Currently, holders of an entry level Certified Respiratory Therapist credential (CRT) issued by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC), are eligible to practice in the United States. However, the advanced level Registered Respiratory Therapy (RRT) credential has become the entry requirement by most hospitals nationwide. The latter has created urgency for CRTs to finish the educational courses required to become RRT eligible.

 

As early as 2007, The American Association for Respiratory Care has concentrated efforts in identifying the new roles and responsibilities of a Respiratory Therapist for the year 2015 and beyond. A motion was set forth to establish the RRT credential as the entry level Standard of Practice. Between 2008 and 2010, the AARC held different meetings related to changes in health care geared to diminish cost and improve quality of service, and for the implementation of an educational plan to ensure that RTs acquire the knowledge, clinical expertise and the demeanor to be in compliance with the demands of an advanced level practitioner.

 

Credentialed RRTs have obtained the knowledge and skills necessary to perform assessment-based care, and design, evaluate and implement critical, floor, and home care respiratory therapy protocols. In turn, this knowledge allows for more autonomy in their scope of practice and has earned them the recognitionof the medical staff, Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, government regulators, and third party payers. In addition, the prestige and financial rewards for Respiratory Therapists at the state and national level will gain momentum as the number of RRTs increases, and the CRT credential disappears. Finally, an RRT credential is fast becoming the prerequisite for candidates aspiring to supervisor, educator, and management positions within the profession.

 

Florida National University (FNU), in its constant effort to assist the community it serves, is following the recommendations received from Respiratory Care Department Directors from several health care facilities in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties. Also, FNU follows recommendations from its Advisory Board as well as the guidelines of the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), and to this effect has created an admission procedure that will provide an alternative to facilitate active CRTs who aspire to complete their educational requirements mandated by the NBRC to become eligible to challenge the RRT credentialing

exams.

 

Other benefits from earning an RRT credential include the possibility of getting a higher salary and expanding the scope of practice as well as the enhancing worth of the individual. Our Respiratory Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) and by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC). FNU will pursue the possibility of partnering with local force work boards to provide to practicing CRTs with the possibility of obtain financial assistance to complete and meet NBRC requirements to earn their RRT credential.