Respiratory Care Practitioner – Major #4610

The Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) is a health care specialist involved in managing, diagnostically evaluating, and providing care to patients with deficiencies and abnormalities affecting their cardiopulmonary system. Respiratory care practitioners comprise a critical sector of the allied health care workforce. Next to nurses, RCPs are the most frequently seen health care provider at the patient bedside. Enrollment is limited in the Respiratory Care Practitioner Program. There are no restrictions as to age, race, or marital status. The program is lottery based. In order to qualify for admission to the program, the applicant must have met all of the following conditions:

Application Requirements: Minimum prerequisite requirements for application to the Respiratory Care Practitioner Program follow:
1. Graduated from high school with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or completed the General Educational Development test with an average standard score of 45.
2. Completed the following prerequisites with a C or better: Biology 31, Biology 20 and Biology 22 or Biology 21A and Biology 21B, Chemistry 3A, Math 3A, Statistics C1000 or college equivalent, English C1000.
3. Courses cannot be taken as credit/no credit or pass/no pass. 
4. Have attained a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5.
5. Students in the respiratory care program must earn a “C” grade or better (or a “Credit” grade when applicable) in all required respiratory care courses.
6. Course repeatability and failure policy will be followed as outlined in the Respiratory Care Student Handbook.
7. Be in good physical and mental health with no physical impairment that would preclude the performance of any respiratory care practitioner duties.
8. Complete application for the RCP program on the Fresno City College website.
9. Successful completion of RCARE 101.
10. Background checks and drug screens are mandatory.
11. Respiratory Care Program orientation is mandatory.
12. Safe professional practice is necessary for retention of students in the program. If a student demonstrates that he or she is unsuited to the profession or is not progressing satisfactorily based on the professional judgment of the faculty, the student may be asked to withdraw from the program.