The Respiratory Therapy Science Prerequisite Bundle- complete every science and foundation prerequisite for respiratory therapy school — online, self-paced, and on one accredited transcript.

Getting into respiratory therapy school usually means completing a cluster of science and foundation prerequisites before you even apply — anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, college math or statistics, and often medical terminology. Pieced together from different colleges, that can mean juggling multiple schedules, multiple transcripts, and a lot of administrative friction. There is an easier way.

The RT Science Prerequisite Bundle from PrereqCourses.com brings the whole set together in one place: self-paced, fully online courses, delivered through our regionally accredited university partner, on a single official transcript you can send to your program. You take exactly the courses your program requires, on your own timeline, and skip the headache of stitching prerequisites together across institutions.

Applicants typically need roughly 18 to 30 prerequisite credits completed before applying, with a grade of C or higher in each course and a competitive prerequisite GPA. This guide lays out the full bundle, what each course satisfies, and why completing them together makes sense. You can verify your specific program’s requirements through the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

In this guide

The bundle at a glance

Here is the full set of science and foundation prerequisites respiratory therapy programs commonly require, and how each maps to a PrereqCourses.com course. Click any course to read the detailed guide for that requirement.

Not every program requires every course — chemistry and medical terminology in particular vary — so the bundle is modular. Take the full set, or just the courses your target program asks for. Either way, they all land on one transcript.

Why complete them together

Completing your prerequisites as a bundle, in one place, has real advantages over assembling them from several colleges:

• One accredited transcript. All your prerequisites appear on a single official transcript from a regionally accredited institution — the type of accreditation respiratory therapy programs require for transfer credit — instead of chasing documents from multiple schools.
• One application timeline. Self-paced courses let you work on several prerequisites at once and finish on your schedule, so you can have everything complete before your program’s deadline.
• No scheduling Tetris. Skip the puzzle of fitting fixed-time, on-campus sections from different colleges around work and family. Start anytime and study when it suits you.
• Consistent quality and support. Courses built specifically to help applicants satisfy admission requirements, with a single, familiar platform across all of them.
• Often faster and more affordable. Motivated students can move through self-paced courses more quickly than a traditional term, completing the prerequisite slate in less time.

Because admission is competitive and weighs your prerequisite GPA, finishing the full set with strong grades — efficiently and on time — directly strengthens your application. After you graduate from a CoARC-accredited program, the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) administers the exams that lead to credentialing and licensure, so a strong prerequisite foundation pays off well beyond admissions.

How to build your bundle

Because requirements vary by program, a little planning ensures you take exactly what you need — no more, no less. Follow these steps:

1. Pull your target program’s prerequisite list. Start with the program you intend to apply to (or a few you are considering), and note exactly which courses it requires.
2. Resolve the variable courses. Confirm whether chemistry is required and how many semesters; whether the math requirement is algebra, statistics, or either; whether microbiology needs a lab; and whether medical terminology is required or recommended.
3. Check grade, recency, and lab rules. Most programs require a grade of C or higher, and many require science prerequisites completed within the last 5 years. Confirm any lab policy for microbiology and chemistry.
4. Confirm acceptance in writing. Send the relevant PrereqCourses.com course descriptions to your program’s admissions office and confirm they will be accepted — including any lab requirement — before you enroll.
5. Enroll and sequence smartly. Start the quick wins (like medical terminology) early, work the longer science courses in parallel, and aim to finish everything before your application deadline.

Explore each prerequisite in detail

Each course in the bundle has its own detailed guide covering the requirement, what the course includes, and how to satisfy it online:

• Anatomy & Physiology I & II (BIO 270 / BIO 275) — why the full two-semester sequence is required and what each semester covers.
• Microbiology (BIO 210) — the infection and infection-control prerequisite, plus the all-important lab question.
• Chemistry (CHEM 151 / CHEM 152) — when chemistry is required and how to read a one-semester-versus-two requirement.
• College Math & Statistics (MATH 107 / MATH 220) — the math requirement and the college-algebra-versus-statistics decision.
• Medical Terminology (EXSS 170) — why it gives applicants an edge even when it is optional.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to take all five prerequisites?

No — the bundle is modular. Anatomy and physiology and math are almost always required; microbiology is required by most programs; chemistry and medical terminology vary. Take the courses your specific program requires, all on one transcript.

Will these courses transfer to my respiratory therapy program?

Generally yes, when the credit comes from a regionally accredited institution and your program accepts the format — including any lab requirement for microbiology or chemistry. Always confirm acceptance with your program before enrolling.

How many prerequisite credits do I need?

Applicants typically need roughly 18 to 30 prerequisite credits before applying, though the exact number varies by program. Your target program’s prerequisite list is the definitive guide.

What grade do I need in each course?

A grade of C or higher is the standard minimum across respiratory therapy prerequisites. Because admission is competitive and weighs prerequisite GPA, stronger grades help your application.

How recent do my prerequisites need to be?

Many programs require science prerequisites completed within the last 5 years (some allow up to 10). Math and medical terminology rules vary. Check your program’s recency policy.

Can I really finish these online and self-paced?

Yes. All the bundle courses are online and self-paced. Math and medical terminology have no lab and are often quick to complete; for microbiology and chemistry, confirm how your program handles the lab. Motivated students can finish the full set efficiently.

Get started on your bundle

Respiratory therapy school starts with the prerequisites — and completing them in one place, online and on your own schedule, removes most of the friction from the journey. Confirm your target program’s requirements, build the bundle that matches, and finish with strong grades on a single accredited transcript.

Ready to begin? Explore the full Respiratory Therapy prerequisite catalog at PrereqCourses.com, choose the courses your program requires, and confirm acceptance with your program’s admissions office before enrolling.

Which prerequisites are required, credit totals, grade minimums, recency windows, and lab policies vary by institution and change over time. This guide is for general information only. Always confirm requirements directly with the respiratory therapy program you intend to apply to.