Respiratory Care

The goal of the Respiratory Care Program at 兔子先生 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). At HGTC, you as a student will realize the important part you will have in today鈥檚 healthcare system, caring for high-risk patients in their most intense moments. Respiratory Therapists have a vital role of taking care of patients who suffer from heart and lung ailments. The HGTC Respiratory Care program trains students with the most up-to-date technology and equipment, so graduates are ready for employment in the profession.

兔子先生 Information

Specific Admission Requirements for Program

• Graduation from high school or successful completion of the G.E.D (General Education Development) test; Criminal Background Check;
• Urine Drug Screening;
• Meet the criteria for admission to HGTC. This includes submission of official high school transcript, including graduation date or copy of GED; and official college transcripts;
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age by the semester of admittance to RES 152.
• Submit a Health Sciences Division Student Health Record Form indicating the candidate can perform the physical tasks required in the program prior to enrollment in the first respiratory care course.
• Complete and pass the General Hospital Orientation.
• Proof of CPR certification for Health Care Providers prior to enrollment in the first respiratory course and throughout the curriculum.
• GPA of 2.5 on all required general education courses with a grade of 鈥淐鈥�.
• A minimum grade of 鈥淐鈥� (75) is also required in all courses required for Respiratory care.

PHASE I - GENERAL ADMISSION

Phase I is a general admission phase and enables students to enroll in the General Education pre-requisite courses required for Respiratory Care program. The General Education courses may be completed at 兔子先生 or transferred in from another accredited institution.

PHASE II - LIMITED ACCESS

To be eligible to apply for Phase II - Limited Access, students must complete option A or option B with a grade of "C" or better, and submission of a .

Option A: Successfully completed (minimal grade of C) BIO 210, ENG 101, and MAT 110 or MAT 120, a GPA of at least 2.5, and Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) score of 65 or above.  Scores are valid for 2 years from testing date. Students may retest every 30 days. There is a 5-year time limit on BIO courses and a 10-year time on MAT courses. (If student has a bachelor's degree, there is a 10-year time limit on BIO courses.)

Option B: Successfully completed (minimal grade of C) the (7) Respiratory Care General Education courses (BIO 210, BIO 211, BIO 225, ENG 101, MAT 110 or MAT 120, PSY 201, and Humanities) and a GPA of at least a 2.5. TEAS Score of 58 or above 鈥� valid for 2 years from date of testing. Students may retest every 30 days. There is a 5-year time limit on BIO courses and a 10-year time on MAT courses. (If student has a bachelor's degree, there is a 10-year time limit on BIO courses.)

• Readmission and progression guidelines, see the Respiratory Care Student Handbook.
• No waitlist must reapply for future fall admissions.
• 兔子先生 applications accepted until seats are filled 鈥� No Application Deadline. 

Course Sequence and Progression Requirements

Earn a minimum grade of "C" in all general education, support and RES courses. Failure of one required course will result in the student being dropped from the program with eligibility for readmission. A student who has a second failure in any one of the required courses, or failure in any two of the required courses will not be eligible for readmission to the RES program. Failure is defined as receiving a grade below "C" in any course. Students may apply for readmission to RES program after 2-year time period from 2nd course failure.

Student Resources

• Cost of Attendance
• Respiratory Care Program Cost
• STEPS Session

Forms

• Background Check
• Clinical Requirements

For more information, contact:
Kris Gillespie (843) 839-1062
For more information about Health Science 兔子先生 visit: www.hgtc.edu/healthscience

Accreditation Status

The Respiratory Care Program, CoARC Number 200622, Associate in Applied Science Degree on the Grand Strand Campus, has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care ().  CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an 鈥榦utcomes based鈥� 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 conferral of Continued Accreditation (approved July 12, 2024) denotes the program has made significant progress towards meeting the Entry into Practice Standards of Accreditation.

For more information about HGTC's accreditations, click here.

Program Mission, Goal & Outcomes

Program Mission

• To provide the opportunity for individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds to enter the respiratory therapy profession.
• To graduate students who exemplify the core values of the profession of Registered Respiratory Therapist.
• To have the faculty, students and staff contribute to the health and well-being of our community, and society through competent practice leadership, education, and humanistic ethical practices.
• To adapt technological advancements into the clinical practice.

Goals

鈥淭o 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).鈥�

Learning Outcomes

Respiratory therapists provide patient care, which includes clinical decision-making and patient education. The respiratory care scope of practice includes, but is not limited to the following basic competencies:

• acquiring and evaluating clinical data;
• assessing the cardiopulmonary status of patients;
• performing, and/or assisting in the performance of, prescribed diagnostic studies such as: obtaining blood samples; blood gas analysis; pulmonary function testing; and polysomnography;
• evaluating data to assess the appropriateness of prescribed respiratory care;

• establishing therapeutic goals for patients with cardiopulmonary disease;
• participating in the development and modification of respiratory care plans;
• case management of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases;
• initiating prescribed respiratory care treatments, evaluating and monitoring patient responses to such therapy and modifying the prescribed therapy to achieve the desired therapeutic objectives; managing life support activities;
• conducting and evaluating prescribed pulmonary rehabilitation;
• providing patient, family, and community education;
• promoting cardiopulmonary wellness, disease prevention, and disease management;
• promoting evidence-based practice by using established clinical practice guidelines and by evaluating published research for its relevance to patient care.

Program Outcome Data can be found at: .

Program Disclosure Statement

Applicants to the Respiratory Care program should be aware a current, unrestricted license or certification may be required to practice in the state in which you intend to reside/practice. Each state is unique in its licensure requirements. Students are encouraged to reach out to the program chair for more information and assistance with understanding professional licensure.

Career Outlook & Employment Opportunities

For more information about careers, visit  for an overview of South Carolina and National earnings statistics, and Career Services for more employment, career, and professional development resources.

 

Required Courses and Sample Schedules

*Courses may be completed during Phase I, General Admission phase of the Respiratory Care program or transferred in from another accredited institution.  BIO 210, ENG 101, and MAT 110 or MAT 120 must be completed with a grade of C or better before enrolling into the Limited Access Respiratory Care program.

^鈭�Registration for MAT courses require students to have appropriate test scores and/or pre-req courses; please refer to your advisor to determine your academic qualifications and eligibility for enrolling in MAT courses.