Respiratory Care Associate Degree boasts 97 percent job placement rate, as graduates achieve educational and professional success
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, the region’s preeminent institution for the health care field, has received the Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Credentialing Success Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) for its Respiratory Care program.
For the second year in a row, the College received this award in recognition of its success in preparing its Respiratory Care students to achieve the highest educational and professional aspirations. The award is presented as part of the CoARC’s continued efforts to value the RRT credential as a standard of professional achievement.
The award is based on a rolling three-year average of things like test scores, retention, and student/employer satisfaction.
“This past year in particular has shined a light on the critical and integral work of respiratory therapist in our communities and healthcare system for the best possible outcomes for patients,” said Jim Christie, Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences Respiratory Care Program Chair. “PA College’s Respiratory Care Program teaches those future healthcare workers the important interactive, hands-on experiences and interdisciplinary exercises that model the dynamics of a hospital, and real-life skills development through our clinical affiliates.”
Graduates awarded a Respiratory Care Associate Degree maintain a 97 percent placement rate. The current national placement rate is 87 percent. Program gradates also hold a 100 percent employer satisfaction rate and a 100 percent RRT credentialing success rate.
“We are honored to see our program recognized for our students’ success and outcomes and dedication to high-quality education, especially in a field that is so critical,” said Mary Grace Simcox, PhD, President of Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences. “This award is a testament to our faculty, students and graduates for meeting these rigorous criteria, as we collectively work toward training the future or successful, highly skilled registered respiratory therapists.”
PA College was recognized by the CoARC board of directors and awarded the distinguished honor by exceeding the following criteria:
- Have three or more years of outcomes data;
- Hold accreditation without a progress report;
- Maintains documented RRT credentialing success of 90 percent or above, and
- Meet or exceed established CoARC thresholds for CRT credentialing success and retention.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for respiratory therapists is $61,330. Employment demand for respiratory therapists is projected to grow 21 percent through 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. The COVID-19 pandemic has created an even greater need for licensed, skilled respiratory therapists to provide critical care for patients with severe pulmonary conditions caused by the virus.
For more information about Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences and the Respiratory Care Associate Degree, click here.
