Why Study Respiratory Therapy?
Respiratory therapy is a healthcare profession focused on helping patients with respiratory issues breathe easier. Respiratory therapists assess, treat, and monitor patients with conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and sleep apnea. They administer respiratory treatments, manage ventilators, conduct pulmonary function tests, and educate patients on proper breathing techniques. Studying respiratory therapy equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in improving patients’ respiratory health and overall quality of life.
See our Minimum Admission Requirements here.
Degrees & Certificates
Respiratory Therapy
Associate Degree in Applied Science
Time to Complete:
Two years
Schedule:
Day classes
Respiratory therapy plays a vital role in healthcare, focusing on diagnosing and treating respiratory conditions. It helps improve lung function, enhances quality of life, and provides critical support to patients with breathing difficulties.
$24/hr
Average Salary Range
13.4 %
Job growth
54
Job Openings
Career Tracks
- Respiratory Therapist
- Pulmonary Function Technologist
- Sleep Technologist
- Asthma Educator
- Home Care Specialist
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation Therapist
Get the education you deserve without spending your days worrying about how to afford it. Our financial aid team can help you chart a path to paying for college, including through debt-free grants and scholarships.
The Forsyth Tech Cares program supports students so they can succeed, including access to financial assistance, health services, and confidential counseling.
Accreditation & Program Information
Forsyth Tech’s Respiratory Therapy program (#200011) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).
Specific outcome data for our 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.
The Respiratory Therapy Program prepares students to be competent advanced-level respiratory therapists and helps fulfill the needs of the health care community.
The goal of the Forsyth Tech Respiratory Therapy Program is to prepare graduates to demonstrate competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists.
- Review existing clinical data, collect additional clinical data and recommend obtaining additional pertinent data.
- Evaluate all data to determine the appropriateness of the prescribed respiratory care plan, and participate in the development of the respiratory care plan.
- Perform diagnostic procedures, interpret results, determine pathophysiological state, and perform continuous quality improvement.
- Select, assemble, and check equipment for proper function, operation, and cleanliness.
- Maintain patient records and communicate relevant patient information to other members of the health care team.
- Conduct therapeutic procedures to maintain an airway, assure ventilation, remove bronchopulmonary secretions, and achieve tissue oxygenation.
- Make necessary modifications in therapeutic procedures and recommend respiratory care techniques in an emergency setting.
- Initiate, conduct, and/or modify respiratory care techniques in an emergency setting.
- Demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer expectations.
- Apply basic scientific principles in learning new techniques and procedures.
- Recognize and act upon individual needs for continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence.
- Assist the physician with special procedures.
- Apply Respiratory Care Protocols appropriately in the clinical settings.
- Perform community service education.
- Demonstrate sensitivity to all forms of diversity and multiculturalism including, but not limited to: age, gender and gender identity, race, color and ethnicity, nationality and national origin,
ancestry, religious affiliation and creed, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, political affiliation, physical and mental abilities, veteran and active armed service status, job status, job
responsibilities and experience, education and training. - Initiate and conduct pulmonary rehabilitation and home care within the prescription.
- Promote human health and wellness within the community.
Visit us today!
Forsyth Tech is located at:
2100 Silas Creek Parkway,
Winston-Salem, NC 27103