The Respiratory Care program will host several Open House options, including Feb. 27, 2025, to help students explore the program before the June 1st deadline for a Fall Term 2025 start. View details and RSVP.
Respiratory Care - Associate Degree
Get the training needed to work in the essential field of respiratory care. Respiratory therapists deal with the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, education, and rehabilitation of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases.
Eastern Florida State College’s two-year Respiratory Care Associate in Science degree prepares you to perform such tasks and respond to emergencies, involving every type of patient, in all areas of the hospital setting.
With an emphasis on acute and critical care, EFSC’s Respiratory Care A.S. degree students become highly skilled in routine airway and pulmonary procedures. They learn to provide care in a compassionate manner, alleviating cardiopulmonary patients’ stress caused by respiratory problems.
The Respiratory Care A.S. degree program holds Continuing Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) as CoARC program number 200618. See additional accreditation details.
The degree satisfies the requirements established by the National Board for Respiratory Care and qualifies the graduate as a candidate for the national registry examination. Respiratory therapy graduates, upon completion of the program, can apply for state licensure.
Respiratory Care - Associate Degree
Program Overview
- Degree Type
- Associate in Science (A.S.)
- Delivery Method
- On-Campus
- Location
- Melbourne
- Total Credit Hours
- 76
- Academic Community
- Health Sciences
- Contact Information
-
Health Science Advising
Email Advising
321-433-7575
Respiratory Care A.S. COURSE CURRICULUM
New students begin the Respiratory Care A.S. program once each academic year, entering in the Fall Term (August) and are then enrolled on a full-time basis for five consecutive semesters. General education and support classes must be completed prior to admission to the program. Additionally, Introduction to Respiratory Care is a course that must be taken during the Summer Term prior to the June 1 application deadline.
Clinical experiences are conducted in cooperation with local healthcare facilities. Academic instruction is provided by EFSC faculty and guest instructors on the Melbourne Campus. An interactive simulation laboratory complements the instructional phase of the respiratory therapy program.
Respiratory Care A.S. Admissions Information
EFSC’s Respiratory Care degree is a limited-access program with a special selection and application process in addition to the general Eastern Florida admissions process.
Annual Application Deadline: June 1st For Fall Term Start (August)
- Meet with a Health Sciences advisor to review program requirements and the selection process. Selection for admission
is guided by a selection point scale. Discussing this with an advisor as you apply is required and ensures you understand
all requirements.
- Apply for Admission: Interested students must review and complete the customized Respiratory Care Application Process. Completed application files are due by the annual deadline for each program option.
- Review complete program information. Check out all the details on this page and look over common questions and answers about the program.
- If selected, complete Accepted Student Requirements. Students accepted in the Respiratory program are required to complete and pass a background check, drug screening, and comply with immunization requirements.
Respiratory care: Additional Program information
The Eastern Florida State College Respiratory Care Program, CoARC program number 200618, Associate in Science, Melbourne Campus holds Continuing Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.
This status signifies that a program that has demonstrated ongoing compliance with the Standards determined by a satisfactory Continuing Accreditation self-study report and on-site visit, and other documentation required by the CoARC.
It is recognized by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) toward eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s).
All accepted Respiratory Care students are required to participate in clinical education.
Students may be required to travel to Steward Medical facilities, Health First facilities, Kindred Hospital, Parrish Medical Center, Sea Pines Rehabilitation Center, and Melbourne Terrace in Brevard County. Students may also be required to travel to Winnie Palmer Hospital, Arnold Palmer Hospital, St. Cloud Hospital, and Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, which are all located in the greater Orlando area.
Students will be responsible for participating in clinical rotations each semester and will be scheduled 7 AM to 7 PM with evening, night and weekend rotations. Travel to clinical sites is the responsibility of the student. The program will try to assign students to a clinical site closest to their geographical area, but there is no guarantee of placement location.
In keeping with the College's Mission and Philosophy, the mission of the Respiratory Care Program is to meet the needs of the students by offering quality instruction using theory and performance-based instruction which will enable the student to graduate with the necessary skills to succeed as a Respiratory Therapist and/or to continue ongoing educational goals.
Respiratory Care Program
Mission
Our mission is to prepare compassionate and competent respiratory therapists to become
future leaders within the profession of respiratory care.
Vision
Our vision is to be a respected and regarded patient focused, career driven community
program for respiratory therapy education.
The Respiratory Care program prepares graduates to work in Respiratory Care. Respiratory Care is a specialty dealing with the diagnosis, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases.
The program is provisionally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). The degree satisfies the requirements established by the National Board
for Respiratory Care and qualifies the graduate as a candidate for the national registry
examination. Graduates, upon completion of the program, apply for state licensure.
New Students begin the Respiratory Care program once each academic year, entering
the program in the Fall Term (August) and are then enrolled on a full-time basis for
five consecutive semesters. General Education and Support classes must be completed
prior to admission to the program. Additionally, Introduction to Respiratory Care
is a course that must be taken during the Summer Term prior to the June 1st application
deadline.
Hospital activities are conducted in cooperation with local clinical facilities. Academic instruction is provided by EFSC faculty and guest instructors on the Melbourne Campus. An interactive simulation laboratory complements the instructional phase of the program.
The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (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.
Program outcomes for EFSC can be accessed through this CoARC outcomes website link.
Brief Costs & Financial Aid Eligibility
Estimated expenses for EFSC’s Respiratory Care A.S. degree program total approximately $11,500. In light of the high demand for Respiratory Therapists, heightened by the COVID pandemic, this investment can lead to well-paying career opportunities. Many students are offered jobs before they graduate.
You may be eligible for financial aid and scholarships to assist you in paying for the program. We highly recommended applying for both federal aid and Titan Scholarships provided by the EFSC Foundation, as well as community-based scholarships.
College Courses You Would Take
The 76-credit-hour curriculum prepares students to work in the field through extensive coursework that includes clinical rotations in the community. Here are just some of the courses you would take:
Learn techniques & equipment, including pharmacology. Introductory physiotherapy along with medical gas, humidity & aerosol and hyperinflation therapy.
Study diagnostic techniques and instrumentation including pulmonary function testing, the electrocardiogram, treatment of cardiac anomalies and ACLS pharmacology.
Learn comprehensive skills including medical ethics, HIPAA privacy rules, prevention of medical errors & hands-on assessment utilizing the Human Patient Simulator Lab.
Four clinical care courses will build hands-on skills, with clinical rotations at hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, pulmonary rehabilitation, and neonatal / pediatric areas.
Why Study Respiratory Care at EFSC?
Prepare for a career where you will make a difference
Respiratory illnesses represent one of the leading causes of hospital admission and overall mortality. Our graduates are prepared for entry-level positions that can help alleviate the growing shortage of trained respiratory therapists.
Move on to additional education options
Registered/Certified Respiratory Therapists with at least one year of work experience are eligible to apply to Eastern Florida's Transition to RN program. They receive what's known as advanced standing in the program, making it faster to become a registered nurse.
Other Health Science Programs
As you consider the Respiratory Care A.S. degree, explore these other EFSC health and nursing programs.