The mission of the Associate in Science in Respiratory Care (AS-RC) program at Lake Sumter State College is to provide access to affordable, high-quality, didactic, and clinical instruction to prepare students to work as competent respiratory therapists in hospital respiratory care or cardiopulmonary departments, physicians’ offices, home care, education, and sales. Successful completion of this program qualifies students to apply to the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) to take the exam for respiratory therapist. Upon successful completion of the NBRC exam, the graduate is eligible to apply for a respiratory therapist state license. The program is committed to producing well-qualified, committed, ethical therapists to serve Central Florida and beyond.

A respiratory therapist (RT) specializes in the evaluation, treatment, and care of patients with heart and lung problems. The RT works within the scope of physicians' orders and established protocols to administer respiratory therapy to patients with chronic illness (e.g., asthma, emphysema), as well as acute illness (e.g., drowning, heart failure, shock). The RT works with some of the most sophisticated machinery and medically fragile patients present in healthcare today. Most respiratory therapists work in hospitals in respiratory or cardiopulmonary departments. Other career opportunities are available in physicians' offices, home care, education, and sales. Critical thinking, patient- and environment-assessment skills, and evidence-based clinical practices enable a respiratory therapist to develop and implement effective care plans, patient-driven protocols, and disease-prevention and disease-management programs. 

The purpose of the Respiratory Care Program is to prepare outstanding entry-level respiratory therapists (RTs) to meet the dynamic healthcare needs of the community. The two-year Lake-Sumter State Respiratory Care Program consists of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences that lead to an Associate in Science in Respiratory Care degree. Clinical experiences are integral to the Respiratory Care Program. The student will be assigned to clinical rotations in area healthcare facilities during the second through fifth semesters of the Respiratory Care Program.

Upon successful completion of the national board exam (NBRC), the graduate is eligible to apply for a respiratory therapist state license. The state license allows the graduate to participate in a rewarding career working with individuals who have a variety of lung and heart disorders.

Accreditation

The Lake-Sumter State College Respiratory Care Program is seeking accreditation through the:
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
264 Precision Blvd
Telford, TN 37690
Telephone: 817.283.2835.

Academic Advising

• advising@lssc.edu 352-787-3747

Career Development Services

• Careers@lssc.edu 352-323-3603

Program Contact Information

loveladc@lssc.edu 352-536-2248

Admission

The Respiratory Care Program is a limited-admission program that consists of 76 credit hours and awards the Associate in Science in Respiratory Care upon successful completion. As a limited-admission program, each applicant must first be admitted to the College and meet pre-admission requirements.

Admission Requirements

1. The prospective student must gain acceptance to Lake-Sumter State College as a degree-seeking student with all required admission documents received by the Registrar's Office.
2. The applicant must complete any required Developmental Education courses.
3. The applicant must have an overall GPA of 2.0 (or higher) at the time of application and admission to the program. Complete all prerequisite courses with a C or better.
4. The following prerequisite coursework must be completed at the time of application, and a grade of C or better must be attained.
   • BSC 2085C Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab
   • BSC 2085C
   • MCB 2010C
   • CHM 1025C
   • ENC 1101
   • MAC 1105
   • PSY 2012
   • Humanities
   • Civic Literacy

Additional Requirements

• Completion of required immunizations and communicable disease screenings. See the Allied Health Department for current requirements.
• Completion of a physical examination and essential functions examination by a licensed provider (MD/DO/PA-C/ARNP).
• Submission of a signed affidavit attesting that the applicant has not committed specific criminal acts.
• Completion of a drug screening by a department-approved vendor.
• Completion of a national background check by a department-approved vendor.
• Must be 18 years of age prior to starting clinical courses. Students under the age of 18 at the time of admission to the Respiratory Care Program must have a signed consent by a legal guardian.
• Official transcripts from all prior institutions are submitted to LSSC.
• An applicant with a specific conviction or a positive drug screening may not be accepted into the Respiratory Care Program. See the Department of Allied Health for further information. A positive drug screening or conviction occurring after full admission and matriculation into the program is addressed according to departmental policy and may provide cause for dismissal from the program.

Selection Criteria

All eligible applicants are considered for the Respiratory Care Program. The most qualified applicants are selected based on current enrollment, completed coursework, and the cumulative grade point average (GPA) earned in the prerequisite course, program-required courses, and previous coursework.

Full-Time Plan

Plan of Study Grid

First Semester		Hours
RET 1025C	Principles of Respiratory Care	4
RET 1274C	Clinical Care Techniques	4
RET 1450C	Basic Physiological Monitoring	4
	Hours	12
Second Semester
RET 1265C	Principles of Mechanical Ventilation	4
RET 1874L	Respiratory Care Clinical I	4
RET 1485	Cardiopulmonary Physiology	3
	Hours	11
Third Semester
RET 1295	Chest Medicine	3
RET 1007	Respiratory Pharmacology	2
RET 1875L	Respiratory Care Clinical II	4
	Hours	9
Fourth Semester
RET 2714C	Pediatric/Neonatal Respiratory Care	4
RET 2876L	Respiratory Care Clinical III	4
	Hours	8
Fifth Semester
RET 2930	Respiratory Care Seminar	1
RET 2877L	Respiratory Care Clinical IV	4
	Hours	5
	Total Hours	45

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Education Courses Respiratory Care
ENC 1101	College Composition I	3
BSC 2085C	Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab	4
BSC 2086C	Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab	4
PSY 2012	Introduction to Psychology	3
MAC 1105	College Algebra	3
CHM 1025C	Introductory Chemistry w/Lab	4
MCB 2010C	Microbiology w/Lab	4
Select from Area II: Humanities 1		3
POS 2041	American National Government	3
or AMH 2020	U.S. History Since 1877
Technical Education Phase
RET 1025C	Principles of Respiratory Care	4
RET 1274C	Clinical Care Techniques	4
RET 1450C	Basic Physiological Monitoring	4
RET 1265C	Principles of Mechanical Ventilation	4
RET 1485	Cardiopulmonary Physiology	3
RET 1007	Respiratory Pharmacology	2
RET 1295	Chest Medicine	3
RET 2714C	Pediatric/Neonatal Respiratory Care	4
RET 2930	Respiratory Care Seminar	1
Clinical Education Phase
RET 1874L	Respiratory Care Clinical I	4
RET 1875L	Respiratory Care Clinical II	4
RET 2876L	Respiratory Care Clinical III	4
RET 2877L	Respiratory Care Clinical IV	4
Total Hours		76

When beginning this program, the student should make an appointment with the advising program manager. Only required courses for an LSSC degree or qualifying certificate are eligible for federal financial aid. Verify course choices and avoid charges by making an appointment with an academic advisor.

Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in all program courses to qualify for graduation.

As per the amended Florida Rule 6A-10.02413, prior to the award of an associate in science or associate in applied science degree, LSSC students under the 2022-2023 Catalog and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy through one of the following options prior to graduation:

• successfully passing POS 2041 American National Government or AMH 2020 U.S. History Since 1877 and achieving a 60% or higher on the Florida Civic Literacy Exam , or
• successfully passing a prescribed assessment:
  • AP Government & Politics Test: United States (passing score of 3), or
  • AP U.S. History Test (passing score of 4), or
  • CLEP: American Government (passing score of 50)

To verify your Civic Literacy Requirement, please visit Degree Works

For information about career options, visit www.lssc.edu/careers.

Students must complete 25% of each program’s total credit hours at LSSC.