving Technical Skills Lab  
1
RT 433
Advanced Clinical  
5
Total Credits
 
15

1 ENGL& 102 may be substituted for ENGL& 235.

Students are admitted to the program during the general education year. General education courses may not be repeated more than once. Successful admission and completion in the professional program are based on earning a 2.5 or higher in general education courses and a 2.0 (78%) or higher in all Respiratory Care courses.

180 credits are required to earn the BAS in Respiratory care. 45 credits of general education courses must be earned before applying for residency in the program, and 135 credits of program specific courses earned in the final 9 quarters of the program.


 

Estimated costs for completing this program

 
WA Resident
Non-Resident
International
Tuition
$ 26,163
$ 34,395
$ 67,595
Books
$ 3,501
$ 3,501
$ 3,501
Course Fees
$ 1,056
$ 1,056
$ 1,056
Institutional Fees
$ 1,344
$ 1,344
$ 6,389
Supplies and Materials
$ 1,200
$ 1,200
$ 1,200
Total Costs
$ 33,264
$ 41,496
$ 79,741

Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.

  • Toni D
    Toni D'Amato
    Respiratory Therapy
    A.A. Spokane Falls Community College; A.A.S., Spokane Community College; B.S., Boise State University; M.S. Northeastern University
    Toni.DAmato@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7307
  • Michelle Samuels
    Michelle Samuels
    Respiratory Therapy
    A.A.S. Spokane Community College; B.S., Boise State University; M.S., University of Idaho
    Michelle.Samuels@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7310
  • Justine Morgan
    Justine Morgan
    Respiratory Therapy
    A.A., A.A.S., Spokane Community College; B.S., M.S., University of Idaho
    Justine.Morgan@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7313
  • Scott Anderson
    Scott Anderson
    Pathway Specialist
    Scott.Anderson@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7013

The Spokane Community College BAS in Respiratory Care program, CoARC program number 200055, located at Spokane Community College, Spokane WA is accredited by The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).
Get program outcomes data including attrition, job placement, NBRC examination success, on-time graduation rates and enrollment information here.

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.
 

Application Requirements

If you’re not already a student at Spokane Community College, you must first apply for admission.

Apply to SCC


You may apply to the Respiratory Care program after completing the following courses with a GPA of 2.5 or higher: BIOL&160, BIOL&241, BIOL&242, BIOL&260, CHEM&121, CMST 227, ENGL&101, ENGL&235 or ENGL&102, and MATH&146. You may substitute similar courses by providing additional information on the application.

The application cycle opens on October 1 each year. The priority deadline is June 30, and the final deadline is September 1.

Respiratory Care Application


If accepted, you must undergo a background check and drug screening.

Have a question? Let's hear it.

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Request Info

Toni D'Amato

Program Director
Toni.DAmato@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7307

Scott Anderson

Pathway Specialist
Scott.Anderson@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7013

Megan Fadeley

Academic Counseling Liaison
Megan.Fadeley@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7039

Callie Hanson

Academic Counseling Liaison

Bill Rambo

Academic Counseling Liaison
Bill.Rambo@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7038