Respiratory Therapist
Learn more about a rapid growing career in respiratory care and our two-year Respiratory Therapist Associate of Science Degree program.
All students interested in this program must begin in the Allied Health AAS program.
Apply for Clinicals
- The clinical application for Spring 2025 is now closed.
- You must have met with the program director prior to applying. Contact Prof. Aumiller for advising and questions.
- Download Admission Criteria and Point System, Essential Requirements (pdf).
What does a respiratory therapist do?
Respiratory therapists:
- Provide hands-on care to help people recover from various medical conditions
- Work with all kinds of patients, including accident victims on mechanical ventilators, elderly people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, children suffering from asthma and premature infants with underdeveloped lungs
- Draw and analyze blood specimens to determine the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases in order to assess the best course of treatment
- Use mechanical ventilation for treating patients who cannot breathe adequately on their own
- Administer medications to help alleviate breathing problems and help prevent respiratory infections
- Have good communications skills and attention to detail
- Learn more about the career (American Association for Respiratory Care- AARC -website)
- Attend a respiratory therapist program information session - check back for Spring dates
How much does the program cost?
- Download Estimated Expenses (pdf).
Will I be eligible for credentials?
- You can become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) after completing a national credentialing exam.
- You will be eligible for licensure in Pennsylvania.
What are the required courses and what is the suggested schedule? How long does the program take to complete? Where are the clinical classes held?
- Download Courses Required/Suggested Schedule (pdf).
- HACC holds Respiratory classes at the Harrisburg Campus. Prerequisite courses are offered at other campuses and sites.
Is the program accredited?
The Harrisburg Area Community College Respiratory Therapist Program #200296 awarding an Associate of Science Degree at the Harrisburg Campus, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com), 364 Precision Blvd., Telford, TN 37680, 817-283-2835. 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. The programs outcome data can be viewed at https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/
Can I advance my education in this field?
- This program leads directly to an occupation
- HACC has an articulation agreement with Boise State University for an online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy.
- HACC has an articulation agreement with Carlow University for an online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy.
- HACC has an articulation agreement with Marywood University for an online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy.
- HACC has an articulation agreement with University of Cincinnati for an online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy.
- Franklin University offers a BS in Healthcare Management.
- Shippensburg University offers a BS in Healthcare Administration.
- Immaculata University offers an accelerated BS in Health Care Management (classes are available in accelerated format at HACC's Lancaster Campus).
- Widener University (transfer sheet) offers a BS in Allied Health.
- Thomas Jefferson University, on behalf of its Jefferson College of Health Professions, for the purpose of establishing a pathway for enrollment in Jefferson’s Respiratory Therapy, Degree Advancement Program.
What are the program goals?
The program goal is "to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs)."
What is the most current program effectiveness data?
- CoARC Programmatic Outcomes data from the Annual Report of Current Status includes attrition, job placement and success on the credentialing exam. ( https://coarc.com/students/%20programmatic-outcomes-data/)
How can I get more information?
- Visit Careeronestop for salary and job outlook statistics, career videos and licensing requirements.
- Visit Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
- Visit American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) - What is an RT? It contains information on the roles and responsibilities of respiratory care practitioners.
Who can I contact for more information?
Please contact an Admissions Counselor, by phone at 800-ABC-HACC, or by email at start@hacc.edu
Respiratory Therapy Program Office
HACC Harrisburg Campus
Blocker Hall Room 101
Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-221-1392
