Respiratory Care

Respiratory Care

What kind of work do respiratory therapists do?

• You’re interested in how the body works, what happens in disease, and how to restore functionality
• You want to make a difference in the lives of patients – in both emergency critical care and long term situations
• You are adept with state-of-the-art technology in addition to providing bedside patient care
• You’d like the flexibility to move nearly anywhere in the country and have excellent job opportunities
• You may eventually want to become an expert in heart and lung disorders and treatment

Does this sound like you? Browse some of the links below to learn more about our program – then visit us to observe respiratory therapists at work, speak with professional therapists, faculty and students, visit our classrooms and labs – to better understand the Brookdale program and career requirements.

What’s the employment outlook?

Job opportunities are expected to be very good, especially for those with cardiopulmonary care skills. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is projected to grow 13 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than average for all occupations.

In May 2023 the median annual wage for respiratory therapists was $77,960. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers earn more than that amount, and half earn less. The lowest 10 percent earned below $59,180, and the top 10 percent earned more than $104,480.

Read the full report here.

Any questions about entering Brookdale’s Respiratory Care program may be addressed to Health Science Admissions at healthscienceadmissions@brookdalecc.edu.

If you have specific questions about the field or would like to arrange a visit to observe a professional in a local hospital, please contact Carol Schedel at 732-224-2692 or cschedel@brookdalecc.edu

Request more information.

The Respiratory Care Program, CoARC Program Number 200185, A.A.S., Lincroft, NJ is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

CoARC program outcomes data can be found here.

Respiratory Care Degrees

Brookdale offers the following degree in Respiratory Care. Click on the degree name to read more in our online catalog.

Respiratory Care Program, A.A.S.

This program prepares students for entry-level positions in respiratory care. Students work with patients in the treatment, management and control of problems and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system. Graduates work closely with patients, doctors, and nurses to provide diagnostic testing, therapeutics, education, rehabilitation, monitoring, life support and other specialized methods of treatment. Clinical learning experiences are required of all students. Upon completion of the program students are eligible to sit for the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) Examination. After successful completion of this examination and application to the Respiratory Care Board, the graduate is also eligible for state licensure as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). The Respiratory Care Program, CoARC Program Number 200185, A.A.S., Lincroft, NJ is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

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.

CoARC
264 Precision Blvd.
Telford, TN 37690

CoARC program outcomes data can be found here.

Link to prerequisites and requirements

Respiratory Care Track

Effective Spring 2014. This option is designed for students seeking a career in health sciences. Students will have the option of finishing this program and transferring to a four-year institution to complete their Bachelor’s degree or transitioning to, upon completion of admission requirements, one of the College’s A.A.S. degrees in Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care, Dental Hygiene or Medical Laboratory Technology as much of the general education course work is the same. AAS health science programs have admissions requirements and application procedures that are available in the College Catalog.

Link to prerequisites and requirements

Pre-Respiratory Care

Program to track Nursing applicants after they have graduated from SOCHS/SOCRC prog

Link to prerequisites and requirements

Transfer Opportunities

Transfer Agreements by Academic Program: Articulation Agreements are formal agreements between Brookdale and other colleges and universities. These agreements define how the courses you complete at Brookdale will apply to your future bachelor’s degree when you transfer into a baccalaureate program.

Brookdale Community College is an Equal Opportunity educational institution. In order to promote this goal, the College makes positive efforts to ensure equal opportunity to all individuals without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability or veteran status.