Students who have met/completed the Program Eligibility and Preparation may complete and submit a Respiratory Care Program Application to Allied Health within the application period from February 1 through February 28 annually.
The Respiratory Care educators at Modesto Junior College are dedicated to assisting students in their role transition from learner into entry-level professional. The program’s primary goal is:
“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 therapist (RRTs).”
The following Program Learning Outcomes support the program goal listed above:
There are many employment opportunities in the field of Respiratory Care in the ambulatory healthcare, home care, and nursing and residential care settings. Respiratory Therapists need to be able and willing to work weekends, holidays, nights and 8-12 hours shifts, be in good health, stand for long periods of time, exhibit manual dexterity, and tolerate exposure to blood, bodily fluids and unpleasant odors. Salaries for a Respiratory Therapist range between $29-32 per hour, plus benefits. The profession has grown quickly since its inception in the late 1940’s and demand for Respiratory Care practitioners continues.
Ability to: learn and understand procedures; analyze large quantities of data and make recommendations; work accurately with numbers and detail; work calmly and efficiently under stress; demonstrate flexibility, dedication, responsibility, honesty, compassion, and conscientiousness.
Excellent people skills: Able to put patients of all ages and backgrounds at ease, gain their confidence, provide clear instructions, and act assertively to manage emotionally charged situations.
Excellent communication and critical thinking skills: Able to observe subtle changes in the health and behavior of patients, communicate accurate clinical information and work with a multidisciplinary team.
Technical knowledge: Able to demonstrate a strong foundation in safety procedures, computer literacy, reading comprehension and knowledge of key science and mathematical concepts.
Students with declared or suspected disabilities are urged to contact MJC’s Accommodations and Support Center prior to entering the Respiratory Care Program. For more information, please call (209) 575-6225 or visit the Student Services building, room 112 on the MJC East Campus.
Admission to Modesto Junior College
High school graduation is highly recommended, but not required.
High school classes recommended for students interested in a career in Respiratory
Care include algebra, biology, chemistry, and English.
Transcripts on file in the MJC Enrollment Services
All college transcripts must be submitted with the program application to Allied Health,
prior to the program application deadline, unless the transcripts are already on file
in the MJC Enrollment Services, Student Services building 102, 209-575-6853. We will
accept hand-carried transcripts that are in a sealed envelope with a school seal.
Required Math Competency for Acceptance into the Respiratory Care Program
Students who possess a bachelor’s degree or higher, completed at a regionally accredited college or university, will have satisfied general education and competency requirements including guidance and activities for the associate in arts or associate in science degree.
It is recommended that you receive educational counseling in order to prepare for the Respiratory Care Program. It would be most beneficial to you if you would complete the following steps prior to scheduling your advising appointment:
In order to be fully qualified for admission, applicants must have completed the program prerequisites with a grade of C or better on transcript at the time of application. In the event that there are more qualified applicants than space available, a weighted lottery system will be employed. An applicant’s name will be entered an additional time for:
Continuation in the Respiratory Care Program is dependent upon completion of all courses with a C grade or better. If a student receives less than a C in any required course, that course must be repeated with a C or better in order to qualify for an A.S. degree.
Accepted applicants will receive a letter with information regarding the clinical clearance process that includes the following four steps:
Health Clearance
Background Check
All students participating in clinical assignments are required by acute care hospitals
to complete a background check and be cleared by the clinical facility in order to
participate in the clinical experience. (See Policy for Imposing Penalties or Denial
of Licensure.)
Drug Screen
All students participating in clinical assignments will be required to pass a drug
screen.
BLS Certification
Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification must be from the American Heart Association;
for the Healthcare Provider (infant, child and adult); eligible for recertification;
and current throughout the program.
The law provides for denial of licensure for crimes or acts, which may in any way be related to patient care activities, i.e. sex crimes, drug crimes, alcohol or drug abuse, and crimes of violence. In such cases, it is the applicant’s responsibility to present sufficient evidence of rehabilitation to the Respiratory Care Board of California prior to taking the licensure examination. If the above violations are only misdemeanors, an in-house review and penalty determination may be performed and fines, warning letters, and/or probation may be issued without denial of a license. The Respiratory Care Board of California will screen applicants individually. Any student considering a career as a Respiratory Therapist who might be denied licensure is advised to consult the Disciplinary Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, 1399.374) published by the Respiratory Care Board of California before entering the program. This document is available on reserve in the MJC library. Further information on disciplinary guidelines may be obtained from:
Respiratory Care Board of California
3750 Rosin Court, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone: (916) 999-2190 or Toll Free: (866) 375-0386
Fax: (916) 263-7311
