Respiratory Care - A.A.S. Degree
How to Apply
Application Period:
April 1鈥揓une 1
Application Deadline:
June 1st
Program Start
The Respiratory Care program begins every Fall semester in August.
Start here
If you are a first-time college student or transferring to 糖心网页版, begin the
application process by completing the Steps-to-Getting-Started.
What You Need to Apply
You may use the Respiratory Care Application Checklist to guide you through the application process.
Complete Prerequisite Courses
Provide proof of college credit, with a grade of "C" or better.
- ENGL 1301 鈥� Composition I
- BIOL 2401 鈥� Anatomy & Physiology I
- BIOL 2402 鈥� Anatomy & Physiology II
- 3 credits from MATH Core
Academic Courses
Completion of the following course is not required at the time of application, but
is strongly recommended prior to admission.
- 3 Credits: Social/Behavioral Science Core Elective
- 3 Credits: Language, Philosophy & Culture Elective OR Creative Arts Elective
- 4 Credits: BIOL 2420 鈥� Microbiology for Non-Science Majors
All applicants are required to attend an information session. In-person sessions will
be in S-140. Limited virtual sessions will be available starting in February 2027.
Scheduled Information Session Dates:
| Date | Time |
| September 8, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. |
| October 16, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. |
| November 19, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. |
| December 8, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. |
| January 22, 2027 | 9:00 a.m. |
| February 9, 2027 | 10:00 a.m. |
| February 19, 2027 | 3:00 p.m. |
| March 25, 2027 | 1:00 p.m. |
| April 8, 2027 | 3:00 p.m. |
| April 30, 2027 | 9:00 a.m. |
| May 11, 2027 | 2:00 p.m. |
Take Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT)
HSRT can be taken once a year.
Submit Application
- Application Form 鈥� Online application will open April 1st annually.
- Official college transcript showing completion required courses (unofficial from Alvin College is acceptable)
- Submit essay: Why do you want to become a respiratory therapist?
Selection for Admission
Admission to the Respiratory Care Program is competitive. Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:
- Final grades in pre-requisite classes
Additional consideration will be given to applicants who:
- Have completed the recommended academic courses
- Hold a certificate or degree
- Have taken Anatomy & Physiology courses at 糖心网页版
Deductions will be given for:
- F's or withdrawals in pre-requisite classes
What鈥檚 Next?
Wait to be contacted by the department. Please be patient; it can take several weeks
for admission applications to be processed.
If Accepted?
You will be invited to attend a mandatory program orientation where you will be provided
with instructions to complete the following:
- Proof of personal health insurance
- Passing a drug screening
- Physical examination
- Cleared criminal background
- Immunizations Required
Immunization and Tests
HEPATITIS-B:
- Respiratory Care students must submit a Hep-B titer report. This is required by clinical sites.
- MAKE SURE YOU GET THE CORRECT HEP-B TITER DONE. It should be a 鈥淗epatitis-B surface antibody鈥� test (abbreviated as 鈥渁nti-HBs鈥� or 鈥淗BsAb鈥�). Do not get 鈥渟urface antigen鈥� test or any other hepatitis test.
- You must submit the titer report whether it is positive or negative (whether it says you are immune or not).
- Clinical sites set a 5-year time limit on the Hep-B titer, and they require that it remain current throughout the entire semester. If your titer expires before the end of a semester, you must repeat the titer and submit the report before that semester starts.
- If you recently finished taking Hep-B shots, you must wait at least 2 months after the last shot before getting the titer done; otherwise, it may incorrectly say you are not immune when you really are.
- The HepB test should be positive. If your Hep-B titer is negative (meaning you are not immune to Hep-B), you must repeat the entire Hep-B immunization series. Then repeat the Hepatitis-B surface antibody titer after the wait period. We recommend that you get the 鈥淗eplisav鈥� type of Hep-B immunization 鈥� two shots one month apart. If your repeated titer does not show immunity, you will need to get a doctor鈥檚 note stating you are a non-responder to the Hep-B vaccinations.
VARICELLA (chicken pox):
- EITHER submit report of blood test that states whether you are immune to varicella (called 鈥渧aricella IgG titer鈥�)
- OR submit proof of two varicella immunizations spaced at least 28 days apart.
