Respiratory Care (A.S.)

Respiratory Care students and instructor

Admission Requirements

  • Accuplacer of 268 or higher or completion of MAT 102, MAT 136, MAT 123 as a matriculation requirement
  • Successful completion of 10 program course credits to include BIO201 (within the last seven years) with a C or better
  • Students must attain a C or better in all degree required courses
  • Sciences must be taken within seven years of application date

Due dates for matriculation form: Submit the completed matriculation form (PDF) to the Admissions Office as soon as you meet all requirements. This program is offered every fall. Admission to the program is done on a continuous basis with applications due by Aug. 1. Immunizations must be completed and submitted by Aug. 1. Application deadline may be extended if space is available.

Program Courses:

  • AHS-121 – Essentials of Pharmacology (3)
  • AHS-230 – Pathophysiology (3)
  • BIO-201 – Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
  • BIO-202 – Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
  • BIO-207 – Microbiology (4)
  • RSP-101 – Intro to Respiratory Therapy (4)
  • RSP-102 – Respiratory Care I: Theory and Practice (7)
  • RSP-103 – Respiratory Care Practicum (2 – 3)
  • RSP-201 – Respiratory Care II: Theory and Practice (7)
  • RSP-202 – Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology (3)
  • RSP-203 – Respiratory Care III: Theory and Practice (8)

Total credit hours: 50 credits

General Education Courses:

  • COM- Communication (3)
  • ENG- Gen English Composition/Writing (6)
  • Behavioral and Social Science (3)
  • General Education Elective (3)

Total credit hours: 15 credits

Suggested Path to Graduation:

  • First semester – 14 credits
    • Gen English Composition/Writing (3)
    • Behavioral and Social Science (3)
    • RSP-101 Intro to Respiratory Therapy (4)
    • BIO-202 Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
  • Second semester – 13 credits
    • AHS-121 Essentials of Pharmacology (3)
    • RSP-102 (was105) Respiratory Care I: Theory and Practice (7)
    • Gen English Composition/Writing (3)
  • Summer session – 3 credits
    • RSP-103 (was107) Respiratory Care Practicum (3)
  • Third semester – 17 credits
    • AHS-230 Pathophysiology (3)
    • BIO-207 Microbiology (4)
    • RSP-201 (was 205) Respiratory Care II: Theory and Practice (7)
    • RSP-202 (was241) Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology (3)
  • Fourth semester – 14 credits
    • RSP-203 (was 207) Respiratory Care III: Theory and Practice (8)
    • COM Communication (3)
    • General Education Elective (3)

Talent Pipeline Program

The largest employer in the Berkshires, BHS covers the cost of all training in its pipeline programs and also offers trainees full-time pay with benefits while they are completing their training. Read more about the "pipeline talent" program, which is designed to create a direct career path from education and training to full-time employment at BHS. For information regarding the BHS Pipeline please contact Shelly Sweet at msweet@bhs1.org.

Program Overview

Respiratory care practitioners help treat patients with a wide range of cardiopulmonary illnesses, including such problems as asthma or heart failure. Respiratory care includes diagnostic testing and administering oxygen, various other gases and aerosol drugs.

Under a physician's supervision, respiratory care practitioners plan and assist with patient care and serve as a resource for professionals in other health care fields. They work in various settings, including hospital acute care and intensive care unites, hospital neonatal units (for premature infants), and outpatient rehabilitation facilities, nursing home, home care and diagnostic laboratories.

Check out the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) website to learn about Respiratory Therapy and watch a video on why you should "Be an RT". The Massachusetts Society for Respiratory Care is an affiliate of the American Association for Respiratory Care.

This program is a sequence of lecture, laboratory and clinical courses, comprehensive on-site training provides opportunities for students to become skilled and confident in respiratory care procedures. Program graduates are eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Care examination to become registered Respiratory Therapists.

Use of the title "Respiratory Therapist" within Massachusetts requires licensure through the Massachusetts Bureau of Health Professions/ Board of Respiratory Care.

This program is a cooperative educational endeavor with Berkshire Health Systems.

Accreditation

The Berkshire Community College Respiratory Care Program CoARC #200349, A.S. degree awarded, located at:  1350 West Street, Pittsfield, MA is accredited by The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com)

The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
264 Precision Blvd
Telford, TN 37690
817-283-2835

Visit CoARC

CoARC accredits Respiratory Therapy 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.

Learn more about accreditation and specific programmatic outcomes.

Apply to BCC

Transfer Agreements

Visit College Catalog for program details

Respiratory Care Health and Immunization Policy (PDF)

Contact Us

Margaret Goss, Program Advisor
mgoss@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-4766

Valerie Rose, Clinical Coordinator
vrose@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-4515

Sean Reagan, One Stop Advisor
sreagan@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-1627

Respiratory Care Matriculation Form (PDF)

Respiratory Therapist Wages in MA*

  • Median hourly wage: $43.42
  • Annual mean wage: $90,320

*Source: Visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Massachusetts for the latest wage data

Learn More

  • Job Growth and Wages

    The salary of a respiratory therapist varies based on several factors such as experience, location, education, and the type of facility they work in. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for respiratory therapists in the United States is $77,960 per year. The annual mean wage for Respiratory Therapists in Massachusetts ranges from $84,750-$103,060.

    According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Respiratory Therapists is projected to grow 13 percent from 2023 to 2033. 

  • Job Titles
    • Registered Respiratory Therapist
    • Certified Respiratory Therapist
    • Respiratory Therapy Dept Shift Supervisor
    • Pulmonary Function technologist
    • Pulmonary Rehabilitation therapist
    • Neonatal/ Pediatric transport therapist
  • Local Employers
    • Berkshire Medical Center
    • Hillcrest Commons
    • Flynn's Pharmacy
    • Pathways
    • St Margaret's
    • Albany Medical Center
    • Columbia Memorial Hospital
    • St. Peter's Health Partners
I am grateful for the education and training I received at Berkshire Community College, as it provided me with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the high-pressure enviornment of a Level 1 trauma center. The hands-on experience and support from my instructors prepared me for the challenges and demands of working in the critical care setting. I am confident in my abilities and thankful for the foundation that Berkshire Community College helped me build.

Sarah Peppe, Class of 2021