This document provides information about the Respiratory Care Therapist Associate Degree program at a technical college. It is a 5 semester program that accepts 16 students each year. There are two options for applying, either having completed prerequisite courses with a minimum GPA or achieving a minimum TEAS score. Acceptance is competitive based on scoring criteria including GPA, TEAS scores, county residency, and credit hours completed at the college. Requirements after acceptance include deposits, drug tests, immunizations, and CPR certification. The program schedule is outlined showing coursework each semester.

1. Respiratory Care
Therapist Associate
Degree
STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE PROGRAM SUCCESS

2. Overview
 5 semester program
 Admission is based on weighted criteria.
 Applications Accepted: May 1st – 31st each year for a seat in the Fall semester
(August start) class. 16 students will be accepted to start the program in the
Fall semester at the Grand Strand Campus.
 Early, late, or incomplete applications will not be reviewed for admission.

3. Application Requirements
 Must be admitted to the College and currently eligible for enrollment.
 Must meet the criteria for either Option A or Option B. More information
about these two options is provided on upcoming slides.
 All applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.50 and earn a grade of at least
a ‘C’ on all prerequisite core courses completed.

4. Option A
To be eligible to apply under Option A you must:
 Have a minimum TEAS score of 70. (More information about the TEAS test is provided on upcoming
slides.)
AND
 Be eligible to take ENG 101, BIO 210 and MAT 110 or 120 based on SAT or ACT scores, Multiple
Measures placement or completion of the required prerequisites to these courses.
AND
 Have a grade of ‘C’ or higher and minimum GPA of 2.50 for all Respiratory Care Core Courses
completed.*
*Students who apply under Option A must still complete all 7 Respiratory Prerequisite Core Courses before graduating from the Respiratory Care Therapist
program. Meaning, if you apply before completing all 7 Core Courses, you will need to complete them while in the program.

5. Option B
To be eligible to apply under Option B you must:
 Complete all 7 Respiratory Care prerequisite core courses (listed on the next slide) with a
grade of ‘C’ or higher and minimum GPA of 2.50.
 Core courses must be completed within time limits where applicable.

6. Respiratory Core Courses
The following 7 courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or higher, minimum GPA of 2.50
and within the time limits, where indicated:
1. English Composition I (ENG 101)
2. Anatomy and Physiology I (BIO 210 – 5 year time limit & has a prerequisite of BIO 112 or
101)
3. Anatomy and Physiology II (BIO 211 – 5 year time limit)
4. Microbiology (BIO 225 – 5 year time limit)
5. General Psychology (PSY 201)
6. Either College Algebra or Probability and Statistics (MAT 110/120)
7. One Humanities course

7. TEAS Test
 The Test for Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is a 4-hour computer-based test that covers Reading, Math, English, and
Science, with an additional 30 minutes for a dry run prior to the exam.
 As of March 1, 2021, students will be responsible for paying for the TEAS exam. The TEAS exam is no longer free as of
March 1, 2021. The cost of the TEAS Exam is $87 (includes registration and remote proctoring fees).
 The test is offered remotely on Tuesdays at 9:00 am and on Thursdays at 12:00 pm.
 Testing candidates can only retest every 3 months. Failure to wait three months to retest will cause the new score to
be invalid.
 TEAS scores are valid for 2 years.
 Test prep resources are available at http://libguides.hgtc.edu/testprep/teas.
 To register for the TEAS exam please visit www.atitesting.com. (Detailed instructions on next slide.)
 For questions, contact the HGTC Testing Center at teas-testing@hgtc.edu.

8. TEAS Test
To register for the TEAS exam, go directly to the TEAS website at www.atitesting.com:
1. First, create an account if you are not already a registered user. (For step-by-step directions for creating
an ATI account, click here). Please note, if taking the exam for Horry-Georgetown Technical College,
select Horry-Georgetown Technical, College Grand Strand ADN.
2. Once you have an ATI account, you will need to go to the ATI page to register and pay for the exam. Click
login.
3. Enter your username and password you provided.
4. Click on the link to the online store which is at the top of the ATI homepage.
5. In the navigation pane on the left side of the screen, click Register for TEAS@ATI.
6. You should now be at the registration screen, and you will need to follow the prompts to register and
pay.
7. For questions, contact the HGTC Testing Center at 843-349-5248 or at teas-testing@hgtc.edu.

9. Weighted Criteria for Acceptance
 The scoring criteria on the next slide is used to determine which applicants will be accepted
into the Respiratory Care Therapist program. The 16 students with the highest number of
points are accepted to begin the program in the Fall Semester at the Grand Strand Campus.
 Acceptance depends on your points vs. the points of the other applicants at that time.
Therefore, points required for acceptance to the program will change with each review
period.
 Acceptance into the Respiratory Care program is limited and competitive. There is no
guarantee of acceptance. Your grades are very important. Even though the minimum GPA
requirement is 2.50, you should strive for a much higher GPA.

