Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory Therapy Program Overview

• Associate Degree
• 2 years
• Main Campus - Ironwood

Overview

Start your career in Respiratory Therapy at GCC! This Associate Degree program prepares students to evaluate, treat, and manage patients with cardiopulmonary disorders in diverse healthcare settings. The program combines classroom, laboratory simulation, and extensive clinical experiences to develop competency in patient assessment, diagnostic testing, therapeutic intervention, and life-support management. Students complete 800 clinical hours in 
diverse settings: adult critical care, neonatal/pediatric intensive care, emergency/trauma, pulmonary rehabilitation, and home care.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Therapist Examination (TMC) and, upon achieving the high cut score, may proceed to the NBRC Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) to earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.

Unique Features

• General Education classes are completed at GCC
• Respiratory Therapy core courses are completed online through Michigan Workforce Training and Education Collaborative.
• The Respiratory Therapy program qualifies for Michigan Reconnect and other Financial Aid programming.
• The Respiratory Therapy program prepares students to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care.
• Clinical rotations are located at regional hospitals

Requirements

• All courses must be passed with a minimum grade of C or higher to progress to the next semester.
• Pre-requisite coursework must be completed with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher prior to acceptance into the program.
• Students must be able to meet Respiratory Therapy program vaccine, background check, and drug screen requirements.
• A minimum of 15 credits must be taken at GCC (general education classes) in order to graduate from GCC.