Respiratory Care

Associate in Health Science
Credit Requirements: 83-84 Semester Credit Hours

Respiratory Care is an allied health specialty that focuses on the treatment, management, control, diagnostic evaluation and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system.

TTC’s Respiratory Care program prepares students for employment as advanced-level respiratory care practitioners. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs in cooperation with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care. Graduates are eligible to take the certification and registry examinations administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc.

Admission Requirements
Applicants will be admitted to this program on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis. Applicants are considered to be qualified for admission to the next available class when they meet all College and program requirements. Classes in this program begin Fall Semester.

APPLICANTS MUST COMPLETE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS
I. General College Admission Requirements
Achieve admission to TTC by meeting the College's requirements for associate degree programs. Please note that applicants not achieving appropriate test scores will be required to complete courses indicated by placement test scores. 

Note: Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to the Respiratory Care program.

II.  Program Admission Requirements
Applicants should ensure that documentation of each of the following admission requirements is on file in the Admissions office as soon as it is completed. Information may be submitted in person or by mail to:

 Trident Technical College
 Admissions Office, AM-M
 (Student Center, Bldg. 410, Room 110)
 P.O. Box 118067
 Charleston, SC  29423-8067

1. Achieve qualifying scores on the College's placement test, SAT or ACT. Contact an academic advisor and complete all courses indicated by placement test scores.
2. Complete an Allied Health application for the Respiratory Care program. Note: When the number of applicants qualifying at the same time exceeds the number of spaces available in this program, admission will be prioritized according to the date and time that the Allied Health application was received in the Admissions office.
3. Submit proof of arithmetic competencies by completing one of the following:
   

   1. Achieve the appropriate score on the SAT, ACT or TTC's placement test,
   OR
   2. MAT 032/012 Developmental Mathematics with a minimum grade of C,
   OR
   3. Complete a mathematics course equivalent to MAT 032/012 with a minimum grade of SC (Satisfactory Completion) from an approved, regionally accredited postsecondary institution.

4. Provide proof of high school graduation or equivalent by submitting a copy of your high school transcript, diploma or GED.
5. Satisfy academic probation/suspension requirements, if applicable, by providing proof of a minimum 2.5 GPA on all college course work by submitting copies of official transcripts, excluding TTC transcripts, to the Admissions office; or complete 10 semester credit hours with a minimum grade of C in each course and a cumulative 2.5 GPA. At least one of these courses must be a laboratory science. Laboratory sciences must have been completed within five years of the admission date with a minimum grade of C.
6. A minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA is required at the time of admission. Students cannot be on academic or disciplinary suspension at date of entry into the program.
7. Submit a completed observation/volunteer form showing evidence of a minimum of six hours of observation/volunteer work in a respiratory care department. Two of these hours must be in an Intensive Care Unit. Contact the program faculty at 843.574.6101 or 843.574.6023 for assistance in meeting this requirement. Forms can be obtained from and should be returned to the Admissions office.
8. At the time of entry to the program, show evidence of completion of the criminal background check required by the College.

III. General Admission Procedures for the Respiratory Care Program
Prior to admission to the program, provide the TTC program coordinator with a completed, current Allied Health-Student Health Record. Applicants who meet College and program requirements will be considered qualified and will be admitted on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis. Qualified applicants will be sent a letter indicating the year and semester that they have been admitted.

Note:  Falsification of any information submitted will make a student ineligible for admission to or continuation in the Respiratory Care program.

Readmission to a Program
Students who receive a W, D or F in a prerequisite or corequisite Respiratory Care course may request consideration for readmission to the Respiratory Care program. Readmission to the program is not automatic. See the Allied Health Sciences overview.

Course Progression
To progress to the next Respiratory Care course, students must:

1. Earn a C or better in the lecture, laboratory and clinical components of Respiratory Care courses.
2. Earn a satisfactory grade of S on all professional development evaluations.