Respiratory Therapy AAS

Respiratory therapists treat patients with breathing disorders, supervise therapy technicians, and conduct life-saving procedures. They also maintain patient records and operate respiratory equipment to ensure optimal care.

In MCC’s Respiratory Therapy AAS program, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge needed to become a professional respiratory therapist in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. This Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree combines classroom instruction with hands-on training, preparing you to assess patients, choose effective treatments, and monitor their progress.

Important Note: Prospective students must apply to the MCC Respiratory Therapy AAS program; it is not open enrollment. Admission is competitive and requires a formal application process. Attending an information session is a mandatory requirement for all prospective applicants.

Requirements and Guidelines

Download the Respiratory Therapy Student Handbook

• Accreditation

  The McHenry County College Respiratory Therapy AAS program, Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) program number 200701, awards an AAS degree at the McHenry County College Campus and holds Provisional Accreditation from the CoARC. This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self-Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit), to be allowed to admit students. It is accredited by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which grants enrolled students who complete the program eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation.

  The CoARC accredits respiratory therapy programs in the United States. As part of this process, programs are evaluated using outcome data that shows how well students are achieving program goals. This information helps demonstrate the program's overall effectiveness. CoARC program outcome data is provided below.

  See CoARC Programmatic Outcomes Data

• Program Goals
  1. To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
  2. To prepare students for successful completion of the NBRC Respiratory Therapy Examination.
• Respiratory Therapy AAS Program Admissions Requirements

  The Respiratory Therapy AAS program has specific admission requirements and limited enrollment. You are responsible for ensuring you meet all admission requirements and submit all documents on time. Only your complete application will be considered. You must:

  1. Meet all MCC and Respiratory Therapy admission requirements.
  2. Be a high school graduate or have completed a GED.
  3. Have a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, as calculated by MCC.
  4. Be accepted and enrolled as an MCC student.
  5. Submit your complete Respiratory Therapy AAS program application by the stated deadline.
  6. Complete all program prerequisites by the end of the summer semester before your Fall program starts

  If you are not accepted for the Fall semester, you are encouraged to reapply in future cycles. Your application will not be automatically carried forward; you must submit a new application during the designated period and meet the current admission requirements.

  Academic Advisor Requirement

  You must meet with an Academic Advisor before submitting your application. Your advising appointments are held in A257. Advising appointments are held in A257. You may schedule an appointment through Navigate360, by emailing advising@mchenry.edu or calling (815) 479-7565.

  Respiratory Therapy Program Information Session Requirement

  You must also attend a Respiratory Therapy AAS program information session, offered in both in-person and online formats. You can find session dates and details posted on the Respiratory Therapy Program website and shared through MCC’s official social media channels. For additional information, you may email respiratory@mchenry.edu.

  Prerequisite Requirements

  • You must complete all prerequisites with a minimum grade of C (no rounding of grades).
  • Required prerequisite course: BIO 263 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I (completed within the past five years).
  • You may apply while enrolled in BIO 263. You may be granted conditional acceptance if you complete the course with a grade of C or better prior to the Fall start. If you do not earn a C, you will not be admitted and must reapply in a future cycle.

  Application Components

  • Written Essay: You must write at least a 350-word essay addressing Why I want to become a respiratory therapist.
  • Interview: If you are a qualified applicant with a complete application, you will be scheduled for an interview with the Respiratory Therapy Admissions Committee in April or thereafter until program capacity is reached.

  Additional Admission Considerations

  Your prior withdrawal from the Respiratory Therapy AAS program does not automatically disqualify you, but it may be reviewed as part of the holistic admissions process. This includes:

  • Your withdrawal from the program for personal reasons while in good academic standing.
  • Your withdrawal from the program due to academic/performance concerns.

  Because every effort will be made to help you achieve success, any of the above considerations may require you to sign a student-teacher contract as a condition of your admission.

  Preference will first be given to you if you reside within District #528. You can view the boundaries of District #528.

  See the Respiratory Therapy Student Handbook for additional admission information.