Respiratory Care, A.A.S.

Associate in Applied Science
HEGIS #5215
Chairperson: Patricia G. Hyland
400 Jordan Rd., Suite B (second floor), (518) 629-7454

Respiratory Care is an allied health specialty employed with medical direction in the treatment, management, diagnostic evaluation and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system.

Respiratory Care practitioners are involved with patients of all ages, from the premature infant to the geriatric patient with a variety of lung and heart problems and diseases. The job responsibilities consist of diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and rehabilitation of a respiratory patient under direct supervision of a physician.

This program is established as a consortium with Albany Medical Center.

The Hudson Valley Community College Respiratory Care program, CoARC program number 200138, an A.A.S. degree program offered at the Troy, NY campus, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

Outcomes data from the program’s Annual Report of Current Status has been posted on the CoARC website. Follow this link directly to the Programmatic Outcomes Data page: https://www.coarc.com/Students/Programmatic-Outcome-Data.aspx.

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Board of Respiratory Care Certification and Registry Exam. Upon graduation, there will be added expenses for NBRC credentialing exams and state licensure application fees.

Part-time study is not available in this major, unless appropriate transfer credit is accepted. Respiratory and clinical courses are offered as day classes only.

Please note additional policies regarding Heath Science programs: Unsatisfactory pre-clinical, clinical, practicum and academic performance will result in students being dismissed from a health science program. The respective health science program faculty will make all recommendations for readmission. All decisions will be based upon an individual student review process. Readmission will require students to successfully repeat previous clinical, practicum and/or academic courses that faculty require. In addition, if a student is dismissed from the program, the student may be required to provide evidence of growth in necessary areas as identified by the faculty at the time of dismissal. Dismissed students must reapply under the program’s current admission procedure.

Once a student has been re-admitted to a program, core curricular courses must be completed in term sequence without interruption. Any student who misses a term may not be permitted to continue in the program.

Students who are dismissed from Health Science Programs at Hudson Valley or other institutions due to inappropriate or dangerous clinical behavior and/or personal misconduct during patient interactions will not be allowed admission to any Hudson Valley Health Science program or Health Science course with a clinical component. A notation will be placed on the student’s academic transcript indicating the student was dismissed from the Respiratory Care program.

Students in this program may be subjected to drug testing and criminal background checks at their own expense. Results must be shared with the Department Chairperson and clinical education site and if the clinical site deems the student unfit to attend the site, the student may be unable to complete degree requirements.

Please note: Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor may affect an individual’s right to complete clinical experience at some sites required for program completion and/or to be licensed as a Respiratory Therapist in NYS. Applicants should see the department chairperson.

All college level science courses must have been taken within five years in order to be applicable toward this degree program. Respiratory Care core courses must be taken at Hudson Valley.

Program Entrance Requirements

Courses	Entry Term	Special Notes	H.S. Average
Algebra and geometry or 2 units of equivalent academic math, biology and chemistry w/labs (75 or above for Regents or 85 or above for non-Regents in each course)	Fall only	Additional math and science recommended. Grade of “B” required in non-credit bearing courses. Grade of “C” required in credit bearing math and science courses.	N/A

The estimated cost of books for the student enrolled in the first full-time term as outlined would be approximately $910.