Respiratory Therapy

Become a Respiratory Therapist

We are in the business of preparing some of the best Respiratory Care Practitioners in the nation.

The field needs motivated people who

want to help others as a health care provider
are mechanically inclined
have solid communication skills
think clearly under stress

Degrees & Certificates

View list below for programs offered at Foothill. Then select program map for a possible schedule that fulfills program and college requirements.

For program requirements and full course listings, view degrees and certificates information.

Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care (BSRC)

Application opens February 2026 for Fall 2026 program, intended for students who have completed an associate degree in the field of respiratory care.

More about BSRC and How to Apply

What is Respiratory Therapy?

Respiratory therapists manage the ventilation of critically ill patients as well as provide acute and chronic care to patients with pulmonary disease. Most work is performed in the hospital environment. Our two-year Respiratory Therapy program prepares you for an entry-level position as a registry-eligible graduate therapist in the high-tech health care field of respiratory care.

Jobs include hospital staff respiratory therapist and independent home care respiratory therapist.
The average annual salary for new graduates is approximately $90,000. The average annual salary for experienced registered therapists in the Bay Area is approximately $110,000 to $120,000.
The average starting salary range was $40 to $60 per hour. Shift differentials and job duties can raise these salaries.
Therapists can choose to specialize in newborn, pediatric or adult intensive care depending upon where they are employed.
With experience, supervisory and educational opportunities are available.

Respiratory therapists can specialize their work as

Hospital staff respiratory therapist
Respiratory therapy management
Respiratory therapy education
Pediatric or neonatal respiratory care
Pulmonary function testing
Cardiac stress testing
Bronchoscopy assisting
Emergency respiratory care
Respiratory therapy home care
Pulmonary rehabilitation

AS program graduates are allowed to take all national board exams.

The Foothill College Respiratory Therapy Program has an excellent pass record for national board and state licensure examinations.

Please visit the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com) to view our Foothill program outcomes data.
You can search for Foothill on the CoARC Interactive Map of Outcomes Data.
For a complete list of CoARC accredited programs, see Find an Accredited Program.

Fall 2026 Associate in Science Program — Apply Now

Application period for Fall 2026 opens from Oct. 1—April 30.

SEE STEPS TO APPLY

Quick Look at Respiratory Therapy Courses

For a quick look at [Department] courses at Foothill, see list below. For complete course details, including units, hours and prerequisites, view course catalog. [Link to dept courses] For when a course is offered, view class schedule. [Link to dept schedule]

RSPT 50A Respiratory Therapy Procedures
RSPT 50B Introduction to Patient Care Procedures
RSPT 50C Therapeutics & Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation
RSPT 51A Introduction to Respiratory Anatomy & Physiology
RSPT 51B Respiratory Physiology
RSPT 51C Patient Assessment & Pulmonary Disease
RSPT 52 Applied Science for Respiratory Therapy
RSPT 53A Introduction to Respiratory Therapy Pharmacology
RSPT 53B Advanced Respiratory Therapy Pharmacology
RSPT 54 Orientation to Respiratory Care
RSPT 55A Mediated Studies in Respiratory Therapy I
RSPT 55B Mediated Studies in Respiratory Therapy II
RSPT 55C Mediated Studies in Respiratory Therapy III
RSPT 55D Mediated Studies in Respiratory Therapy IV
RSPT 55E Mediated Studies in Respiratory Therapy V
RSPT 55F Mediated Studies in Respiratory Therapy VI
RSPT 55G Mediated Studies in Respiratory Therapy VII
RSPT 56 Orientation to Hospital & Patient Care I
RSPT 57 Orientation to Hospital & Patient Care II
RSPT 60C Pulmonary Diagnostics
RSPT 61A Adult Mechanical Ventilation
RSPT 61B Neonatal Respiratory Care
RSPT 61C Home & Rehabilitative Respiratory Care
RSPT 61D Pediatric Respiratory Care
RSPT 62 Management, Resume & National Board Examination
RSPT 63A Advanced Pathophysiology & Patient Management
RSPT 65 Computer Patient Simulations
RSPT 70A Clinical Rotation I
RSPT 70B Clinical Rotation II
RSPT 70C Clinical Rotation III
RSPT 70D Clinical Rotation IV
RSPT 85 Interventional Pulmonology Theory & Application
RSPT 86 Interventional Pulmonology Procedures
RSPT 87 Interventional Pulmonology Clinical Practicum
RSPT 88 Interventional Pulmonology Research Project
RSPT 200L Introduction to Respiratory Therapy
RSPT 300 Leadership & Management in Healthcare
RSPT 304 Clinical Specialist & Chronic Disease Management
RSPT 305 Respiratory Care Capstone Research Project
RSPT 306 Advanced Pulmonary Diagnostics
RSPT 307 Interventional Pulmonology Theory & Application
RSPT 308 Interventional Pulmonology Procedures

Got Questions

See our FAQs here.

Do I need to submit my high school transcripts?

Yes, but only if they contain documentation of prerequisite course work.

How do I apply?

The online application is available from October to April. A Foothill Student ID is required to login to My Portal to apply. Students are admitted once a year only, beginning in fall quarter. Annual selections are made by July 15 each year, and applicants are notified by email of acceptance or non-acceptance at that time.

Prior to the deadline, complete an online application, and submit official college e-transcripts for each college attended to:

Foothill College Admissions and Records
12345 El Monte Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022-4599

Heading 3

Content 3 Here

Add a short, authentic quote from a current or former student that reflects their experience in the program. The quote should be personal and positive, highlighting the program’s strengths, faculty, support system, or impact on their goals.

Student Name

Optional Location

Program/Degree Name