Respiratory Care
Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory therapists, or respiratory care practitioners, treat patients with abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system—or breathing disorders— under the direction of a licensed physician and as part of a health care team. Respiratory therapists administer therapeutic or diagnostic drugs to patients as part of a physician-prescribed treatment plan, implement a physician's orders for respiratory treatments, observe and monitor patient symptoms, and assist with administering medical gases (including hyperbaric or standard oxygen, vapor therapies and ventilation support). Administration of anesthesia falls outside the scope of practice of a respiratory therapist.
Respiratory therapists work at hospitals, clinics, nursing care facilities, in private care facilities and commercial businesses that specialize in the treatment, management, diagnostic testing, control and care of patients with breathing disorders that range from chronic lung conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema to heart attack and accident victims, premature infants, and people with cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, or AIDS. (OHLA-52 Rev 2/07). Detailed information is available at the American Association for Respiratory Care website: Be an RT
Respiratory Care Practitioners are required to be licensed in the State of Oregon. Requirements for licensure include graduation from an accredited respiratory care program, and successful completion the national Entry Level Exam thereby earning the Certified Respiratory Therapist credential.
2011 Respiratory Care Application Dates
Program |
2011 App Opens |
2011 App Closes |
Notification Date | *2011 Application changes, Note: 2011 applications are in development and subject to change. | 2011 Program Changes |
| Respiratory Care |
Mar 30, 2011 | May 03, 2011 | May 27, 2011 | Point based. Application fee has been changed to $50. *See Fall 2010 application for general reference. Fall 2011 change: Points will be given for completion of BI 233 and Bi 234. |
Lane Community College Respiratory Care Program
Career Overview
The Respiratory Care Program prepares students for a career as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. Respiratory therapists, or respiratory care practitioners, treat patients with abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system—or breathing disorders— under the direction of a licensed physician and as part of a health care team. Respiratory therapists administer therapeutic or diagnostic drugs to patients as part of a physician-prescribed treatment plan, implement a physician's orders for respiratory treatments, observe and monitor patient symptoms, and assist with administering medical gases (including hyperbaric or standard oxygen, vapor therapies and ventilation support). Administration of anesthesia falls outside the scope of practice of a respiratory therapist. Detailed information is available at the American Association for Respiratory Care website: Be an RT
Accreditation
The Respiratory Care Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). The student earns an Associate of Applied Science degree on completion of the program. The purpose of the program is to prepare graduates to pass the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Entry-Level Exam (CRT) and the Advanced Practitioner Examination to become competent Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT).
Licensure and Employment Outlook
Respiratory Care Practitioners are required to be licensed in the State of Oregon. Requirements for licensure include graduation from an accredited respiratory care program, and successful completion the national Entry Level Exam thereby earning the Certified Respiratory Therapist credential.
This occupation is expected to grow at a much faster rate than the regional average. Average annual earnings in $54,566 in Oregon. More information is available online from the Oregon Labor Market Information System.
Further Information
Explore linked pages at the left to learn more about program requirements and guidelines.
This information is available in alternate formats upon request by contacting Disability Resources: (541) 463-5150 (voice), 463-3079 (TTY), or DisabilityResources@lanecc.edu (e-mail).
