Respiratory Care

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Program Overview

Degrees & Certificates

Allied Health: Respiratory Care Bachelor of Applied Science Degree (BAS)

Expand career opportunities and build on two-year technical degrees with BAS programs that emphasize hands-on learning, typically focused on a particular industry.
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  • Credits to complete: 180.0
  • Estimated program length in quarters: Full Time - 8 | Part Time - Part Time Option Not Available

About the Program

The Respiratory Care Track in the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Allied Health program combines classroom theory with practical, hands-on experience, preparing students to become members of dedicated healthcare teams that treat patients with cardiopulmonary (heart & lung) disorders.

Career Opportunities

Due in part to a growing middle-aged and elderly population, the demand for respiratory therapists is expected to increase by 12% by 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Earning a bachelor's degree will help you be more competitive for jobs as a Respiratory Therapist and qualify you to work in a variety of healthcare settings, including:

  • Hospitals
  • Physicians' offices
  • Extended care facilities
  • In-home care providers
  • Rehabilitation
  • Emergency services

Pre–Physician Assistant Coursework

MEDEX NorthwestIf you are interested in a career as a Physician Assistant (PA), the pre-Physician Assistant option of the Respiratory Care program can help you meet the academic admissions requirements for the Physician Assistant master's degree at the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine's MEDEX Northwest program.

Accreditation

The Seattle Central College Respiratory Care Track for the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Allied Health program, CoARC Program #200344 in Seattle, Washington is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (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. View CoARC programmatic outcomes data.

This program meets the educational requirements for preparing students to take the national certification exams administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (nbrc.org). Students who complete the program and achieve the appropriate credentials can apply for licensure anywhere in the United States where a license is required. A list of contacts for license by state is available at https://www.aarc.org/advocacy/state-society-resources/state-licensure-contacts.

Additional information about licensure/certification concerns can be found on the NC-SARA webpage. Please contact the Respiratory Care Program with any questions at jennifer.clark@seattlecolleges.edu

My teachers showed me the kind of person I wanted to be when I went into the workforce.

Dixie Service, Respiratory Care alumna

Program lengths are estimates, not guarantees. For the most current program information, please check with the program contact.