Contact(s): Amy Witschey
The Respiratory Therapy curriculum offers career education for respiratory therapists,
who specialize in the application of scientific knowledge and theory to clinical problems
of respiratory care.
Respiratory therapists perform diagnostic testing, treatments, and management of patients
with heart and lung diseases. The respiratory therapist is qualified to assume primary
clinical responsibility for all respiratory care modalities and is frequently required
to exercise considerable independent, clinical judgment in the respiratory care of
patients under the direct or indirect supervision of a physician.
Students will master skills in patient assessment and treatment of cardiopulmonary
diseases. These skills include ventilator management and monitoring, drug administration,
and treatment of patients of all ages in a variety of settings. Graduates may be employed
in wide variety of health-related areas including hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing
care facilities, home care agencies, rehabilitation centers, industrial and educational
institutions.
Upon completion of all required course work, the student will be awarded an Associate
in Applied Science degree in Respiratory Therapy. Graduates of the Respiratory Therapy
program are eligible to take the Therapist Multiple Choice exam from the National
Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which will also allow them to apply for licensure
in most states. (Licensure requirements vary by state.) Respiratory Therapy program
graduates may also be eligible to take Advanced Practitioner examinations from the
NBRC.
Program Purpose Statement
The Respiratory Therapy Program prepares 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). Successful completers will be able to function as respiratory therapists,
with skills mastery in patient assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures,
and management of ventilatory support of patients with cardiopulmonary disease.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Perform specialized therapeutic and diagnostic procedures in clinical practice required
for a respiratory therapist entering the profession.
- Create problem-solving strategies for therapeutic and life-supporting procedures based
upon patient assessment.
- Develop therapeutic goals and respiratory care plans for patients with cardiopulmonary
disease.
- Defend written and oral case studies with regards to evidence-based practice guidelines.
- Effectively employ interpersonal and communication skills to promote cardiopulmonary
wellness and disease management given diverse population groups.
- Exhibit ethical decision making and professional responsibility according to the AARC
Statement of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
Accreditation
The Stanly Community College Respiratory Therapy Program (CoARC Program Number 200315)
is located at the Crutchfield Education Center and awards an Associate in Applied
Science degree in Respiratory Therapy. The SCC Respiratory Therapy program is accredited
by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).
Outcomes data for the Stanly Community College Respiratory Therapy program can be
found at: https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/
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.
Respiratory Therapy Degree - A45720
Gainful Employment Disclosure
Plan of Study Grid
| First Year |
| Fall |
| BIO 163 |
Basic Anatomy & Physiology
|
5 |
| MAT 143 |
Quantitative Literacy
|
3 |
| RCP 110 |
Introduction to Respiratory Care
|
4 |
| RCP 114 |
C-P Anatomy & Physiology
|
3 |
| RCP 115 |
C-P Pathophysiology
|
2 |
| |
Credit Hours
|
17
|
| Spring |
| RCP 111 |
Therapeutics/Diagnostics
|
5 |
| RCP 113 |
RCP Pharmacology
|
2 |
| RCP 123 |
Special Practice Lab
|
1 |
| RCP 144 |
RCP Clinical Practice II
|
4 |
| |
Credit Hours
|
12
|
| Summer |
| RCP 112 |
Patient Management
|
4 |
| RCP 154 |
RCP Clinical Practice III
|
4 |
| |
Credit Hours
|
8
|
| Second Year |
| Fall |
| ENG 111 |
Writing and Inquiry
|
3 |
| PSY 150 |
General Psychology
|
3 |
| RCP 210 |
Critical Care Concepts
|
4 |
| RCP 213 |
Neonatal/Ped's Concepts
|
2 |
| RCP 234 |
RCP Clinical Practice IV
|
4 |
| |
Credit Hours
|
16
|
| Spring |
ENG 112
|
Writing and Research in the Disciplines
Professional Research & Reporting
|
3
|
| RCP 211 |
Advanced Monitoring/Procedures
|
4 |
| RCP 215 |
Career Preparation
|
1 |
| RCP 222 |
Special Practice Lab
|
1 |
| RCP 246 |
RCP Clinical Practice V
|
6 |
| * |
3 |
| |
Credit Hours
|
18
|
| |
Total Credit Hours |
71
|
*Please see the Suggested Humanities and Social/Behavioral Science Elective List for
AAS Majors webpage.
AGE Pathway - A10300RT
The Respiratory AGE Pathway offers students a place to begin their journey toward
a career in Respiratory. The AGE pathway gives students the opportunity to complete
all of the general education courses required in the Respiratory program. After completion
of these courses, students who choose to continue in to the degree program will be
able to focus on Respiratory specific courses.
For more information, please contact: Leah Reddick
Plan of Study Grid
| Courses |
| ACA 111 |
College Student Success
|
1 |
| BIO 163 |
Basic Anatomy & Physiology
|
5 |
| ENG 111 |
Writing and Inquiry
|
3 |
ENG 112
|
Writing and Research in the Disciplines
Professional Research & Reporting
|
3
|
| HSC 110 |
Orientation to Health Careers
|
1 |
| MAT 143 |
Quantitative Literacy
|
3 |
| PSY 150 |
General Psychology
|
3 |
| * |
42 |
| * |
3 |
| |
Total Credit Hours |
64
|
Please see the AGE Elective list for courses.
*Please see the Suggested Humanities and Social/Behavioral Science Elective List for
AAS Majors webpage.
Stanly Community College
Respiratory Therapy – Associate in Applied Science
The Respiratory Therapy curriculum offers career education for respiratory therapists,
who specialize in the application of scientific knowledge and theory to clinical problems
of respiratory care.
