Respiratory Therapy

What could be better than making a positive difference in someone's life? Can you accept the challenge of operating sophisticated and complex medical equipment? Are you a problem solver? Respiratory therapy is one of the best-kept secrets in health care! Employment in respiratory care offers the right mix of stability, independence, personal satisfaction and professional gain. Select from many career paths and join a team specializing in neonatal, pediatric or adult care. The Advanced Practice program prepares students to take examinations and be licensed as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (R.R.T.).

Our faculty members have extensive experience in their profession. They are committed to student success. Students learn bedside clinical skills in major medical centers by accompanying pulmonary physicians on hospital rounds and working one-on-one with practicing respiratory therapists. In addition, our advisory committee works with faculty to develop curriculum that reflects current industry practices.

You'll find state-of-the art equipment and software in ELAC's respiratory therapy laboratory. Students receive hands-on problem solving sessions in major medical centers and learn how to manage infants and adults receiving mechanical ventilation. They also experience administering medication to patients with asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, and providing airway care and oxygen management to patients with cardiopulmonary diseases.

An ELAC associate degree and completion of lower division university academic requirements prepares graduates to transfer to the bachelor degree program in respiratory therapy at Loma Linda University and many of the degree programs at California State University, Los Angeles. Students interested in becoming instructors or managers of respiratory therapy services should consider university transfer.

Respiratory care is a dynamic and exciting profession with many career opportunities. Respiratory therapists care for adult, pediatric and newborn patients who have heart and lung problems. They provide oxygen therapy; pulmonary medications; chest physiotherapy; diagnostic testing; and advanced, basic and neonatal life support with mechanical ventilation. Demand for respiratory therapists is projected to increase 54% in California during the next three years. Salaries are excellent and are competitive with other health professions. Our program has an A+ rating and prepares students for licensure by the California Respiratory Care Board and credentialing as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (R.R.T.) by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Certification in Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Neonatal Resuscitation complete the two-year associate degree program.

Anyone who is 18 years or older qualifies for admission to East Los Angeles College. People under 18 qualify if they have graduated from high school or have passed the California High School Proficiency Test. High school students may concurrently enroll at ELAC with the consent of their parents and high school and get an early start on their college education and pay no tuition. Applications and information to register for day and evening classes are available from the Admissions Office by calling (323) 265-8966 or visit us on the web at www.elac.edu.