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Respiratory Care

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Overview

Person in a lab coat working on a dummy

This degree is preparation for licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner in the state of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner at the Advanced Registered Respiratory Therapist level. It focuses on diagnostic procedures, treatment, and management of patients with conditions affecting the cardiopulmonary system. Course work includes physical assessment, medical gas therapies, mechanical life support, airway care, pharmacology, neonatal/pediatric therapy, and specialized cardiopulmonary procedures. All degree major courses require a grade of “C” or better to remain in the program.

ARC's Respiratory Care Program is designed to prepare California licensed respiratory care practitioners at the registered respiratory therapist level. It focuses on diagnostic procedures, treatment, and management of patients with conditions affecting the cardiopulmonary system. The respiratory care practitioner works closely with the physician in assessing the patient and planning the proper respiratory care protocol.

The Respiratory Care curriculum is a two-year program designed to prepare the student for employment and to participate as a member of the healthcare team by providing direct patient care. Experience in respiratory care is provided in selected local hospitals where the student participates in clinical externships. Safe, ethical, and professional levels of practice are necessary for retention of students in the Respiratory Care Program.

The American River College (ARC) Respiratory Care (RC) program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)

The ARC RC CoARC number is 200194.

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.  CoARC Programmatic Outcome Data.