Respiratory CareAS Degree

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Community of interest
Health & Public Services
Award
AS Degree
Program code
01342.00AS
Department
Respiratory Care
CIP code
51.0908: Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist.
TOP code
1210.00 - Respiratory Care/Therapy*
The Butte College Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) (www.coarc.com). Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care: 264 Precision Blvd. Telford, TN 37690 (631) 912-7920 The Respiratory Care program is designed to prepare students to become licensed Respiratory Care Practitioners in the state of California. In addition, the program prepares the successful graduate to participate in the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) examinations administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Respiratory care practitioners are highly skilled allied health professionals involved in the therapy, management, rehabilitation, diagnostic evaluation and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities that affect the cardiopulmonary system. They are employed in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, physician's offices, home health agencies, specialized care hospitals, medical equipment supply companies, diagnostic laboratories, and patients' homes. They may further specialize in such areas as adult critical care, neonatal or pediatric intensive care, pulmonary function testing, transport medicine, hyperbaric medicine, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs, home care, management or education. Graduates practicing in California are required to take and pass the National Board of Respiratory Care Therapist Multiple Choice exam at the high cut score and the Clinical Simulation Exam to achieve licensure. *Note: A person convicted of any offense other than a minor traffic violation may not qualify to be licensed as a Respiratory Care Practitioner in California. Questions regarding this should be directed to the Respiratory Care Program Director. Admission to the Program: Requirements for Application: Age 17 or older. Prerequisites: BIOL 15, BIOL 20, BIOL 21, CHEM 51, and MATH 26/26s or MATH 28/28s or STAT C1000/C1000E. Must be completed with a C grade or better. Requirements for Admission to Program: Students must pass a background check, drug screening, and physical exam, and verify their physical ability to perform the tasks required of a Respiratory Therapist. Requirements for Completion of Program (courses may be taken prior to or during the program): CMST 4 or COMM C1000 (select one) ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000E (select one) PSYC C1000 All prerequisites and program required courses must be completed with a C grade or better. The Respiratory Care program admits students once a year. The program begins in a Fall semester. Students are admitted by application only. Contact the Health Occupations office or visit www.butte.edu/healthoccupations for application dates and materials. In the event that there are more qualified applicants than spaces in the program, a computerized lottery will be used to select the individuals to be enrolled. Estimated expenses average about $6,000-$7,000 for the entire program, including licensure. Financial aid may be available to qualified students.
Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP
Community of interest
HPS Health & Public Services
Award
AS Degree
Program code
01342.00AS
Department
Respiratory Care
CIP code
51.0908: Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist.
TOP code
1210.00 - Respiratory Care/Therapy*
Map Class Schedule

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Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

Program Schedule ReportMeet with a counselor
Respiratory Care
AS Degree

The Associate of Science is typically awarded for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Like every Butte College associate degree, it has two parts: a general-education curriculum that gives you a broad base of knowledge, and an academic program where you specialize.

About General Education. GE is an integrated program of learning designed to foster intellectual curiosity, cultural understanding, critical thinking, creative reasoning, oral and written communication, and the capacity for ethical reasoning. By graduation, you'll have developed the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, apply quantitative reasoning, understand how the major academic disciplines ask their questions, comprehend diverse cultures and historical periods, and assess ethical problems — alongside the depth you build in your major.

See the 2025-26 Catalog for official program details

Semester-by-Semester Map

Term 1

Class Schedules

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Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

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9–11 units
ALH 6
The Critical Six Soft Skills in the Professional Healthcare Environment
3 units

This course assists in the development of soft skills in the professional healthcare settings. Soft skills can be defined as a cluster of personality traits and behaviors that enhance the relationship between two individuals or an individual and an organization. Proficiency in the practice of soft skills has been identified as an essential characteristic to attain for any individual involved in the professional healthcare setting. Content will include six competency domains which include: Communication, Workplace Ethics and Professionalism, Team Building and Collaboration, Effective Problem Solving, Embracing Diversity and Demonstrating Compassion. Graded only.

