FORT WORTH, Texas — A top accrediting agency has recognized the Tarrant County College Respiratory Care Program with its Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award.
Through the award the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) hopes to emphasize the RRT (registered respiratory therapist) credential as a mark of achievement and thereby motivate students “to reach their highest educational and professional aspirations.”
CoARC’s recognition reflects key metrics documented in the 2024 Annual Report of Current Status. Programs selected for the honor must meet at least four criteria:
- Three or more years of outcomes data
- Accreditation without a progress report at the end of the year
- RRT credentialing success of 90% or above
- Meet or exceed established CoARC thresholds for TMC high cut score and retention; TMC is the Therapist Multiple-Choice exam
“This is our eighth consecutive year to receive this award,” noted associate professor Donald Holt, director of TCC’s Respiratory Care Program. “Fewer than 20 percent of programs achieve that honor.”
The program has had a perfect accreditation record since 1972.
TCC Respiratory Care is considered a top career/technical program in Texas and nationally. Holt says that although there are no actual ratings, TCC’s RRT success tally suggests the program is in the Top 3 statewide and Top 40 in the nation.
Graduates sing the attributes of the program and its faculty. 2023 grad Glen Belcher works as a respiratory therapist at Cook Children’s Health Care System.
“The faculty prepared us for success by ensuring we had a true understanding of the physiology, procedures and equipment necessary to become proficient in the field,” he said. “They care for their students and push them to succeed, not just in the program but in the workforce.”
Christian Gerken, another respiratory therapist at Cook Children’s, graduated in 2024. She said the program teaches the latest material needed to excel.
“The instructors are well educated and bring real-life experiences into the classroom,” she said, resulting in the students gaining “knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed in this specialized medical field.”
After graduating this year, Kyara Drayton joined the respiratory care team at John Peter Smith Hospital. She praises TCC for equipping her with the necessary skills to become a competent respiratory practitioner. She recommends the College for its location and numerous clinic settings.
For more information on the program visit Respiratory Care — TCC.
About Tarrant County College
Celebrating 60 years of excellence and impact in 2025, Tarrant County College is one of the nation’s largest higher education institutions and boasts the second lowest tuition of Texas’ Top 10 community colleges. A comprehensive community college with six campuses in Tarrant County, TCC offers a range of opportunities for learners of all ages and backgrounds, including Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science degrees; workforce and economic development programs; technical and skilled trades programs; and customized training for area businesses and corporations.