The Respiratory Care Program at Tarrant County College Trinity River East Campus will receive the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care’s (CoARC) Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award, joining a select group of programs from across the country.
This award is presented as part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to value the RRT credential as a measure of a program’s success in inspiring its graduates to achieve their highest educational and professional aspirations. TCC’s Respiratory Care Program is accredited by CoARC. A certificate of recognition will be presented to TCC representatives during CoARC’s reception on Saturday, July 20, 2019 during the American Association of Respiratory Care‘s Summer Forum in Fort Lauderdale.
In selecting programs for this recognition, the CoARC Board used objective criteria based on key accreditation metrics documented in the 2018 Annual Report of Current Status (RCS). These programs were required to: (1) have three or more years of outcomes data; (2) hold accreditation without a progress report; (3) document RRT credentialing success of 90 percent or above and (4) meet or exceed established CoARC thresholds for CRT credentialing success, retention and on-time graduation rate.
“TCC is honored to have our accomplishments recognized by CoARC,” said TCC Trinity River President Sean Madison. “As we all know, the health care industry is rapidly changing. Accordingly, our teams are focused on making sure that our health care professions programs are quality, market-relevant ones. This distinction from CoARC in some ways validates the hard work and insights of our health sciences faculty.”
After completing TCC’s two-year program and earning an Associate of Applied Science degree, graduates are eligible to take several credentialing exams. During the three-year reporting period (Jan. 1, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2016), approximately 93 percent passed the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam and 87 percent passed the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) exam. Seventy students enrolled during the reporting period, with 54 graduating from the program.
Under the supervision of a physician, the therapist will perform diagnostic tests, pulmonary rehabilitation and education for patients ranging from premature infants with underdeveloped lungs to elderly patients with diseased lungs. The median salary in 2018 for a respiratory care therapist was $60,280. Employment is expected to grow 23 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average of all occupations.
Learn more about TCC’s award-winning Respiratory Care Program.