A.S. in Respiratory Care Degree Details
Breathe Life into Your Career
The A.S. in respiratory care is a two-year program that prepares graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning domains of respiratory care practice. Upon graduation, you'll be eligible to take the entry-level examination of the National Board for Respiratory Care to become a registered respiratory therapist.
To better fit your schedule, complete the program at any one of our five locations including Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Brookings, Madison and Huron.
Now is a good time to become respiratory therapist in South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã. South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã’s health care industry is projected to add 6,472 workers to the state’s economy between 2018 and 2028. The rate of growth is projected to be 11.3%, much faster than the 7.1% projected for all industries. Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 14% growth in the respiratory therapy from 2021 to 2031, with about 9,400 job openings projected each year. Median pay for a respiratory therapist is $70,540 per year or $33.91 per hour.
- Step 1: Apply to SDState to enroll as a student and start working towards your respiratory care degree.
- Step 2: Apply to the Respiratory Care Program.
- Step 3: A member of the respiratory care program will be in touch to help you start the registration process.
Program Goal
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).
Accreditation
The South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University Respiratory Care Program, program numbers 200070 (Base Program) and 300015 (Satellite Program), granting the degree of Associate of Science in respiratory care, base program located on the campus of South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University and satellite program located on the campus of Monument Health Rapid City, is accredited by the .
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. Program outcomes data is available on .
Student Learning Outcomes
Student Learning Outcome 1: Patient Data
- 1a: evaluate, analyze and acquire data
- 1b: evaluate procedure results and diagnostic tests
Student Learning Outcome 2: Perform and Recommend Therapies
- 2a: perform clinical/patient assessment
- 2b: perform diagnostic procedures
- 2c: recommend diagnostic procedures and therapies
Student Learning Outcome 3: Troubleshooting Equipment
- 3a: assemble/troubleshoot devices
Student Learning Outcome 4: Infection Control
- 4a: ensure infection prevention
- 4b: perform QC procedures
Student Learning Outcome 5: Initiation and modification of interventions
- 5a: maintain a patent airway/care of artificial airways
- 5b: perform airway clearance and lung expansion techniques
- 5c: support oxygenation and ventilation
- 5d: administer medications, specialty gases and mechanical ventilation
- 5e: ensure modifications are made to the respiratory care plan
- 5f: utilize evidence-based practice
- 5g: providing respiratory care in high-risk situations
- 5h: assist a physician/provider in performing procedures
- 5i: implement critical thinking and decision making for problem solving
- 5j: maintain ethical considerations
- 5k: initiating and conducting prescribed pulmonary rehabilitation
- 5l: establish therapeutic goals
Student Learning Outcome 6: Communication
- 6a: maintain effective interprofessional communication
- 6b: provide patient/family/community education
- 6c: implement culturally different communication styles
Student Learning Outcome 7: Disease Management
- 7a: identify cardiopulmonary diseases
- 7b: perform disease prevention and management
SDSU Respiratory Care Program Honored
The respiratory care program at South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University has once again been honored for achieving 100% Registered Respiratory Therapist Credentialing Success. The President’s à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã for Excellence in Credentialing Success is awarded by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care. - May 2025