General Education: Area 1A

English Composition

Baccalaureate-level academic writing — expository and argumentative. The foundation for every other course you'll write in.

General Education: Area 3

Arts and Humanities

How people and cultures, across time, respond to themselves and the world through artistic and cultural creative production. Visual and performing arts, art history, foreign languages, literature, philosophy, religion.

Term 2

Class Schedules

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Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

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3 units

General Education: Area 6

Ethnic Studies

The histories, experiences, and contributions of the four autonomous disciplines: Black / African American / Africana studies, Native American studies, Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x studies, and Asian American studies.

Term 3 (Program begins in Fall only)

Class Schedules

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Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

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10 units
RT 110
Fundamentals of Respiratory Care
7 units

This course is designed to introduce the student to basic atmospheric physics, cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology, blood gas chemistry, and ventilatory dynamics. The student will be introduced to basic concepts of health and disease with emphasis on cardiopulmonary disorders, fundamentals of problem solving techniques and safe handling of medical gases and equipment. Selected respiratory care and diagnostic equipment, techniques and problems will be introduced in the laboratory. Graded only.

Prerequisite: Admission to the RT Program, ALH 6 (or concurrent enrollment)

Corequisite: RT 118

RT 118
Respiratory Care Pharmacology
3 units

This course introduces students to fundamental pharmacological concepts and applied pharmacology. Emphasis will be placed on drug action and interaction as well as the practical aspects of routes of administration. Graded only.

Prerequisite: Admission to the RT Program

Corequisite: RT 110

Term 4 (Winter intersession)

Class Schedules

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Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

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1 units
RT 115
Clinical Preparation for Respiratory Care
1 units

This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of clinical respiratory care as practiced in the acute care hospital. Students will become conversant with bedside examination, monitoring, and care of medical/surgical and respiratory disease patients.

Prerequisite: ALH 6, RT 110, RT 118

Term 5

Class Schedules

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Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

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12 units
RT 120
Concepts in Respiratory Care
7 units

This course is a survey of cardiorespiratory disease with a focus on the role that the respiratory care practitioner plays in professional and culturally appropriate clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Cultural awareness, sensitivity and communication will be emphasized. Selected respiratory care techniques, equipment, and procedures will be introduced in the laboratory. Graded only.

Prerequisite: RT 115

Corequisite: RT 125

RT 125
Introduction to Clinical Respiratory Care
5 units

This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of clinical respiratory care as practiced in the acute care hospital. Students will become conversant with bedside examination, monitoring, and care of medical/surgical and respiratory disease patients. Graded only.

Prerequisite: RT 115

Corequisite: RT 120

Term 6 (Summer intersession)

Class Schedules

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Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

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3.5 units
RT 135
Fundamentals of Clinical Respiratory Care
3.5 units

This course is a supervised clinical respiratory therapy experience in the hospital setting, including the application of theories and therapeutic modalities taught in previous RT classes. Mechanical Ventilation concepts will be introduced in the lecture portion. Graded only.

Prerequisite: RT 120, RT 125

Term 7

Class Schedules

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Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

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14 units
RT 140
Fundamentals of Intensive Respiratory Care
6 units

This course is a study of the fundamentals of respiratory care in the critical care setting. Emphasis is placed on the critical care environment, advanced patient assessment, monitoring, advanced techniques of airway management and continuous mechanical ventilatory support. Graded only.

Prerequisite: RT 135

Corequisite: RT 142, RT 145

RT 142
Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care
3 units

This course is an introduction to respiratory care of the neonatal and pediatric patient. Emphasis is placed upon growth and development, pathophysiology, clinical assessment, treatment, resuscitation and mechanical ventilatory support. Graded only.

