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Are you looking for a rewarding career helping patients of all stages of life?

The Respiratory Care Program prepares students to enter a dynamic and progressive healthcare profession. Respiratory Therapists work with advanced technology making it possible to help patients with respiratory and cardiac disorders. The associate degree program in Respiratory Care provides hands-on education in diverse settings, including human patient simulation, adult and neonatal/pediatric critical care, emergency care, long-term care, pulmonary rehabilitation, and diagnostic services. Respiratory Therapists are vital members of the health care team who collaborate closely with physicians providing education and support to patients with acute and chronic lung conditions.

The role of the Respiratory Therapist includes assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients with lung and breathing disorders. They consult with physicians recommending types of therapy needed based on the patient’s condition. The Respiratory therapists manage ventilators for patients who cannot breathe on their own. They respond to all respiratory and cardiac emergencies on the patient floors, intensive care units and emergency departments. They also educate patients (and patients’ families) on their lung conditions to maximize their recovery.

A Career in Respiratory Care

As a Respiratory Therapist, you can make a difference in the lives of others. It is a challenging and rewarding profession with strong projected employment growth.

Graduates of the Respiratory Care program are actively recruited and employment opportunities are generally found in health care settings, including:

  • Medical Centers
  • Hospitals in emergency rooms, adult, pediatric and newborn intensive care units, open heart units, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and air transport 
  • Rehabilitation Centers
  • Skilled Nursing Facilities
  • Home Care Agencies
  • Physician Offices
  • Sleep Laboratories
  • Medical Sales

Selective Admissions

Respiratory Care is a selective admissions program. To be accepted, you must meet additional requirements beyond general acceptance to the college.

Curriculum

See learning outcomes and required courses for the Respiratory Care program.

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Resources

Learn More About Your Campus Program

Contact

Nancy LaRoche-Shovak, MS, RRT 
Program Coordinator, Respiratory Care
Phone: 860-512-2714
Email: nancy.larocheshovak@ctstate.edu 

Brita Chambers, MEd, RRT 
Director of Clinical Education, Respiratory Care
Phone: 860-512-2716
Email: brita.chambers@ctstate.edu 

Accreditation

The CT State Manchester Respiratory Care Program (A.S. degree) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care. Information about COARC can be obtained by visiting www.coarc.com. CT State Manchester program number: 200044. 

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Contact

Betty Joseph-Jerome, RRT, MBA, MPH
Program Director, Respiratory Care
Phone: 203-596-8662
Email: betty.josephjerome@ctstate.edu 

Accreditation

The CT State Naugatuck Valley Respiratory Care Program (A.S. degree) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care. Information about COARC can be obtained by visiting www.coarc.com. CT State Naugatuck Valley program number: 200460. 

See Program Outcomes 

Contact

Tracy Walker
Interim Program Director, Respiratory Care
Phone: 203-857-6917
Email: tracy.walker@ctstate.edu 

Accreditation

The CT State Norwalk Respiratory Care Program (A.S. degree) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care. Information about COARC can be obtained by visiting www.coarc.com. CT State Norwalk program number: 200090.

See Program Outcomes 

Additional Accreditation Information

The Respiratory Care Programs, Manchester Campus 200044, Naugatuck Valley 2000460, Norwalk 200090, Associate of Science in Respiratory Care awarded, and each campus program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

 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.”

Find student/graduate outcomes for all programs

Program outcomes can be obtained by clicking a link to the CoARC website which provides outcomes data for all its accredited programs.