In keeping with the AARC’s recent Position Statement on Respiratory Therapist Education, the Commission on Accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC) has issued a proposed revision to its Accreditation Standards for Entry into Respiratory Care Professional Practice stating that “an educational sponsor must be a post-secondary academic institution accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and must be authorized under applicable law or other acceptable authority to award graduates of the program a baccalaureate or graduate degree upon completion of the program.”
If approved, the new standard will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2018.
CoARC emphasizes that the new standard will apply only to newly created respiratory care programs. Associate degree programs that are accredited prior to Jan. 1, 2018, and remain in good standing may continue to be accredited by CoARC.
CoARC will be accepting comments on the proposal through April 1, and has published this document on the decision, which includes a list of FAQs aimed at answering the questions that respiratory therapy educators and others may have about the proposed changes.
Email newsroom@aarc.org with questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you.