Prerequisite: RT 135

Corequisite: RT 140, RT 145

RT 145
Advanced Respiratory Care Procedures
5 units

This course is designed to support continued in-hospital development of clinical respiratory care skills with emphasis on the application of scientific principles to the therapeutic environment and life support of the critically ill patient. Graded only.

Prerequisite: RT 135

Corequisite: RT 140, RT 142

Term 8 (Winter intersession)

Class Schedules

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Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

2 units
RT 155
Respiratory Care Practicum I
2 units

This course is designed as a clinical experience to allow the respiratory care student to hone skills learned in previous RT courses while developing new skills in the performance of day-to-day tasks of the staff respiratory care practitioner. Emphasis will be placed on both self assessment and critique of clinical performance by hospital personnel. Offered in Winter Session only. Travel to out-of-area clinical facilities will be required. Graded only.

Prerequisite: RT 140, RT 142, RT 145

Term 9

Class Schedules

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Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

12 units
RT 160
Respiratory Care Seminar II
4 units

This course is designed to explore the historical, contemporary and technical issues germane to respiratory care as an allied health profession through lecture/discussion/literary review. Emphasis will be placed on issues relevant to the current practice of respiratory care and credentialing requirements. Preparation for post-graduate credentialing examinations will be included in the course work. Graded only.

Prerequisite: RT 155

Corequisite: RT 165

RT 165
Respiratory Care Practicum II
8 units

This course supports the continuing practice and evaluation of skills for advanced respiratory care students in the hospital setting. Development of skills pertaining to the organization and completion of patient care assignments in both the medical-surgical and critical care environments are emphasized. American Heart Association (AHA) Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support certifications are incorporated in the course, as these are required for employment in Respiratory Care.

Prerequisite: RT 155

Corequisite: RT 160

Career Connections

2-Year Degree Paths

Entry points students may pursue after associate-level study, technical preparation, or licensure pathways.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset point cleanly to an immediate 2-year outcome for this program.

4-Year Degree Paths

Roles that more often open up after transfer and a bachelor's degree.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the 4-year pathway for this program.

Graduate School Paths

Advanced roles commonly associated with graduate, professional, or post-baccalaureate study.

Example roles: 1

  • Physical Therapists

Local Job Market

Physical TherapistsSOC 29-1123176 nearby openings

Search keyword used: physical therapist · Search window: last 30 days, 25-mile radius · Avg listed salary: $126,668/yr

Top employers in sample

  • AMN Healthcare Allied 3
  • Pioneer Healthcare Services 3
  • American Traveler 2
  • KPG Healthcare 2
  • Preferred Healthcare Staffing 2

Where the postings are

  • Manzanita, Butte County 7
  • Linda, Yuba County 5
  • Oregon, Butte County 3
  • Chico, Butte County 2
  • Live Oak, Sutter County 2

Sample current postings

  1. Travel Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Physical TherapistThe Good Life MedStaff · Oregon, Butte County · today
  2. Travel Physical Therapist (PT) - $2,802 per week in OregonKPG Healthcare · Oregon, Butte County · today
  3. Travel Physical Therapist - Paying up to $3,466/weekVivian Health · Linda, Yuba County · today
  4. Physical Therapist - Travel ContractJackson Therapy · Linda, Yuba County · today
  5. Travel Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Physical TherapistPreferred Healthcare Staffing · Live Oak, Sutter County · today

See all openings on Adzuna

Posting counts come from Adzuna's index of US job boards, covering the last 30 days within 25 miles of ZIP 95965. Coverage and salary visibility vary by employer. Empty searches expand the radius and posting window before the section gives up.

Source Notes

Course sequencing is generated from the Acadia Program Mapper cache. Career groupings use local CIP-to-SOC mappings and BLS occupation data when available. Confirm education plans with Counseling and Advising.

Career Connections used a same-family CIP fallback because this exact CIP was not in the NCES/IPEDS crosswalk (51.0912).

Live wage data was not available from the BLS helper for the mapped occupations, so some pay fields may be blank.

Last generated 2026-06-12T23:19+00:00