Respiratory Care

Catalog information: https://catalog.ccc.edu/academic-program-requirements/respiratory-care-aas/

To learn more about the program and admissions, please attend one of our Respiratory Care Info Sessions.

• 9/13/2025, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: https://cccedu.zoom.us/j/93306106441?pwd=jdbBPBR2XoAb3P5w7BknanRBgvzZFY.1&from=addon

• 10/22/2025, 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Come meet the Respiratory Care Program Students and Faculty in the Malcolm X College Lobby during Respiratory Care Week. Learn about the program and maybe win a gift card!

• 11/22/2025, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: https://cccedu.zoom.us/j/97650820486?pwd=40bPwUGNEya8V4R1LL0jdBEzCJSQdu.1&from=addon

• 10/22/2025, 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: https://cccedu.zoom.us/j/93892484796?pwd=VJC8n6EtWXCLDA8MwPatlIlQmTJIAa.1&from=addon

• 1/15/2026, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: https://cccedu.zoom.us/j/97650820486?pwd=40bPwUGNEya8V4R1LL0jdBEzCJSQdu.1&from=addon

How to Apply to the Program

• If you are not already an MXC student, apply to the college.
• Identify your intent with your assigned academic advisor. 
• Complete program prerequisite courses. https://catalog.ccc.edu/academic-program-requirements/respiratory-care-aas/
• Submit non-CCC official transcripts to Malcolm X Registrar
• Apply to the Program in Student Portal (my.ccc.edu)
• The application period for the Respiratory Care Program’s Fall 2026 cohort will be from January 7, 2026 to February 27, 2026.

Information about the Respiratory Care profession can be found at the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). 

The World Needs More RTs! https://morerts.com/                                                        

Our program, with Program Number 200175, is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), ensuring you receive a high-quality education. This Accreditation offers a standard of excellence and a solid foundation for your future. CoARC’s website is www.coarc.com.

After completing the A.A.S. degree in Respiratory Care, graduates will be fully prepared to become entry-level respiratory therapists. They will take the Respiratory Therapist exam administered by the NBRC, the National Board for Respiratory Care, which is our professional credentialing organization. https://www.nbrc.org/.  Once they pass the exam, they will apply for a license to practice in Illinois.

CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process, a rigorous approach focusing on achieving educational goals and documenting program effectiveness. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the program’s academic goals are achieved. 

The CoARC’s outcomes webpage can be found at: https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/

Program Goals

• Goal 1

Prepare graduates who demonstrate competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).

• Goal 2

Prepare graduates to educate patients and their families on COPD and Asthma disease management to enhance their quality of life, prevent exacerbations, and reduce healthcare costs.

• Goal 3

Prepare graduates to demonstrate cultural competence when interacting with patients, families, healthcare workers, and individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Completing the program, passing the board exam, and obtaining a license from the State of Illinois leads to immediate employment as a Respiratory Therapist in hospitals, LTACs, clinics, or home settings. These achievements also open doors to careers in research, sales, education, or other fields, all offering a well-paying and promising future for our graduates. 

All graduates are encouraged to further their education, and many colleges and universities accept their AAS degree as credit toward various bachelor’s programs. Graduates can also earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in respiratory care, emphasizing advanced clinical practice, research, or education.

Admission Requirements

• Earned a cumulative GPA of 2.75
• Earn a grade of “C” or above in
  • English 101 or higher
  • Math 125 Introductory Statistics
• Choose between:
  • Biology 226 and Biology 227 (Note the prerequisite for Biology 226 is Biology 121)

                   Or

• • Biology 116

Ensure you complete the general education coursework to earn the AAS before starting the Respiratory Care Program, as it is very demanding. It’s best if students do not work, or if they do, it should be part-time only!

Please keep in mind the following information:

All official college transcripts from institutions outside the City Colleges of Chicago must be sent to the MXC Office of Registrar Services for evaluation to determine if courses meet the program requirements. If any prerequisite courses were taken outside of CCC, students must meet with an academic advisor after submitting all official documents. When you speak with a Malcolm X College academic advisor, they can review your records and submit the necessary requests to assess your eligibility for the program. Their hours, Zoom links, and contact information are available here: https://prepare.ccc.edu/mxvss/. 

* Note: Students currently enrolled in prerequisite courses this semester can apply to the Respiratory Care program if they earn a course grade of ‘C’ or higher. However, admission will not be granted until all requirements are completed. Students who meet all the minimum admission criteria will be marked as viable candidates in their portals and can then schedule a classroom visit and interview. Please note that admission to the program is highly competitive, and not all students who are interviewed will be accepted.

Once students have been identified as viable candidates, they will receive the information packet from our program’s admission specialist. The student will receive a schedule to complete as directed and then share this completed schedule with their personal support group. They will then use the link in the instructions to schedule the classroom visit to interact with students and faculty. Please bring the completed schedule to discuss at that time.

Background Check and Clinical Fitness Requirements

Students entering most healthcare professions, including the Respiratory Care Program, must provide documentation of health history and vaccination status, which includes at least one COVID-19 vaccination. They are also required to undergo annual tuberculosis screening, receive yearly flu vaccines, and submit to a background check with initial and possible random drug screenings. Additionally, they may need fingerprinting before obtaining a license in Illinois. Students must also obtain a CPR card from the American Heart Association.

Exemptions from vaccinations are available if you work at a hospital. However, all students must follow the vaccination rules set by the hospital since they are not employees and are bound by the agreement between the college and the hospitals. If you have concerns about these requirements, please talk to your advisor.

Submitting Application Within Student Portal (my.ccc.edu)

1. Under “My Academic Plan”
2. Within “Academic Planning”
3. Click “Selective Application”