Respiratory therapists perform diagnostic testing, treatments, and management of patients
with heart and lung diseases. The respiratory therapist is qualified to assume primary
clinical responsibility for all respiratory care modalities and is frequently required
to exercise considerable independent, clinical judgment in the respiratory care of
patients under the direct or indirect supervision of a physician.
Students will master skills in patient assessment and treatment of cardiopulmonary
diseases. These skills include ventilator management and monitoring, drug administration,
and treatment of patients of all ages in a variety of settings. Graduates may be employed
in a wide variety of health-related areas including hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing
care facilities, home care agencies, rehabilitation centers, industrial and educational
institutions.
Upon completion of all required course work, the student will be awarded an Associate
in Applied Science degree in Respiratory Therapy. Graduates of the Respiratory Therapy
program are eligible to take the Therapist Multiple Choice exam from the National
Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which will also allow them to apply for licensure
in most states. (Licensure requirements vary by state.) Respiratory Therapy program
graduates may also be eligible to take Advanced Practitioner examinations from the
NBRC.
Admission Procedure
Applications are open from March 16th through March 15th each year.
Applicants seeking admission into the Respiratory Therapy program must complete steps
1 and 4 by March 15, 2027, to be considered for acceptance in the Fall 2027 semester.
Print this admission procedure for your records to track completion of all steps.
Step 1: Application __________ (date completed)
- Submit a completed CFNC SCC Application by choosing “Fall 2027” enrollment term and
“Respiratory Therapy (AAS)” as the program of study. You can access the electronic
application from the SCC homepage; stanly.eduand selecting the “Apply” link. Application submissions are free of charge.
- For application and admission requirement questions, contact Admissions at spoole7530@stanly.edu. Applicants are assigned a Success Coach to help you through the admission and registration
processes. Leah Reddick is the Success Coach for the Respiratory Therapy program and
is available via email at lreddick5454@stanly.edu. Early academic advising is imperative.
- Applications do not roll over from the previous year(s). A new application must be
completed for the intended year of entry into the Respiratory Therapy program, or
current students may contact their Success Coach for pathway guidance.
Step 2: Transcripts __________ (date completed)
- Submit to the Admissions Office an official high school transcript and official post-secondary
transcripts for all institutions attended. Applicants that obtained a GED/Adult High
School diploma must submit an official GED/AHS transcript and a high school transcript
even if you did not complete high school.
- Students may request from their school(s) to send official high school transcripts
to admissions@stanly.edu and official college transcripts to transcripts@stanly.edu,
or by mail to Stanly Community College ATTN: Admissions 141 College Dr. Albemarle,
NC 28001.
Step 3: Complete one course of high school or college-level Algebra, Biology, and
Chemistry with a grade of "C" or better. __________ (date completed)
- Submit evidence of successful completion of high school or college-level algebra,
biology, and chemistry, each with at least one credit.
- Ed2Go courses are no longer accepted.
- Applicants wishing to complete these credits at other colleges should contact their
Success Coach to ensure that the credits are acceptable. To determine if credit was
awarded for these required courses, applicants may view the “Required Documents” section
in Self-Service or contact their Success Coach.
Step 4: Prove college readiness ____________ (date completed)
- Be eligible to enroll in ENG-111 and MAT-143 WITHOUT a co-requisite.
- If you have questions regarding your eligibility to enroll in ENG 111 and MAT 143,
please contact your Success Coach: Leah Reddick at 704-991-0223 or lreddick5454@stanly.edu.
Step 5: Maintain 2.0 GPA (ongoing). This requirement is checked by the Admissions office before acceptance into the program
and again in August before entering the program. Applicants do not have to submit
anything to the Admissions Office.
- For the applicant who has completed any college level courses taken with SCC prior
to admission into the RCP program, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required.
After conditional acceptance is granted by the admissions office, applicants must
provide successful completion of the following:
Step 6: Electronically submit a completed medical form. A licensed physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner should sign the
medical form.
Step 7: Successful completion of HSC-110 (Introduction to Health Careers) course at SCC the summer prior to fall admission.
Step 8. Successful completion of ACA-111 (College Student Success) course at SCC prior to fall enrollment.
ACCEPTANCE PROCEDURE
Conditional acceptance is granted in order by application date to students who complete
steps 1 and 4, until seats are filled. Conditional acceptances are issued in December
and February. Students must complete steps 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 by the deadline specified in their
conditional acceptance email.
If any conditionally accepted student forfeits their seat, alternates will be offered
admission by application date. Alternates not admitted should contact their Coach
for guidance or reapply. Forfeiting your conditional acceptance does not guarantee
acceptance in future years – reapplication is required.
Readmission to the Respiratory therapy program has a time limit of 3 years from the
semester of withdrawal for any continuing student* (example - if you withdraw in March
2026, you must be readmitted by January 2029 to attempt completion of the program
as a continuing student**).
*Student must successfully pass any reentry competencies
**Any new admission guidelines will apply
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Stanly Community College is an equal opportunity educational institution and employer.
The College does not practice or condone discrimination against students, employees, or applicants
on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability
consistent with the following federal legislation, as amended: the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1992.
Full policy can be accessed at https://www.stanly.edu/about/notice-nondiscrimination.html
Updated 03/2026
Program Director – Amy Witschey, MSRC, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RCP
Director of Clinical Education – Ashlyn Isenhour, BSRT, RRT, RCP
Lab Instructor – Judith Carpenter, BSRT, RRT, RCP
Medical Director – William Miles, MD
