Respiratory Care Technology
Located on the Jackson County Campus, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Respiratory Care Technology Program (RCT) is a two-year program preparing individuals to become Respiratory Care Practitioners. Our program prepares students to be competent, safe respiratory care practitioners capable of functioning in a variety of health care settings.
A Great Job that Saves Lives — Become a Respiratory Care Practitioner
Discounted Rate
This program is being offered at a special discounted rate. Many of the standard fees, excluding tuition, are being covered by a grant. Contact Jennifer Patrick for more information and details on program costs at jennifer.patrick@mgccc.edu or
Save up to $1,115* / $1,775** off program costs
Fees covered
- Registration Fee
- Resource Fee
- Technology Fee
- Career Tech Fee
- Substance Testing
- Liability Insurance
- Books*
- Kettering Fee**
- TMC Exam Prep**
- National Board Exam Fee**
* Freshman (2nd Year) Cohort only
** Sophomore (2nd Year) Cohort only
Why Enroll in Respiratory Technology
- Become an expert in areas related to heart and lung disorders and treatment
- Help others manage their disease and improve their quality of life
- Play a significant role in a patient’s ability to improve
- Work with patients of different ages and clinical conditions
- Use state-of-the-art technology to provide direct bedside patient care
- Assist patients and save lives in emergency and critical care situations
- Earn competitive wages and have the flexibility to move anywhere in the country with excellent job opportunities
About the RCT Program
Program Overview
What Students Learn
- How to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Set up and monitor life support systems
- How to administer inhalation treatments, oxygen, and drugs
- Perform diagnostic tests that aid in determining the presence and extent of cardiopulmonary disease
- Conduct pulmonary function studies
- Obtain and analyze blood samples
- Perform electrocardiograms, exercise stress tests and sleep studies
Credentialing Examinations
Students who complete the Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care will be eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Care Therapist Multiple Choice (TMC) Exam.
- If students achieve the low-cut score, they will receive the CRT credential.
- The student would then need to retake the TMC to achieve the high-cut score to be eligible to take the CSE.
- Upon passing this TMC at the high-cut score, candidates may take the NBRC Clinical Simulation Exam.
- Upon passing the CSE, students will receive the RRT credential.
The MGCCC RCT Program, (CoARC program #200627), Associates of Applied Science (AAS) Degree, at MGCCC Jackson County Campus holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). 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 recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation.
Most state require a license to practice respiratory care that must be applied for after successful program completion.
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
264 Precision Blvd
Telford, TN 37690
(817) 283-2835
www.coarc.com
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.
CoARC Programmatic Outcomes Data
This program is designed to meet the educational requirements for respiratory care practitioners in Mississippi. If you intend to seek licensure outside of Mississippi after finishing your program, review the AARC’s Respiratory Care Practice Law by State (PDF) to find information on the state or U.S. territory in which you intend to be licensed.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Respiratory Care Technology program is to provide an outstanding learning environment supported by excellent instruction and support services in order to produce competent, registry-eligible respiratory therapy graduates.
The program will prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapist (RRT’s).
RCT Program Goals
The goals of the Respiratory Care Technology Program include:
- To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge). Psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
- To prepare graduates who are knowledgeable, clinically competent, and skilled in taking care of cardiopulmonary patients as performed by registered respiratory therapists.
- To prepare students as competent and safe respiratory care practitioners capable of functioning in a variety of health care settings.
- To provide the Mississippi Gulf Coast area with qualified practitioners to meet demonstrated market need.
- To prepare students who will develop the proper attitude and level of professionalism necessary to maintain the ethical standard of respiratory care.
- To provide students with the fundamental knowledge, skills and courses to foster further academic advancement and leadership roles in respiratory care.
- Achieve a minimum Composite ACT Score of 18
- Have a minimum cumulative (GPA) of 2.5 on college work with no grade less than “C” on any Academic Core* courses in the current RCT curriculum. (Courses may be re-taken and highest score will be used)
- Complete prerequisite courses BIO 2514 – Anatomy and Physiology I Lec/Lab & BIO 2524 – Anatomy and Physiology II Lec/Lab
- Review the online mandatory Pre-School of Nursing and Health Professions Orientation Session prior to completing the supplemental application for program ranking. The session can be viewed anytime and anywhere you have access to the internet. The Power Point presentation gives you valuable information on topics common to all School of Nursing and Health Professions programs at MGCCC. Even without the ability to speak directly or interact immediately with a School of Nursing and Health Professions advisor, the session speaks to frequently asked questions from program entrance to completion. In order to receive credit for viewing the session, follow the steps below. The information is approximately one (1) hour in length.
To complete this requirement, do the following:
- Visit Web Services.
- Select Student.
- Select School of Nursing and Health Professions Supplemental Application Orientation Session.
- In order to receive credit, you must review the entire session.
- Click survey complete so that your log-in information will be recorded in the college’s BANNER system.
Comply with Mississippi law requiring a Criminal Background History Check with Fingerprinting through the Mississippi Department of Health. All students making application to a School of Nursing and Health Professions program at MGCCC are required to obtain a clear or acceptable Criminal Background Check from the MGCCC Campus Police Department at HC, JC, Perkinston, or GC Campus. The criminal background check policy (including testing dates and times) can be viewed at:
School of Nursing and Health Professions Criminal Background Check Policy
RCT Program Cost List
Prior to Entering Program
Criminal Background Check $65 – $80 (MGCCC Campus Police)
Once Admitted into Program
- General MGCCC Tuition and Fees
- Career and Technical Program Fee $40 per credit hour
- Pre-admission Physical Exam and Immunizations $200 – $300
- Books $1000 – $1200 (plus rental fees, if applicable)
- Substance Testing $29 -$35 per semester
- Liability Insurance $12 -$15 per semester
- Additional purchase items, supplies $50 – $100
- Uniform, Accessories $200 – $300
- National Board Exam Application Fee $200 – $400
- Trajecsys (Clinical Competency Program) – $150
- Kettering Comprehensive Respiratory Seminar – $325
- Secure Comprehensive TMC Self-Assessment Examination – $50
Costs are non-refundable and may be subject to change