10. Respiratory Care
Therapist
Admission Scoring
Criteria
Option A OR Option B
Composite TEAS
Score of
Points
Earned
Completed 7 general education
GPA
(BIO210, BIO211, BIO225,
ENG101,
MAT110/MAT120, PSY201, and
Humanities)
Points
Earned
97.1-100 12 3.88-4.0 GPA 10
94.1-97.0 11 3.76-3.87 GPA 9
91.1-94.0 10 3.63-3.75 GPA 8
88.1-91.0 9 3.51-3.62 GPA 7
85.1-88.0 8 3.38-3.5 GPA 6
82.1-85.0 7 3.26-3.37 GPA 5
79.1-82.0 6 3.13-3.25 GPA 4
76.1-79.0 5 3.01-3.12 GPA 3
73.1-76.0 4 2.88-3.0 GPA 2
70.0-73.0 3 2.5-2.87 GPA 1
Completed at least 8 credit hours
of the 7 general education courses
(BIO210, BIO211, BIO225,
ENG101, MAT110/MAT120,
PSY201, and Humanities) from
HGTC or CCU
2
Horry or
Georgetown
County Resident
(as established by
the College)
1
Horry or Georgetown County
Resident (as established by the
College)
1
Total Points Total Points

11. Be the BEST Applicant you can be!
Applying with the highest number of points you can obtain is important! Consider these options to increase
your points:
 Retake the TEAS: If your score is not high enough for points or you want to obtain more points for your
score, you can retake the TEAS – just be sure to wait three months in between each time you take it.
 Apply for and obtain residency status: If you are not coded as an “In-County resident”, go to
http://www.hgtc.edu/admissions/residency.html to complete a Residency Application. Obtaining a
South Carolina driver’s license and car registration (if the car is in your name) are normally an important
part of this process. Read the application and instructions carefully.
 Apply with the best grades possible: The grades in your prerequisite courses play a large part in
acceptance. Strive for A’s to keep your GPA high. If you make C’s in some of your courses, consider
retaking the course(s) to get a higher grade. *Always check with financial aid before retaking courses as
it may affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) if you retake too many or already have W’s, F’s
or D’s in other courses.

12. Requirements AFTER Acceptance
If you are accepted into the program, your acceptance letter will provide detailed instructions and deadlines for completing
the following items. DO NOT complete them before you are instructed. This information is being provided so that you can
plan ahead to cover the costs of these items.
1. Submit a $500.00 tuition deposit to reserve your seat. This is an out-of-pocket expense and not covered by financial aid.
2. Pass Certified Background Check and Drug Screening. The current cost for this is $112.00. The return of an unfavorable CBS and/or UDS
may result in a student being removed from the desired program. Clinical sites/facilities determine applicant’s eligibility to participate in
clinical studies based on their policies. If you complete the background check before being instructed to do so you will have to redo it
and pay the $112 again. The Background Check, drug screening, and payment of $112 will be required each semester while in the
program.
3. Complete a Health Physical and submit proof of required immunizations. (Physical and immunizations costs are your responsibility, so
plan ahead financially.)
4. Show proof of current Health Care Providers CPR. You may take a class through HGTC’s Continuing Education/Workforce Development
Department. You may register online for the course on the HGTC Continuing Education/Workforce Development website. This course
costs approximately $105.00.

13. Program Expenses
 You may view a comprehensive list of program expenses that a student can expect to
incur during enrollment in the Respiratory Care Therapist curriculum here.
 Please keep in mind that these figures are approximations and are based on current
costs. Many of these expenses are payable to third parties and subject to change
without notice.
 Tuition is subject to change.
 Supplies and fees: Students will be responsible for items above and beyond tuition,
such as uniforms, clinical supplies, and items needed for projects.

14. Respiratory Care
Program Schedule
 Respiratory Care is a 5 semester
program. Once accepted you will attend
year round, including summer. Please
plan ahead financially as you may not
receive financial aid for the summer.
Clinicals will vary by semester but may
require 1-2 days a week. Students may
have to travel up to a 50 mile radius to
fulfill clinical requirements.
First Semester - Fall Fourth Semester – Fall
RES 101 Introduction to Respiratory Care 3 RES 204 Neonatal/Pediatric Care 3
RES 121 Respiratory Skills I 4 RES 236 Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics 3
RES 152 Clinical Applications I 3 RES 253 Advanced Clinical Studies I 6
SEMESTER TOTAL 12 SEMESTER TOTAL 12
Second Semester - Spring Fifth Semester - Spring
RES 111 Pathophysiology 2 RES 207 Management in Respiratory Care 2
RES 131 Respiratory Skills II 4 RES 242 Advanced Respiratory Care Transition 1
RES 232 Respiratory Therapeutics 2 RES 244 Advanced Respiratory Skills 1 4
RES 154 Clinical Applications II 4 RES 154 Advanced Clinical Studies II 7
SEMESTER TOTAL 12 SEMESTER TOTAL 14
Third Semester - Summer
RES 141 Respiratory Skills III 3
RES 220 Hemodynamic Monitoring 1
RES 235 Respiratory Diagnostics 4 TOTAL RESPIRATORY CREDIT HOURS 60
RES 249 Comprehensive Applications 2 TOTAL PREREQUISITE CREDIT HOURS 24
SEMESTER TOTAL 10 TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 84

15. You have completed the
Respiratory Care Therapist STEPS Session!
 HGTC reserves the right to change the program admission
requirements at any time. You must meet the admission requirements
that are in effect at the time you submit your application.
 Please review the checklist located below this STEPS Session on the
Libguides page and enter the information requested below the
checklist to receive credit for viewing this session.