Admission

All students are required to attend review the recorded Information Session for Respiratory Care. These information sessions will provide the student with:

• An overview of the role of the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) in today’s healthcare environment
• An overview of the pre-admission requirements for the program as well as the minimum academic qualifications and clinical eligibility requirements for admission
• An overview of Labor Market Information pertaining to the respiratory care profession with an emphasis on the career opportunities in Pima County

Listen to a recorded Respiratory Care Information Session.

Program Pre-Admission Requirements

The following requirements must be met prior to applying to the Respiratory Care Program:

• Meet with a Respiratory Care Program Advisor to develop an academic plan
• Complete PCC assessment exams for math, reading, and writing
• International students must take and score higher than 450 on the institutional Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL)
• Complete all Respiratory Care Program preparatory and pre-requisite requirements for admission with a grade of “C” or better
• Support coursework may be completed prior to our during Respiratory Care Program core curriculum and is not required for program application and admission
• Transfer courses earned from another Regionally Accredited Institution are not valid until they have been officially evaluated & grades have been posted on PCC transcripts.
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or greater

Applying for Program Admission

This degree program requires a special program application. Please read all of the information on this page carefully.

• Prior to applying, students must ensure that all preparatory and prerequisite course work is completed as described on the Respiratory Care program webpage.
• Once all preparatory and prerequisite coursework is complete, students must complete the online Respiratory Care Program Application which can be found on the Academics tab in the Academic Planning section of the student’s MyPima account.
• Upon receipt of an eligible online Respiratory Care Program Application, the applicant’s PCC transcripts will be evaluated to determine if program academic admissions requirements have been met. If all requirements have been met, the applicant will receive an email with the following: A 30-day window to meet with the Respiratory Care Program Director to confirm seat, a list of clinical eligibility requirements that must be met prior to final admission, and a hard-copy program application that must be completed and turned into the Respiratory Care Program Director within 30 days.  Contact information is found on the program webpage.
• Respiratory Care Program application requests are denied when required preparatory and/or prerequisite coursework has not been completed as described on the Respiratory Care program webpage.
• Final admission to the Respiratory Care Program is contingent on the applicant meeting all clinical eligibility requirements and attending the mandatory program orientation

Program Admissions and Course Information

• The Respiratory Care Program admits 32 qualified students each fall semester
• Once admitted, the Respiratory Care Program is designed to be completed in 5 semesters over 21 months.
• Students must maintain clinical eligibility requirements throughout the duration of the program
• Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA and complete all preparatory, perquisite, and core course work with a grade of “C” or greater prior to admission and while currently enrolled

Clinical Eligibility Requirements of the Respiratory Care program

To participate in the required clinical portion of the Respiratory Care Program, students must provide documentation of the following clinical eligibility requirements prior to final admission:

• Arizona Department of Public Safety Fingerprint Clearance Card that is in good standing and does not expire before the end of the first semester of the program
• American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Personal health insurance including major medical coverage
• A negative toxicology screening (screening initiated by PCC)
• Signed Health Declaration & Physical examination form confirming that the student meets all Respiratory Care Technical Standards within 1 year of program start date
• Negative two-step Tuberculosis PPD (TB skin test). If positive result, a negative chest x-ray taken after the date of the positive skin test within the last 5 years along with a TB symptom questionnaire must be provided.
• Required Vaccinations:
  • Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) x 2 or positive serology (titer) results indicating immunity
  • Varicella immunization or positive serology (titer) results indicating immunity
  • Hepatitis-B immunization (3 injections over 6 months) or positive or reactive serology (titer) results indicating immunity
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (TDaP) immunization for adults, one injection within the last ten (10) years that does not expire until after the last day of the current semester
  • Current seasonal influenza vaccine within 1 year of start date

Important Information on Licensure

The practice of respiratory care in this state affects public health, safety and welfare and should be subject to regulation and control by the Board of Respiratory Care Examiners in the public interest to protect the public from unauthorized and unqualified practice of respiratory care from unprofessional conduct by persons licensed to practice respiratory care.

An applicant for a license shall:

• Be a high school graduate or the equivalent as prescribed by the board by rule
• Be a graduate of a respiratory therapy training program
• Pass a written examination approved by the board or be eligible to take a written examination pursuant to section
• Not have committed acts or crimes which constitute grounds for denial of a license or disciplinary action pursuant to section

Important Information on National Credentialing

The Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential is nationally recognized as the “standard of excellence” for respiratory care professionals. The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) evaluates the competency of respiratory therapists and ensures that graduates of accredited respiratory care programs have every opportunity to earn the RRT credential.

NBRC Admissions Policies for RRT examinations:

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Must be a graduate of and have a minimum of an associate degree from a respiratory therapy education program supported or accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
• New graduates of accredited advanced-level education programs have 3 years after graduation to earn the RRT credential.