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Respiratory Care
To begin, connect with an advisor who can guide you through program options and next steps, including the application process.
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Respiratory Care degree provides education in patient services in the cardiovascular and pulmonary fields. Students will learn how to assess, provide treatment, and perform diagnostic procedures. The program focuses on principles for respiratory therapists to utilize advanced technology in life support systems, administer medications, and perform many techniques to assist patients in the healing process. Curriculum includes experiences in the hospital critical care, trauma, emergency departments, and operating rooms, patient's home, physicians' offices, and out-patient clinics in preparation for employment.
Graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Respiratory Care and become eligible for the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialing examination and state licensure, which enables them to become a licensed respiratory care practitioner.
This program is designed to meet education requirements for licensure or certification in the State of Arizona. Granting licensure and certification is the sole responsibility of the state board or approval agency. This program is only offered and available to students located in the State of Arizona. The Maricopa County Community College District and colleges define student location within Administrative Regulation 2.2.3(7).
Details
Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Respiratory Care (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3284
Total credits required
83-99.5
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Effective Term
Fall 2026
Admission criteria
1. Formal application and admission to the program.
2. Background check requirements: Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Background Check Standards. Upon conditional program enrollment, the student must comply with all requirements of the MCCCD Background Check Policy.
3. Clinical health and safety requirements must be met prior to enrollment in any program of study course. Upon conditional program enrollment, the student must comply with all requirements of the MCCCD Clinical Health and Safety Policy and drug testing protocols.
4. Inability to comply with background check requirements and/or clinical health and safety requirements at the start of classes or during the program may result in cancellation of enrollment.
5. There are limited spaces available in the Respiratory Care program. Only students who have completed all of the general education and introductory courses noted above may have their name added to the queue of those waiting for an available space in a cohort.
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Students must complete the following general education and introductory courses with a 3.0 GPA to be added to the queue of those waiting for an available cohort space to begin the core curriculum: BIO160 or (BIO201 and BIO202), (CHM130 and CHM130LL) or CHM130AA, (COM100 or COM110 or COM230), (CRE101 or equivalent by assessment), (ENG101 or ENG107), (ENG102 or ENG108), (HCC145 or HCC146), PSY101, any approved general education course in the Humanities, Arts, and Design area, and MAT15+ or any approved general education, algebra-based Mathematics course for which MAT15+ is a prerequisite. The following courses do not meet this requirement: MAT206, MAT256, MAT257.
What You'll Learn
- 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).
- Demonstrate assessment and evaluation of the patient in keeping with the application of appropriate care that aligns with established hospital regulations and standards.
- Utilize technology in the management of patients.
- Demonstrate the ethical and professional standards expected of respiratory care professionals.
- Communicate information regarding clinical status to appropriate members of the health care team.
Career Statistics
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
$125,370
Respiratory Therapists
$64,440
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCC/RES109 | CPR for Health Care Provider | Gateway course OR American Heart Association Health Care Provider CPR certification | 0.5 | ||
| RES130 | Respiratory Care Fundamentals I | Gateway course | 4.5 | ||
| RES131 | Infection Control for Respiratory Care | 1 | |||
| RES133 | Respiratory Care Clinical Seminar | 2 | |||
| RES134 | Respiratory Care Pharmacology I | 2 | |||
| RES136 | Applied Biophysics for Respiratory Care | Critical course | 3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RES140 | Respiratory Care Fundamentals II | Gateway course | 5 | ||
| RES142 | Respiratory Care Clinical I | 4 | |||
| RES144 | Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation | 1 | |||
| RES224 | Pathophysiology for Respiratory Care | 2 | |||
| RES240 | Respiratory Physiology | Critical course | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RES118 | Vascular Access for Clinical Practice | 1 | |||
| RES220 | Respiratory Care Fundamentals III | Critical course Gateway course | 4.5 | ||
| RES226 | Respiratory Care Clinical II | 4 | |||
| RES235 | Respiratory Care Pharmacology II | 2 | |||
| RES270 | Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care | 2 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HES100 | Healthful Living | Recommended for students seeking university transfer. | SB, SCB | 3 | |
| RES230 | Respiratory Care Fundamentals IV | 4.5 | |||
| RES232 | Respiratory Care Clinical III | 4 | |||
| RES280 | Respiratory Care Review | 2 | |||
| RES291 | Respiratory Care Advanced Life Support | 1 | |||
| RES292 | Respiratory Care Pediatric Advanced Life Support | 1 |
Introductory Courses Only Sequence
This option may include variable full-time (12 to 18 credits per semester) and/or part-time (11 credit hours or less per semester) status by term due to course prerequisites and scheduling
Term 1
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | The student must take BIO202 with BIO201 to complete Biology prerequisite requirement. | NSI, SG | 4 | |
| (CHM130 and CHM130LL) or CHM130AA |
(Fundamental Chemistry and Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory) or Fundamental Chemistry with Lab | Critical course | NSI in combo w/ CHM130LL; and NSI in combo w/ CHM130; or NSI, SQ | 4 | |
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment. | L | 3 | |
| COM100 or COM110 or COM230 |
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Small Group Communication | Students may not take COM225. | SB, SCB or SB, SCB or SB, SCB | 3 | |
| ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM | 3 | ||
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Students wishing to earn an AGEC must have 6 credits in the Arts and Humanities courses with the appropriate designations. | HU | 3 |
Course Area Key
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- FYC = First-Year Composition
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts & Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- NSI = Natural Sciences
- QNR = Quantitative Reasoning
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SCB = Social and Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
- WCM = Written Communication
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=16458654.
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
Previous Catalog Years
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.
Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Respiratory Care
While you’re on the waitlist, take time to explore courses, short-term programs, and scholarships that can help you reach your goals and keep you moving forward.
Explore your future in healthcare with resources that help you understand career paths, program requirements, and next steps so you can start preparing with confidence.