Respiratory Therapy
Program Overview
If you want to make a real difference in people’s lives, a career in respiratory therapy
may be right for you.
At Johnston Community College, you’ll learn how to assess, treat, and care for patients
with breathing and cardiopulmonary disorders. Through classroom instruction and hands-on
clinical training, you’ll gain the skills needed to become a licensed respiratory
therapist.
Credential Offered: Degree
Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2026!
Requirements
- High School Diploma or GED
- Advanced English Skills
- American Heart Association - Healthcare Provider Level Card
- Government Issued Drivers License or Photo ID
- Government Issued Social Security Card
- Proof of Medical Insurance
- Test of Essential Academics Skills (TEAS)
What You'll Learn
You’ll build a strong foundation in respiratory care through courses and hands-on experiences in:
- Patient Assessment – Evaluate and monitor patients with breathing or heart conditions
- Therapeutic Procedures – Provide oxygen therapy, ventilator management, and airway care
- Diagnostic Testing – Conduct pulmonary function tests and other respiratory assessments
- Critical Care – Support patients in emergency and intensive care settings
- Professional Practice – Develop communication, ethics, and teamwork skills essential in healthcare
How To Get Started
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Admissions
Apply to JCCIf you are a new student, complete your admissions steps for the college. Once you finish, return to this page to continue to Step 2.
Current students (enrolled within the last 12 months), you can skip admissions and go directly to Step 2 and fill out the application.
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Program Application
Program ApplicationOnce you have finished the admissions process, complete the program application. You may apply for more than one program.
Career Opportunities
After completing this program and earning your license, you’ll be ready to step into a high-demand healthcare career.
Respiratory therapists are needed in hospitals, clinics, and home care settings to help patients with breathing and heart-related conditions.
You may pursue roles such as:
- Respiratory Therapist – Provide life-saving care to patients with breathing problems by managing oxygen therapy, ventilators, and airway treatments.
- Pulmonary Function Technologist – Perform diagnostic tests to measure how well a patient’s lungs are working and assist physicians in evaluating respiratory conditions.
- Neonatal or Pediatric Respiratory Specialist – Care for newborns and children with respiratory or cardiac challenges in neonatal or pediatric intensive care units.
- Home Care Respiratory Therapist – Help patients manage chronic lung diseases at home by setting up and monitoring respiratory equipment and offering patient education.
- Sleep Disorder Specialist – Conduct and analyze sleep studies to diagnose conditions such as sleep apnea and recommend treatment plans.
- Intensive Care Respiratory Care Practitioner – Work in critical care units to support patients on life support, collaborating closely with doctors and nurses to stabilize breathing.
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