Respiratory Therapy

Learn in TCC’s state-of-the-art facilities and on the job

If you have a passion for helping others and want to be in a growing field with a balanced blend of technology and patient interaction, consider becoming a respiratory therapist with TCC’s award winning nationally accredited program. You will learn in a state-of-the-art high-fidelity simulation laboratory and classroom that allows students to make critical decisions and develop their problem-solving ability with immediate feedback from faculty. Respiratory therapists are in high-demand with associate degree graduates earning a median of $77,960, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics.

Respiratory Therapy

Semesters:

Credits:

67 View Curriculum

Locations:

Virginia Beach Campus

Associate of Applied Science - Respiratory Therapy

The curriculum focuses on the patient assessment and treatment of premature infants to geriatric patients with cardiopulmonary diseases and disorders. Respiratory therapy students concentrate their efforts in the critical care setting with an emphasis on hands-on experience in mechanical ventilation, drug administration and equipment and procedures, in a state of the art simulation lab and clinical rotations that prepare them for handling major life- threatening illnesses and trauma situations.

National Accreditation

The TCC Respiratory Therapy Program, COARC program number 200275, awarding an Associate degree in Applied Science on the Virginia Beach Campus, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

Certifications

The Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy prepares students to take the examinations to become a registered respiratory therapist.

Additional Admissions Requirements

Admission to the respiratory therapy program is selective and requires a separate Health Professions Application in addition to general admission to the college.

To qualify for this competitive program, you will need to complete and submit your application by May 15 for fall admission.

Applicants must also attend a mandatory open house session, which is held on the third Thursday of each month (except December) at 3 p.m. at the Regional Health Professions Center on the Virginia Beach Campus, room MN206. Topics presented include general information, admissions process, benchmark courses, selection process, curriculum, hands-on learning in clinical settings, provisional acceptance requirements and more. Faculty and staff will be available during Open House to answer your questions. You do not need a reservation to attend.

Please note that admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the respiratory therapy program.

Apply Online

Download program information packet

View upcoming information sessions

Program Goal

To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skill), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).

More About Accreditation

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

Programmatic outcomes data reported on the CoARC website include:

3-year time period being reported;

RRT High Cut Score Success
RRT Credentialing Success
Retention
Job placement
Graduate survey – Overall Satisfaction
Graduate Survey – Participation
Employer Survey – Overall Satisfaction
Employer Survey – Participation
Total number of program enrollees;
Total number of program graduates;
Maximum annual enrollment

See TCC’s and all programmatic outcomes on the following CoARC webpage

Professional Licensure

This program prepares students to sit for professional exams and/or apply for professional licensure that is required for employment as a respiratory therapist in Virginia.

Tidewater Community College (TCC) is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Respiratory Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC).

This program is designed to meet the educational requirements for respiratory therapy licensure in Virginia. If you intend to seek licensure outside of Virginia after finishing the program, use the links below to find information on the state or U.S. territory in which you intend to be licensed. By reviewing the individual states requirements you will be able to determine whether TCC’s Respiratory Therapy program either meets, does not meet, or if it has not been determined if it meets the educational requirements for licensure. If TCC’s program has not determined if it meets the educational requirements for licensure in the state in question, it may meet all or a portion of the educational requirements. If that is the case, we recommend that you contact the licensing agency directly before beginning the TCC program. Certain states or territories may require completion of a specific course, test or competency as part of the licensing process. Those requirements are independent of TCC’s Respiratory Care program requirements.

Detailed information related to Virginia Respiratory Therapy Educational programs’ state licensure requirements are reviewed on the Virginia Department of Health Professions website. https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/medicine/advisory/rcp/

Alabama
Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy

Alaska
(Not currently regulated in Alaska)

Arizona
Arizona State Board of Respiratory Care Examiners

Arkansas
Arkansas State Medical Board

California
Respiratory Care Board of California

Colorado
Colorado Society for Respiratory Care

Connecticut
Connecticut State Department of Public Health

Delaware
Delaware Division of Professional Regulation

District of Columbia (D.C.)
Maryland/District of Columbia Society for Respiratory Care

Florida
Florida Board of Respiratory Care

Georgia
Georgia Composite Medical Board

Hawaii
Hawaii Society for Respiratory Care