Stage One

Complete the Sandhills Community College application, which can be sent to you upon request by the admissions department or complete the online form. When applying to Sandhills Community College, you must declare Respiratory Therapy as your major. However, you should understand that admission to the college does not guarantee admission into the Respiratory Therapy Program

Program Admission is based on academic qualifications.  After meeting all qualifications, you will be placed on the list to start during the next fall semester in the order received. The maximum number of seats is 18 per year. Enrollment is ongoing, so students must apply and designate Respiratory Therapy as their major by March 1 to be considered for the following fall class; however, the program can fill at any time, so all program placements are considered based on space available.

Transcript Request Forms are included in the application packet. You must send in ALL transcripts regardless of graduation year. The SCC Office of Records and Registration will need official transcripts to award your degree when you have completed school. Transcripts can be requested by contacting the appropriate institution. You must meet all educational courses outlined in the checklist provided. Because of federal law, your school will need your social security number and your signature, along with your permission to release transcripts to us.

Placement Test information is included in the application packet. You must schedule your test with the SCC Testing Center as soon as possible. This is required for placement into the appropriate courses.

Required Prerequisites for students entering the program include meeting the English and Math placement scores or successful completion of pre-college courses required for ENG 111, BIO 165, and CHM 151. In addition, students are required to also demonstrate a grade "C" or better in Anatomy/Physiology and Chemistry at the high school or college level

Final Placement Procedure: Each stage is documented using the Checklist for Admission for the SCC Respiratory Therapy Program. This is necessary in order to ensure correct placement and guidance into the program. This form is used once a student attends the college orientation or when the student initiates contact. Students are tracked based on the data collected. It is the student's responsibility to stay in touch with his or her faculty advisor. The forms are divided based on complete or incomplete. A student who fails to follow through on the required steps will not be eligible for enrollment; however, forms will be maintained in the department in the event the student wishes to complete all necessary enrollment steps.

Once a student has completed all of Stage One, he or she will be sent a letter during the summer semester after July 1st describing the next steps. Stage Two begins once the student receives this letter. Stage Two will consist of two orientations. One is for the hospital and one for the Respiratory Care Department. During the respiratory care orientation, the details of Stage Two will be explained. Upon completion of all requirements in Stage Two, the student will be eligible to register for the respiratory care courses. Please see Stage Two requirements.

Stage Two

Drug Screen and Background Checks are required to stay in compliance with the policy of Sandhills Community College Health Sciences Department. Our contractual agreements with our clinical affiliates require adherence to all policies of governing each clinical facility.  Most of our clinical facilities require drug testing and criminal background screening of all students. The Department of Health Sciences abides by the Standards for Drug Testing and Background Screening recommended by JACHO.  This policy may affect Health Sciences program admissions and/or program continuance; however, it does not affect general college admission or the right of a student to pursue other college programs at Sandhills Community College.

Respiratory Care Orientation is scheduled during the summer in order to complete the admission requirements. This is a mandatory requirement. Failure to attend the orientation will result in your seat being given to the next person on the waiting list; therefore, it is important that you attend in order for you to receive vital information regarding the program.
Hospital Orientation is scheduled during the summer in order to complete the admission requirements in order to participate in the job shadow experience. This is a mandatory requirement. Failure to attend the orientation will result in your seat being given to the next person on the waiting list; therefore, it is important that you attend in order for you to receive vital information regarding the program.

Hospital Shadow Experience and Essay
Upon completion of the above requirements, each applicant is required to visit a Respiratory Therapy Department in a hospital. Hospital visitations give the student an opportunity to ask questions and observe the job duties of a respiratory therapist. Visitation is scheduled during the program orientation. An Essay should be written once you have completed the shadow experience reflecting your experience as well as your professional goals after completing the program.

Volunteer Experience
During the Fall semester, Stage Two requirements are fulfilled when  students complete a volunteer experience at a local nursing home, hospital, or hospice care for 40 hours prior to entering the second semester of the program. This experience gives students an opportunity to observe first hand the difficulties and rewards of dealing with patients on a day-to-day basis. This is student driven experience, so each student must seek his or her own volunteer location. It must involve some level of patient interaction and must be approved by the respiratory faculty.