Respiratory Therapist: Career Associate

The Respiratory Therapist AS program prepares students to enter the workforce as advanced level respiratory therapists.  The program is offered in cooperation with American Home Patient, Life Care Hospital of Mechanicsburg, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Holy Spirit Hospital, Pinnacle Health System, West Shore Advanced Life Support, Summit Health, and Pulmonary and Critical Care Associates.  The Respiratory Therapist program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). Continuation in this program requires that the student receive a grade of C or higher in each course pursued.  Graduation requirements include current Certification in American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), American Heart Association, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, professional development credits, and satisfactory performance on comprehensive (mid program and final) written, laboratory, simulation and oral examinations.  Membership in the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is required by the start of the second semester of the Respiratory Therapist program (#3920). The complete program is available at the Harrisburg Campus.  Some of the required courses are available at all of HACC’s campuses, as well as through Virtual Learning. In addition to tuition and fees, students must purchase uniforms, supplies, liability insurance and clinical parking fees.

The following requirements must be completed (at the student’s expense) after being selected for, but prior to starting the clinical portion of the program and after the first year in the program. Requirements include physical examination and immunizations, background checks, drug and alcohol screens and CPR certification. The student should consider these factors before enrolling. If the student has any questions regarding this, he or she should contact the program director.

General Education   
ENGL 101 English Composition I  3
ENGL 102 English Composition II  3
COMM 101 Effective Speaking  3
Core A Elective  3
Core B Elective  3
Free Elective  3
Physical Education & Wellness  1

Major Requirements   
RESP 100 Intro to Respiratory Care  2 
RESP 120 Cardiopulmonary Anatomy &  3 
                  Physiology   
RESP 130 Hospital Orientation  2 
RESP 140 Oxygen Administration  5 
RESP 150 Pharmacology  3 
RESP 160 Patient Assessment  2 
RESP 170 Therapeutics  4 
RESP 175 Clinical Practice I  2 
RESP 190 Acid-Base Physiology  2 
RESP 200 Cardiopulmonary Diseases  3 

Other Required Courses   
BIOL 121 Anatomy & Physiology I  4 
BIOL 122 Anatomy & Physiology II  4 
CHEM 100 Fundamentals of Chemistry (Core C)  3 

This curriculum is designed to prepare students to:

Demonstrate proficiency as respiratory therapists as described by the National Board for Respiratory Care

Assist physicians in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients afflicted with cardiopulmonary disorders

Function effectively as members of the healthcare team

Demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply, and evaluate clinical information relevant to their role as advanced respiratory care practitioners (Cognitive Domain)

Demonstrate technical proficiency in all advanced practitioner skills (Psychomotor Domain)

Demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer expectations for the advanced level respiratory care practitioner (Affective Domain)

Apply for a Full-Ride Scholarship

Are you a future student and ready to apply to HACC? 
By applying to HACC, you have the opportunity to apply for a full-ride scholarship! HACC will fund two years of your education – enough to complete your associate degree.

Thanks to the support of the HACC Foundation, the College is able to offer FREE money to support future students, like you, in reaching your educational goals. Six full-ride scholarships are available – one from each of the five campuses and one through HACC’s Virtual Learning Program. 

Please note that current students are not eligible for the full-ride scholarships. However, there are more than 250 scholarships available for current students.

What should you know about the full-ride scholarship?

The scholarship covers tuition, books and fees for a full academic year. 

The scholarship will automatically renew each term for up to six consecutive terms if you maintain your eligibility.

Once you apply to the College and receive a HACC ID and email address, you may apply for the full-ride scholarship. You do not have to register for classes before applying for the scholarship.

Are you eligible?

To be eligible, you must:

Apply to HACC

Take 12-15 credits each term for no more than six consecutive terms (two years)

Live in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, Schuylkill or York county

Have a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0

Provide a 480 SAT reading score, 21 ACT or comparable scores on the College’s placement test

Maintain a GPA of 3.0 while enrolled at HACC

Participate in at least two HACC student organizations