ECC adds respiratory therapy program

ELGIN - Elgin Community College' said it has established a new program to train students as respiratory therapists.

Starting in the fall of 2024, ECC's newest health profession program, Respiratory Care, will allow students to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree.

and prepare them to earn an

"Respiratory therapists help patients from their first breath of life as newborns to their last breath as they age," said Wendy Miller, the college's dean of health professions, math, science and engineering. "These highly skilled health care professionals work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies and on transport teams."

Students who complete ECC's 72-credit hour program will qualify to take the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credentialing exam and become board-certified by the National Board for Respiratory Care.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for respiratory therapists and respiratory care practitioners is expected to increase due to an aging population and the realities of respiratory illnesses. BLS's 10-year projected growth of 14% is much higher than the average for most occupations, ECC said.