Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory Therapy is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on the assessment, management, and treatment of patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. It involves a range of therapeutic and diagnostic services which are essential for both in-patient and out-patient settings.

Respiratory Therapists are highly trained healthcare professionals who:

  1.  Assess patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders, ranging from premature infants with underdeveloped lungs to elderly individuals with lung diseases.
  2. Develop and Implement Treatment Plans: This can include therapies like aerosol medications, chest physiotherapy, and mechanical ventilation.
  3. Operate and Maintain Equipment: RTs are proficient with a variety of tools such as ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, and aerosol generators.
  4. Provide Emergency Care: They are vital team members in critical care settings, emergency rooms, and during patient transport to manage life-support activities.
  5. Education and Counseling: RTs often educate patients and their families about treatments, helping them manage their respiratory illnesses at home.

With the escalating prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and interstitial lung diseases, the role of the respiratory therapist is more crucial than ever. Their expertise is also pivotal in acute settings, especially given the recent global challenges with respiratory illnesses.

About the Program

The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Respiratory Therapy is designed to prepare leaders for the field of respiratory care by including curricular content with objectives related to the acquisition of skills in one or more of the following: management, education, research, and advanced clinical practice (which may include an area of clinical specialization). The program combines a rigorous academic curriculum with hands-on clinical training to ensure students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in respiratory therapy. To prepare leaders for the field of respiratory care by including curricular content with objectives related to the acquisition of skills in one or more of the following: management, education, research, and advanced clinical practice (which may include an area of clinical specialization). Instruction occurs at the CBC Health Science Center in Richland, WA, as well as in partnering clinical facilities across the region.

Students receive instruction in cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology, respiratory assessment, ventilator management, pulmonary diagnostics, pharmacology, and patient education. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national credentialing examinations offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), pending programmatic accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

Application Process

Columbia Basin College is approved by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and our regional accreditor, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), to offer a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Respiratory Therapy.

We are currently pursuing programmatic accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), with approval anticipated in Fall 2026. Applications for program admission are expected to open in Spring/Summer 2026 (pending accreditation approval).

Interested students are encouraged to review the program prerequisites listed in the College Catalog and meet with a Completion Coach to begin planning their application.

 

Program Prerequisites

It is strongly encouraged to complete the prerequisite courses before applying to the program.

• Introduction to Stats, MATH& 146

• Human A&P 1, BIOL& 241
• Human A&P 2, BIOL& 242

• Intro to Chemistry w/Lab, CHEM&121
• Intro to Organic Chemistry w/Lab, CHEM& 122

• English Composition - ENGL& 101 or ENGL& 102 or Technical Writing, ENGL& 235

• Psychology - General Psychology PSYC& 100 or   Lifespan Psychology, PSYC& 200

• Microbiology w/Lab, BIOL& 260

• Communication Studies - CMST& 101 or 210 or 220, or CMST 260 (5 credits)

• Medical Terminology, HSCI 147 (5 credits)

Obtaining a 2.0 GPA is required for major courses, major support courses and general education requirements. Each course must be completed with a grade of 2.0 or better. 

Washington State Credentialing

Education
Applicants must be a graduate of at least a two-year respiratory therapy educational program. Programs must be Accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or by the American Medical Association’s Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation, or its successor, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Examination
Applicants must successfully complete both the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination and Clinical Simulation Examination by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). An active Registered Respiratory Therapist credential with NBRC is considered proof of meeting the minimum examination requirements.

Washington State Department of Health

National Background Search & Drug Screen Requirements

As part of the admission requirements for Health Science programs, applicants must successfully pass a criminal background check and drug screen prior to working with patients in clinical areas. The background check and drug screen are paid by the student and administered through a third party company, CastleBranch. In addition to the background check required by CBC, each clinical facility reserves the right to conduct its own criminal background check prior to allowing a student to enter its health care facilities for clinical participation.

Certain criminal convictions, pending charges, or negative actions may automatically disqualify a person from having unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, juveniles and children. Clinical facilities reserve the right to accept or decline a student’s placement in its facility

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes are the knowledge, skills, and abilities that students will achieve before they graduate. The outcomes below were developed by the faculty in the Respiratory Therapy Program with input from accrediting bodies, advisory committees, employers, etc. This collaboration ensures that the outcomes are relevant for careers that this degree leads to.

Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Respiratory Therapy will be able to:

1. Clinical Competence: Graduates will demonstrate advanced skills and practices essential to respiratory care, ensuring patient-centered, safe, and effective delivery of respiratory therapy in diverse healthcare settings.

2. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Graduates will utilize critical thinking and decision-making skills to accurately assess patients' respiratory care needs, interpret diagnostic results, and develop comprehensive care plans.

3. Interprofessional Collaboration: Graduates will exhibit effective communication and teamwork, working collaboratively within healthcare teams to provide coordinated patient care.

4. Ethical and Professional Conduct: Graduates will adhere to the highest standards of ethical and professional behavior in all aspects of respiratory therapy, ensuring the advocacy of patients' rights and well-being.

5. Evidence-Based Practice: Graduates will incorporate evidence-based practices and proficient data analysis into patient care, emphasizing safety, quality improvement, and ethical standards to ensure optimal patient outcomes in respiratory therapy.

6. Cultural Competence and Patient Advocacy: Graduates will provide culturally responsive care and actively advocate for the needs of diverse patient populations to ensure equitable respiratory care services.

contact

  • Phone:509-547-0511

  • Address:2600 N. 20th Ave., Pasco, WA 99301

Students walking around CBC's Pasco campus