The CoARC accredits respiratory Care 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 Goal Primary Goal according to the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care 1. 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).Respiratory Care
Practitioners are healthcare professionals who specialize in providing optimal cardiopulmonary
care to patients with disorders such as asthma, pneumonia, and COPD, and infants with
immature lungs, etc.
Santa Monica College’s Respiratory Care Program is a two-year, Associate in Science Degree program accredited by the Commission on
Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Through transforming competency-based
medical education curriculum, the program prepares the respiratory care practitioner
of the future to possess great medical knowledge, apply it, and be clinically competent to provide high-quality care in challenging settings likely to be encountered upon entry into practice.
The SMC Respiratory Care Associate Degree program incorporates the latest respiratory equipment, high-fidelity simulators, skills laboratory, and clinical experience at top-rated clinical sites in the Greater Los Angeles area. The program prepares students for National Board for Respiratory Care’s (NBRC) board exams and to earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. The RRT credential is required for licensure in the state of California. To earn the RRT credential, graduates must pass the Therapist Multiple Choice Exam (TMC) at the high threshold and the Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE).
Before You Apply
Thank you for interest in the SMC Respiratory Care Program!
The CoARC accredits respiratory Care 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.”
For SMC Respiratory Care Program CoARC Outcome Thresholds Click here.
Program Goal Primary Goal according to the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care 1. 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).Respiratory Care
Practitioners are healthcare professionals who specialize in providing optimal cardiopulmonary
care to patients with disorders such as asthma, pneumonia, and COPD, and infants with
immature lungs, etc.
Santa Monica College’s Respiratory Care Program is a two-year, Associate in Science Degree program accredited by the Commission on
Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Through transforming competency-based
medical education curriculum, the program prepares the respiratory care practitioner
of the future to possess great medical knowledge, apply it, and be clinically competent to provide high-quality care in challenging settings likely to be encountered upon entry into practice.
The SMC Respiratory Care Associate Degree program incorporates the latest respiratory equipment, high-fidelity simulators, skills laboratory, and clinical experience at top-rated clinical sites in the Greater Los Angeles area. The program prepares students for National Board for Respiratory Care’s (NBRC) board exams and to earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. The RRT credential is required for licensure in the state of California. To earn the RRT credential, graduates must pass the Therapist Multiple Choice Exam (TMC) at the high threshold and the Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE).
The SMC RC Program accepts an annual cohort of 30 students per calendar year. The
program starts in the fall semester. Applications for admission consideration are
accepted from May 1 to June 30.
The SMC RC Program is open to persons regardless of sex, age, marital status, disability*,
ethnic group, religion or national origin.
Please note admission prerequisite can be in progress but must be completed with a
"C" grade or higher by June 16.
Admission Requirements
*Semester Units
Prerequisite Course – 21 units
Santa Monica College Classes
Human Anatomy
**ANATOMY 1: General Human Anatomy, 4 units* with lab
Human Physiology
**PHYS 3: Human Physiology, 4 units* with lab
Chemistry Intro
**CHEM 19: Fundamentals of General Chemistry, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, 5
units* with lab (preferred)
Or
**CHEM 10: Introductory General Chemistry, 5 units* with lab
Microbiology
**MCRBIO 1: Fundamentals of Microbiology, 5 units* with lab
Medical Terminology
HEALTH 61: Medical Terminology, 3 units*
* please note, there is no recency requirements for any of the requirements for admission.
** Starting fall 2022, the SMC Respiratory Care program will resume requiring science
prerequisite courses (Chemistry 19 or Chemistry 10, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology,
and Microbiology) be completed with an on-ground lab. Science prerequisite courses
completed fall 2022 or later are required to have an on-ground lab.
Application and Admissions Process
Future students can apply to the SMC Respiratory Care program during the open application
period from May 1 to June 30. Please note that applications can be submitted even if pre-requisites are in progress;
however, the courses in progress must be completed with a "C" or better, by June 16, and official transcripts must be on file with the SMC's admissions office, no later
than June 30.
To make an appointment with Health Sciences counselor please call 310-434-3446.
Program Application - Fall 2026!
Application to the SMC Respiratory Care Program will require an applicant to login
with their SMC email account/username (not SMC student ID#) and password.
Returning students- if you have not attended SMC for two consecutive semesters, you must reapply to SMC.
Important information to note when completing the application.
The application is timed to 45 minutes, you may save and continue later.
Complete all sections of the Respiratory Care Program application.
Upload all relevant supporting documentation as a PDF, once, and in the designated
area.
Do not submit the application while filling out/reviewing application, use the save
option and return to your application later.
Important: once your application is submitted you cannot edit your application or submit a
second application.
Your application will be considered incomplete if all official transcript(s), AP score report, and/or evaluated foreign transcript
are not on file with the SMC Admissions and Records Office by June 30.
Incomplete applications will not move forward in the application process and will
be deemed ineligible.
*Requirements for admission are subject to change.
Transcripts
Please submit college transcripts covering all program pre-requisite coursework and
evaluating general education requirements for the Associate in Science degree by June 30.
Official transcripts must be submitted electronically or mailed directly to SMC Admissions
and Records. Please include transcripts from all colleges.
Students seeking admission to the Respiratory Care major should consider the following
information:
Prospective applicants should consider taking Introduction to Respiratory Care course
to find out more about the program and the profession.
To find out more about the SMC RC Program, contact Prof. Santana, Program Director.
Phone 310-434-3463. Email. Santana_salvador@smc.edu
Applicants must have a negative criminal background check and pass a drug screening
procedure to participate in any clinical classes.
Clinical experience will be arranged in a variety of excellent medical facilities
throughout the greater LA area.
Before entering into clinical training, students are required to take a state-approved
“Legal Obligations and Ethical Responsibilities of Respiratory Care Practitioners
in CA” course.
The costs associated with the program over the two years are approximately $5,000–$6,000.
*Enrollment in the Respiratory Care program is open to persons regardless of sex,
age, marital status, disability, ethnic group, religion or national origin.
