Respiratory Therapy, A.A.S.

The Respiratory Therapy Associate of Applied Science Degree program prepares students with the knowledge, clinical, and behavioral skills essential to providing competent and caring services consistent with community and employer expectations.  Students acquire skills in patient assessment, clinical data evaluation, blood gas analysis, pulmonary function testing, therapeutic techniques, emergency and critical care management, pulmonary rehabilitation and home care, and other special cardiopulmonary procedures.

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) examinations of the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).  The RRT is a primary requirement to obtain a state license to practice in New Mexico.

San Juan College Respiratory Therapy Program has been granted Continuing Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).  The Program was reviewed by CoARC and deemed in compliance with nationally established accreditation standards.  CoARC will conduct the next comprehensive evaluation of the Program in 2027.

Admission Requirements:

The application deadline is the last Friday in June.

Admission into the program is limited and competitive.  The Respiratory Therapy admissions scoring criteria will be used in the selection process.  An applicant must have a high school diploma or equivalent.  The criteria include the following:

1. Prerequisites: (60%)
2. Admissions Test (20%)

• Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is the prescribed admissions test.
• Applicants who have completed and earned an associate degree or higher are not required to take the admissions test.

3. Previous education and training, CPR, work experience, and job shadowing (20%)
4. Criminal Background Check, Immunization Record/ Health Certificate, and Drug Screen
5. Two letters of recommendation

For additional information please call 505-566-3851 or email us at: rt@sanjuancollege.edu.

Note:  Student must earn a grade of ‘C’ or higher in all courses to obtain a Respiratory Therapy A.A.S. degree.