Respiratory Care, A.A.S.
The JCCC Respiratory Care curriculum is divided into two phases. The first phase is when students work on the four different sciences, English, Math, and specified general education electives that are listed in the “prerequisite year” of the curriculum. The second phase is when students begin the “clinic year” of the curriculum and complete all of the related respiratory care class, lab and clinical activities.
Students may approach completion of the courses in the prerequisite year on a part-time basis and may find that most of these courses are often available as day or evening options. Students need to keep in mind that they need to target completion of these courses by the summer session they want to begin the clinical year. Additionally, they will need to keep in mind the October 15 deadline. So…if you are targeting the Summer 2010 clinic year, you need to have all prerequisite courses completed by June 2010 but have made application by October 15, 2009 to be given first consideration for selection.
The clinic year schedule follows the typical school semesters but the typical week is very different from traditional college scheduling. This is because for most weeks, students will spend 24 hours on average each week in a hospital or other health care setting practicing under supervision what they have been learning and doing class and lab the other 12-16 hours of the week. If you do the math that means you will be scheduled for 36-40 hours each week. Because of the significant amount of clinical time and integration with class and lab activities, there is not a part time option available for this part of the program. The clinic year, however, moves quickly and before students know it, they are graduated and eligible to sit their national exams and begin working in their new career!
It is important that students create a curriculum plan that allows them to complete the program curriculum requirements in a time frame which suits their needs best. It is critical that students transferring from other colleges to verify transferability of courses they have taken or plan on taking. All students are encouraged to contact the program early and maintain contact throughout the prerequisite completion of courses and the application process.
Board Examination
Upon successful completion of the program degree requirements, graduates must take the National Board for Respiratory Care entry-level examination to earn the certified respiratory therapist (CRT) credential and then are eligible to attempt the NBRC advanced-level examination that will earn them the registered respiratory therapist (RRT) credential.
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