SOWELA is Currently Enrolling Students Interested in a Respiratory Therapist Career
Lake Charles, Louisiana – December 4, 2025
SOWELA Technical Community College recently received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to offer an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Respiratory Care. The program will prepare students to enter the workforce as a registered respiratory therapist. Students are encouraged to enroll in the Spring 2026 semester to complete their general education requirements for an anticipated Fall 2026 start in respiratory care coursework.
“We are very excited to offer this program and expand our Allied Health offerings,” said School of Nursing and Allied Health Dean Kristine Stout. “This program will allow students who are interested in becoming a respiratory therapist to be able to stay local rather than travel for school. SOWELA is an institution that is responsive to business and industry needs, and respiratory care adds one more program to our list that provides students with in-demand healthcare career opportunities.”
According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, a respiratory therapist is a five-star job based on occupational outlook, educational requirements and salary. On average, entry-level respiratory therapists make approximately $59,000 annually.
The program will prepare individuals with the knowledge, hands-on skills and professional behaviors essential for modern respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs). It emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking and compassionate care and service. Skills and knowledge are taught to provide cardiopulmonary care for all ages across the lifespan. The goal of the program is to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practices as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
Graduates will be eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) professional credentialing examination and be prepared to enter the workforce as a registered respiratory therapist. The program prepares students for immediate employment in the healthcare field and enhances the possibility of transferring coursework to a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care program.
For more information about the SOWELA respiratory care program, visit www.sowela.edu/respiratory-care. Registration for Spring 2026 is now open, with scholarships and financial aid available to eligible students. Call (337) 421-6550 or email onestop@sowela.edu for more information.
For the eighth time in nine years, WalletHub ranked SOWELA as Louisiana’s #1 community college, recognizing its excellence in affordability, education outcomes and career readiness.
About SOWELA Technical Community College
SOWELA Technical Community College offers dynamic instruction and practical learning opportunities that prepare students to seamlessly transfer or to excel in today’s workforce. For more information, visit www.sowela.edu.
Accreditation Statement
SOWELA Technical Community College #200695 Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory is currently in the process of seeking Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accreditation for a respiratory care program. However, SOWELA Technical Community College can provide no assurance that accreditation will be granted by the CoARC.