Explore our Respiratory Care A.S. Transitional Degree for CERTIFIED RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS
If you are a certified respiratory therapist, you can earn academic credit for your experience and education in our transitional Associate in Science degree. Our program gives you the technical skills and general education background you need to succeed in this field. We have an excellent reputation in the community and produce highly qualified graduates.
CRTs with an active license and verifiable clinical experience can receive up to 26 hours of credit toward the Respiratory Care A.S. degree. Credit can be awarded through:
- An articulation agreement: If the applicant for transfer, or advanced placement credit, was awarded their CRT certificate from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care that has a valid articulation agreement with St. Petersburg College, the applicant can apply to have up to 26 credits articulated. Applicant should be advised that the State of Florida may limit the time under which application can be made for advanced placement.
- Experiential Learning Program (ELP): The applicant can apply for an evaluation by a member of the program faculty of their clinical and professional resume and apply for up to 26 hours in ELP credits using the process outlined in the College Handbook. This process involves an evaluation of the current clinical status of the applicant. Applicant should be aware that there is a fee for this assessment.
This academic program prepares you for the following careers. All job data is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Respiratory Therapists
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
Projected employment for Florida
2023 Employment
8,790
2033
10,650
Percent Change
21
Projected Job Openings
660
Features of SPC's Respiratory Care A.S. Degree - CRT Transitional Degree
- Prepares you for the advanced practitioners' exam to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist through the National Board for Respiratory Care
- Provides lecture and hands-on clinical classes as part of your learning experience
- Takes two years to complete
- Transfers to our bachelor's degree in Health Services Administration in Respiratory Care
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Proper techniques and principles of respiratory care
- Industry standards and safety regulations
- Legal and ethical responsibilities
Respiratory Care: CRT Transitional Associate in Science
CRT-RESC-AS
Effective Beginning Catalog Term: Fall 2024 (640)
The requirements shown below are valid beginning Fall 2024 (640), and may not reflect degree requirements for current students. Current students should visit My SPC and view My Learning Plan to see specific degree requirements for their effective term.
Program Summary
The Respiratory Care Program is dedicated to the philosophy and goals of the college. The Respiratory Care Program is designed to offer the student planned learning experiences and to provide knowledge, skills, and promote attitudes that will culminate in successful employment of the graduate as a respiratory therapist. The Associate of Science in Respiratory Care is transferable to a Bachelor's degree in Health Services Administration at SPC. NOTE: This program of study is designed for licensed paramedics and awards credit for students' experience. Students who complete this program will graduate with an RESC-AS degree.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum grade of "C" required in all courses.
Academic Pathways
The Academic Pathway is a tool for students that lists the following items:- the recommended order in which to take the program courses
- suggested course when more than one option exists
- which semester each course is typically offered
- if the course has a prerequisite
- courses that may lead to a certificate (if offered in the program)
Please verify the Academic Pathway lists your correct starting semester.
Program Leadership Information
Florida CIP Code
1351090800 - Respiratory Care
Federal CIP Code
51.0908 - Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- Essential Student Functions
- Program Admission Guide
- Students accepted into the program will be required to successfully pass a background check and drug screening.
- SPC's Respiratory Care program has been producing highly qualified RRTs since 1971. The on-site simulation hospital on the HEC campus helps students feel comfortable practicing skills in a controlled setting.
- Our graduates score significantly higher than the national average on exams and almost all graduates and their employers say they are very satisfied with the program.
- Our program meets the needs of students of all ages and schedules, including working students. Recent graduates include a 20-year-old and a 65-year-old.
- You can receive your A.S degree in Respiratory Care and become an RRT in 24 months without leaving the area.
- Financial aid is available.
- Our program has an excellent reputation in the community.
Program Goals
The St. Petersburg College Respiratory Care Program is dedicated to the philosophy and goals of the college. The program is designed to offer the student planned learning experiences and to provide knowledge, skills, and promote attitudes that will culminate in successful employment of the graduate as a respiratory therapist.
In addition, the program is designed 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).
Key Program Personnel
- John Peters, D.O., Medical Director
- Steve Hardt, MA, RRT, Program Director
- Gene Macogay, MSc, RRT, RRT-ACCS
ACCREDITATION
The St. Petersburg College Respiratory Care program, CoARC program number 200145, AS degree, Health Education Center Campus 7200 66th Street North Pinellas Park, FL is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com), (817)283-2835.
The Health Services Administration for Respiratory Care subplan has not yet applied for, or received, the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care's (CoARC's) accreditation for degree advancement programs. Please note such accreditation is voluntary at this time.
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.
Program Outcomes
Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented. Review and compare our program outcomes for graduates through the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.
Programmatic outcomes data reported on the CoARC website include:
- 3-year time period being reported;
- RRT credentialing success;
- Achievement of the high cut score on the TMC Exam (beginning 2018);
- Retention (Attrition);
- Job placement;
- Overall Graduate Satisfaction;
- Overall Employer Satisfaction;
- Total number of program enrollees;
- Total number of program graduates;
- Maximum Annual Enrollment
LICENSURE
St. Petersburg College's Respiratory Care A.S. Degree prepares you for the advanced practitioners' exam to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist through the National Board for Respiratory Care.
CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION AT SPC
Our associate degrees in respiratory care transfer to SPC's B.S. in Cardiopulmonary Science.
- Respiratory Care A.S. Degree
- Respiratory Care A.S. Degree - CRT Transitional
PROGRAM ADMISSIONS
- Essential Student Functions
- Students accepted into the program will be required to successfully pass a background check and drug screening.