Why Respiratory Therapy?
Essential members of the health care team, respiratory therapists treat patients who have trouble breathing, thereby saving and improving the quality of people's lives. Practicing under the direction of a physician, respiratory therapists assume primary responsibility for all respiratory therapeutic treatments and diagnostic procedures. They may perform diagnostic tests, administer breathing treatments, record a patient's progress and consult with physicians on continuing care.
This degree program prepares students for entry-level employment in the field of respiratory therapy. Training includes the use of equipment in a variety of patient-oriented hospital experiences. Employment opportunities exist in hospitals, clinics, home care and sales.
Graduates are eligible to take the examination leading to certification as a registered respiratory therapist sponsored by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Graduates have the opportunity to enter in-demand careers with strong earning potential.
Application to Apply to the Respiratory Therapy Program is Now Open!
Accreditation
The Community College of Allegheny County Respiratory Therapy Program, CoARC program number 200010, Associate Science degree awarded, Allegheny Campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (https://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.
Middle States Accreditation
In addition to the accreditation by ACEN, CCAC's Respiratory Therapy program is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
Last Reaffirmation: 2018
Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2025–2026
For more information, visit CCAC's institutional page.
Middle States Action Letter, June 2017
Respiratory Therapy, A.S. (540.1)
The Respiratory Therapy program is a full-time program that is completed in five consecutive semesters. The program includes training in the use of equipment as well as a patient-oriented hospital experience. Program courses are offered only at the Allegheny Campus. There are both day and evening programs available.
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Admission to Respiratory Therapy
Applicants must show completion of high school math and chemistry with a C or better grade in addition to completing the prerequisite courses for Respiratory.
There are three prerequisite courses:
- BIO 115–Human Biology in Health and Disease and Lab (also will accept BIO 161 and BIO 162: Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2)
- CHM 109–Introduction to Chemistry and Lab OR CHM 110–Introductory Chemistry and CHM 111–Introductory Chemistry Lab
- MAT 108–Intermediate Algebra
If you have college credits from another institution, you should submit them to transcripts@ccac.edu and they will be reviewed for potential transfer credit. Any/all equivalent courses relevant to the Respiratory Therapy associate degree will be applied accordingly.
The Respiratory Therapy program is a full-time program that is completed in five consecutive semesters. Program courses are only offered at the Allegheny Campus.
CCAC offers both day and evening programs. The day program begins in the fall semester (end of August) and the evening program begins in the summer semester (May 2025). Applying early is recommended as this is a limited-acceptance program. Applications will continue to be accepted until all program seats are filled. Suggested deadlines are Jan. 15 for the summer program and April 15 for the fall program.
The current report on graduate achievement data, identified by program, is available from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) by clicking on the following link:
Contact Information
Richard Laurent
-
Professor, Respiratory Therapy - 412.237.2704
- rlaurent@ccac.edu
Jason Trautman
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Professor, Respiratory Therapy - 412.237.2665
- jtrautman@ccac.edu
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