San Joaquin Valley College

Program Highlights

SJVC's Respiratory Therapy program prepares you to be a member of an elite health care team that evaluates, treats and manages patients with respiratory illnesses and other cardiopulmonary disorders. In addition to performing respiratory care procedures, respiratory therapists are involved in clinical decision-making and patient education.

Learn

• Microbiology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology
• Computer applications, ethics, and psychology
• Pathology, pharmacology, and resuscitation
• Hemodynamics, physical assessment, and oxygen delivery
• Monitoring, radiography, and airway management

Students receive over 900 hours of extensive clinical practice in hospitals and clinics to gain real world experience.

Career Opportunities

Well-trained respiratory therapists are in tremendous demand in such areas as acute care hospitals, durable medical equipment companies, sub-acute facilities, home care agencies, physicians' offices, or managed care organizations; as well as specialized areas, such as sleep labs and pulmonary function labs. Some position opportunities include:

• Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
• Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT)
• Neonatal-Pediatric Specialist (NPS)
• Clinical Educator/Clinical Specialist
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation/Asthma Specialist
• Biomedical/Research/Sales

Certifications Earned

Graduates earn an Associate of Science degree and are eligible for state licensure and national credentialing examinations, including Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Programmatic Accreditation

Programmatic accreditation status varies by campus.