Respiratory Care
Associate in Science Degree Respiratory Care · Orange Coast College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Respiratory Care is an allied health specialty dealing with the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with acute and chronic diseases affecting the pulmonary system. Respiratory Care Practitioners/Respiratory Therapists work in all areas within the hospital, especially within the critical care areas with patients who are in a life-threatening phase of their illness. Additionally, some Respiratory Care Practitioners/Respiratory Therapists work with home care agencies to treat patients in their homes. Duties include analysis of pulmonary function and arterial blood gases, life support ventilation, CPR, assessment of pulmonary status, airway care, plus other related duties. Specialties in Respiratory Care include adult critical care, neonatal and pediatric critical care, pulmonary function testing, home care and rehabilitation, management, and education.
The Respiratory Care program at Orange Coast College is a two-year Associate in Science Degree program beginning each fall semester. Courses within the program include lectures, skills application of procedures and techniques in a laboratory setting on campus, and approximately 1000 hours of clinical practice. Clinical practice is within area hospitals performing the latest procedures in medicine. There is also a series including discussions with physicians.
The Respiratory Care program at Orange Coast College is a fully accredited entry-level practitioner program, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Program graduates are eligible candidates for the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Licensure in the state of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) requires the RRT credential and satisfying all other requirements for licensure set forth by the Respiratory Care Board of California. The employment outlook for Respiratory Care Practitioners/ Respiratory Therapists is good throughout the United States.
National Credential: CRT and RRT issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care. State License: Respiratory Care Practitioner issued by the Respiratory Care Board of California.
Program Admission
- Allied Health A010 course – application and orientation.
- The student must complete the general education requirements for Mathematics and English composition for the Associate in Science Degree and the program prerequisites prior to acceptance to the program.
- The student must complete intermediate algebra or higher as included in the program prerequisites prior to acceptance to the program. All prerequisite and required courses must be completed with grade of “C” or better.
Program Outcome
Program Learning Outcomes
- The outcome of the program is to prepare students as competent Respiratory Care Practitioners for employment in the field as respiratory care professionals providing cognitive, psychomotor, and affective qualities to meet community needs.
Employment possibilities include:
- Registered Respiratory Therapist
- Respiratory Therapy Specialist
- Respiratory Care Practitioner
Requirements
Review Graduation Requirements and General Education.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AS Degree GE must be completed for program admission. | ||
| Program Prerequisites | ||
| ALH A010 | Health Occupations | 0.5 |
| ALH A111 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| BIOL A221 | Anatomy-Physiology | 4 |
| MATH A030 | Intermediate Algebra (or higher) | 4 |
| Required Courses | ||
| ALH A115 | Patient Care | 2 |
| ALH A120 | Human Diseases | 2 |
| BIOL A114 | Basic Microbiology | 2 |
| RSPC A185 | Respiratory Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| RSPC A190 | Basic Respiratory Care Equipment | 3 |
| RSPC A195 | Respiratory Pharmacology | 1 |
| ALH A130 | Applied Pharmacology | 3 |
| RSPC A191 | Clinical Lab 1 | 1.5 |
| RSPC A260 | Arterial Blood Gases, Theory and Practice | 2 |
| RSPC A275 | Respiratory Care Procedures | 3 |
| PSG A100 | Polysomnography Basics | 1 |
| RSPC A192 | Clinical Lab 2 | 2.5 |
| RSPC A196 | Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation | 0.5 |
| RSPC A265 | Pulmonary Pathology | 3 |
| RSPC A270 | Ventilators and Respiratory Management | 3 |
| RSPC A276 | Clinical Lab 3 | 4.5 |
| RSPC A279 | Physician Series 1 | 0.5 |
| RSPC A255 | Home Care and Rehabilitation | 1 |
| RSPC A278 | Pulmonary Case Assessment | 1 |
| RSPC A280 | Advanced Monitoring, Procedures and Therapies in Critical Care | 2 |
| RSPC A285 | Pulmonary Function Testing | 1 |
| RSPC A286 | Clinical Lab 4 | 4 |
| RSPC A287 | Clinical Internship | 2.5 |
| RSPC A290 | Neonatal Intensive Care | 2 |
| RSPC A296 | Respiratory Care Board Review | 1 |
| Total Major Units | 63.5 | |
| General Education Breadth for AS Degree = 21 Units | 18.0 | |
| Total Minimum Degree Units - OCC AS GE | 81.5 | |
- Required Clinical: course must be taken in sequence. Contact the department for additional information.
- Subtotal has 3 double-counted units removed.
- Cal-GETC pattern (up to 34 units) may be substituted.
Program Sequence
Program Sequence
These sequences at Orange Coast College are general course curriculum maps for students to finish all major and general education requirements for two-year completion of degrees, and/or fulfillment of transfer requirements. The course sequence may include course prerequisites and other placement requirements. Students are advised to meet with an Orange Coast College Counselor to review course selections and sequences to ensure that completion of this program will meet a student's transfer and career goals.
For terms less than 15 units, students should meet with a counselor to reconfigure their sequence to maintain financial aid eligibility with a full-time course load.
Year 1
| Semester 1 | Units |
|---|---|
| OCC AS GE 1A- CHOOSE ONE | 3-4 |
| ALH A010 | Health Occupations |
| BIOL A221 | Anatomy-Physiology 1 |
| OCC AS GE AREA 2- CHOOSE ONE | 3-4 |
| OCC AS GE AREA 4- CHOOSE ONE | 3 |
| Units |
| Semester 2 |
|---|
| OCC AS GE AREA 1B- CHOOSE ONE |
| ALH A111 |
| OCC AS GE AREA 3- CHOOSE ONE |
| OCC AS GE AREA 6- CHOOSE ONE |
| MATH A030 |
Year 2
| Semester 1 |
|---|
| ALH A115 |
| ALH A120 |
| BIOL A114 |
| RSPC A185 |
| RSPC A190 |
| RSPC A195 |
| Semester 2 |
|---|
| ALH A130 |
| RSPC A191 |
| RSPC A260 |
| RSPC A275 |
| PSG A100 |
| Summer |
|---|
| RSPC A192 |
| RSPC A196 |
Year 3
| Semester 1 |
|---|
| RSPC A265 |
| RSPC A270 |
| RSPC A276 |
| RSPC A279 |
| Semester 2 |
|---|
| RSPC A255 |
| RSPC A278 |
| RSPC A280 |
| RSPC A285 |
| RSPC A286 |
| RSPC A287 |
| RSPC A290 |
| RSPC A296 |
- Meets OCC AS GE AREA 5.
- Acceptance into the OCC Respiratory Care program required to begin major coursework (Cohort Restriction).