Respiratory Care, A.A.S.

(CIP 51.0908)

281-756-5661

Purpose: The respiratory care department offers a two-year program that prepares individuals for an allied health specialty in the clinical care and management of respiratory disorders. The graduate will possess advanced, intensive-care skills to assess, monitor and evaluate adult, pediatric and neonatal patients on mechanical ventilation. Respiratory therapists practice in a variety of settings, including intensive care units, neonatal/pediatric special care areas, general hospital floors, emergency/trauma units, extended care and rehabilitation facilities, and the home care environment. Respiratory care courses consist of classroom, lab and supervised hospital experience. Graduates of the associate degree program may become Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) by passing the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination and the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE). Texas requires that respiratory care practitioners obtain a state license to practice respiratory care. The program is affiliated with area hospitals including UTMB, Texas Children’s, Memorial-Hermann, Methodist, HCA, and several other clinical affiliates.  The program (CoARC #200307) is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), 264 Precision, Blvd., Telford, TN 37690, 817-283-2835, www.coarc.com.

Admission Requirements

The respiratory care program admits one cohort annually, for a full-time day schedule, to begin in the Fall semester. To be considered for admission, the applicant must make application to ACC and be TSI complete. Additionally, the applicant must:

1. Make application to the respiratory care program.
2. Submit official transcripts of all previous college work to ACC Registrar’s Office.
3. Applicants are required to attend an information session or meet with the director.
4. Complete BIOL 2401 , BIOL 2402  and ENGL 1301  with a grade no lower than a “C” by the application deadline.
5. Student must not be on academic probation from ACC or another college or university.

Selection for Admission

After the application deadline, applicants are ranked using a rubric that considers grades in prerequisite courses, additional coursework completed in the degree plan and the grade in those courses, and an admission essay. Additional consideration is given to applicants who hold a certificate in a health profession and/or hold a degree from an accredited institution. Notification of selection will be emailed to the candidate by mid-June. 

Program Information:

1. Requirements to be completed after initial acceptance and before the start of the program include:

a. complete a physical examination form provided by the program.

b. up-to-date immunizations or proof of immunity as required by the Texas Department of Health and clinical affiliates (measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, varicella, hepatitis “B” series of 3 immunizations, seasonal flu). Positive titers are required for rubella, varicella and hepatitis “B”.

c. a negative criminal background check

d. a clear drug screen

e. Personal health insurance is required by the beginning of the 2^nd semester.

f. a negative TB skin test (repeated annually). [Initial testing must be a 2-step skin test or Quantiferon Gold blood test.]

g. attend program orientation

2. Transfer students will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, if space permits, and must:

a. meet the above admission criteria.

b. have a grade of “B” or higher on all courses being transferred into the respiratory care curriculum.

c. provide the Respiratory Care Department with a description and/or syllabus of each respiratory course being considered for transfer.

d. demonstrate competence on skills for which credit will be awarded on transfer

e. Must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours at ACC in order to be considered a graduate.

Progression Policies:

1. Respiratory care students will abide by the admission and curriculum requirements of the respiratory care department at the time they are admitted or re-admitted to the program.
2. Once a student has enrolled in the respiratory care program, all respiratory care courses must be completed in the proper sequence as shown in the catalog and degree plan or must have the approval of the program director.
3. No grade below a C in a respiratory care course will be acceptable for progression.
4. A student who makes a D or F in any science/respiratory care course may repeat that course once in order to obtain a C or better. Since the courses are only taught once per year, the student will meet with the program director to review and sign a re-entry agreement. Once re-enrolled, the student may be required to audit accompanying courses previously taken.
5. A student requiring hospitalization or sustaining an injury will be required to obtain a written statement from his/her physician verifying that the health status of the student is adequate for performance in the clinical agency. A student may not be allowed to return to the clinical area if he/she must be on medications which may interfere with the ability to perform satisfactorily.
6. Students must complete the program within three years after initial acceptance.

Statutory law (Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 53) requires the Alvin Community College nursing and allied health programs to notify prospective applicants and future healthcare professionals a licensing/credentialing authority may suspend or revoke a license/credential, disqualify a person from receiving a license/credential, or deny to a person the opportunity to take a licensing/credentialing examination on the grounds that the person has been convicted of certain criminal behavior.