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FSCJ is closed for Winter Break, Thursday, December 19-Tuesday, December 31, 2024, and New Year’s Day on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. The College will reopen Thursday, January 2, 2025.

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Respiratory Care (A.S.)

The Associate in Science (A.S.) in Respiratory Care degree utilizes didactic, clinical, and high-fidelity simulation opportunities to expose students to the skills needed to care for patients with heart and lung disorders as a trained respiratory therapist. 

Upon graduation from FSCJ and completion of the required Therapist Multiple Choice Examination (TMC) and Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE), students are eligible to earn the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credentials.

Industry Associations

The Respiratory Care program is affiliated with the following hospitals, which provide training for respiratory therapy students and networking connections for respiratory therapist jobs: Baptist Medical Center Downtown, Baptist Beaches, Baptist South, Memorial Hospital, Mayo Clinic, St. Vincent’s Medical Center – Riverside, St. Vincent’s Medical Center – Southside, Specialty Hospital Jacksonville, UF Health Jacksonville, Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

Additional affiliations include:

Additional Costs/Fees: Drug screen, background checks, uniforms, physical and textbooks

This is a Limited Access program.

Degree: Associate in Science (A.S.)
Credit Hours: 76 Credits
Online Program : No
Program Code: 2244
Financial Aid Eligible : Yes

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Credit for Prior Learning

  hcic@fscj.edu
  (904) 646-2300

Program Learning Outcomes

The A.S. in Respiratory Care aims 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 therapists (RRTs). It is through this action that FSCJ prepares graduates to be competent, caring, and confident registered respiratory therapists that exceed employer expectations.

Career Options

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the respiratory therapists profession is expected to grow 19% through 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations, with an average annual salary of $62,810

Registered respiratory therapists are employed in a wide range of settings, including:

  • Hospitals

  • Cardiopulmonary diagnostic labs

  • Skilled nursing facilities

  • Home health care

  • Rehabilitation centers

Certifications/Licensing

If you are considering employment in a state other than Florida, click here to ensure the program curriculum meets the requirements to sit for licensure or certification testing in that state.

A.S. degree students who successfully complete the examination and credential requirements to become respiratory therapists are well-positioned for career success.

Accreditation

FSCJ’s Respiratory Care A.S. degree (#200223) has been granted the status of “Continuing Accreditation” by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). 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 recent accreditation review conducted by CoARC recognizes the program’s commitment towards compliance with the nationally established accreditation Standards.  The next comprehensive evaluation of the program is scheduled to occur no later than 2029. CoARC can be contacted at 817-283-2835.

The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) has completed verification of the Programmatic Outcomes Data via the Annual Report of Current Status (RCS). This outcome data is for Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Respiratory Care Program (#200223) and is based on a 3-year average.

If you are considering employment in a state other than Florida, click here to ensure the program curriculum meets the requirements to sit for licensure or certification testing in that state.

Student Success Rates

This institutional goal is consistently monitored, and results are shared with the program's Advisory Committee and administration. Reflecting this mission for a high-quality, education that prepares students for rewarding careers, FSCJ’s Respiratory Care program has seen the following success:

  • Students commit to volunteer efforts such as the Fight to Breathe 5K Run and the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb. In addition, students volunteer their time at local health fairs and events sponsored by the American Association for Respiratory Care and the Florida Society for Respiratory Care.

  • FSCJ's Respiratory Care Program participates in the Florida Society for Respiratory Care’s annual Sunshine Seminar Student Sputum Bowl and was the 2018 State of Florida Student Sputum Bowl Champions and 2017 Sputum Bowl Runner-up.

Find information about FSCJ graduate success - Programmatic Outcomes Data

YearsTMC Examination Pass Rate (high-cut score)Clinical Sim Examination (CSE) Pass RateGraduation RateEmployment Rate
202275%93%87%--
202188%83%80%94%
202080%73%87%90%
201977%100%81%76%

 

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