- Childhood varicella immunizations are acceptable.
- Documentation of varicella illness (of having had the chicken pox as a child) is not acceptable.
- If having varicella vaccinations, the TB screening must be done before the varicella vaccination.
- If you get a varicella titer instead of shots:
- MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT VARICELLA TITER DONE. It should be a varicella immunity test (abbreviated 鈥淚gG鈥�). Do not get the IgM test, which only checks if you are currently infected.
- You must submit the titer report whether it is positive or negative (whether it says you are immune or not).
- If your varicella titer is negative (meaning you are not immune to varicella), submit proof of 2 varicella vaccinations spaced at least 28 days apart that were done after the titer. After that, you are done; you will not have to repeat the varicella titer.
- There is a 5-year time limit on the varicella titer 鈥� it must be current throughout the entire semester. If your titer expires before the end of a semester, you must repeat the titer and turn in the report before that semester starts.
- TB screening must be done before the vaccinations to be accurate.
MMR (measles, mumps, rubella):
- EITHER submit report of blood test that states whether you are immune to measles (rubeola/mumps/rubella 鈥� called 鈥淢MR IgG titer)
- OR submit proof of two MMR immunizations spaced at least 28 days apart.
- Childhood MMR immunizations are acceptable.
- If having MMR vaccinations, the TB screening must be done before the MMR vaccination.
- If you get an MMR titer instead of shots:
- MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT MMR TITER DONE. It should be an MMR immunity test (abbreviated 鈥淚gG鈥�). Do not get the IgM test, which only checks if you are currently infected.
- You must submit the titer report whether it is positive or negative (whether it says you are immune or not).
- If any components of the MMR titer are negative (meaning you are not immune to one or more components of MMR), submit proof of 2 MMR immunizations spaced at least 28 days apart that were done after the titer. After that you are done; you will not have to repeat the MMR titer.
- There is a 5-year time limit on the MMR titer; it must be current throughout the entire semester. If your titer expires before the end of a semester, you must repeat the titer and turn in the report before that semester starts.
- TB screening must be done before the vaccinations to be accurate.
TDAP (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis):
- Submit proof of one Tdap immunization administered when you were an adult (on or after your 18th birthday).
- Childhood Tdap or Dtap immunizations (before you were 18) are not acceptable. You MUST have proof of a shot that includes pertussis as an adult.
- If your adult Tdap is more than 10 years old, submit proof of a Td booster in addition to proof of the adult Tdap.
- There is a 10-year time limit on Tdap or Td booster. It must be current throughout the entire semester; if it expires before the end of a semester, you must turn in proof of aTd booster before that semester starts.
FLU:
- Students starting the Respiratory Care program in August 鈥� you will get a seasonal flu immunization in late September. You DO NOT have to turn in flu shot proof before you start in August.
- All sophomore students will repeat their flu immunizations in September.
- Flu documentation must show the name of the facility or healthcare provider where you got it. This is required by some of the hospitals you will attend.
TUBERCULOSIS SCREEN:
- Submit a QuantiFERON Gold TB blood test performed in the past three months stating negative results
- OR a 2-step TB screen (two skin tests performed within 21 days)
- If your TB test is positive, also submit a report of chest X-ray showing no evidence of active lung disease.
- TB screen is good for one year. Chest X-ray is good for 2 years.
- TB screen or chest X-ray must be current throughout the entire semester; if it expires before the end of a semester, you must repeat the TB screen or X-ray and turn in the report before that semester starts.
- If having MMR or varicella vaccinations, the TB screening must be done before the vaccinations to be accurate.
KEEP THE ORIGINALS OF YOUR IMMUNIZATIONS AND TESTS!!
- You need to keep your originals in order to submit copies:
- For a grade during your first semester
- To your employer when you are hired
- To another school if you decide to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree
- All documents are to be uploaded to your account in Complio. Follow the directions in the handout provided.
COLLEGE & CAREER PATHWAYS
Respiratory Care is part of our Health Career Pathway. Click the box below to see other Health programs that may interest you.
