American Association for Respiratory Care
(AARC)
Founded in 1947, the AARC is a not-for-profit professional association with 40,000 members worldwide. Our primary membership consists of respiratory therapists, allied health practitioners who are trained at the 2- and 4-year college level to assist physicians in the care of patients with lung disorders and other conditions. Respiratory therapists can be found in all areas of health care, including hospitals, home care, nursing homes, and physicians’ offices — in short, anywhere patients are being treated for lung diseases.
A network of 50 state societies involves members in local and state activities, and ten Specialty Sections meet the needs of practitioners involved in specific care areas or settings.
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National Board for Respiratory Care
(NBRC)
With our mission of promoting excellence in respiratory care by awarding credentials based on high competency standards, The National Board for Respiratory Care shares your goal of protecting and enhancing patient lives. Nearly 40,000 candidates test for NBRC credentials each year, seeking to demonstrate how excellence defines them across seven specific areas of respiratory care.
NBRC credentials provide recognition for hard work and dedication to quality. Success brings respect among colleagues and instills a sense of pride in those who earn the NBRC badges of distinction. Why? For the same reason all 49 states regulating the profession recognize NBRC examinations as standards for state licensure: success requires exceptional knowledge and competency. Our NCCA-accredited examinations—which are developed by respiratory care professionals and predictive of job performance—provide the opportunity to prove readiness for excellence in patient care.
Commssion on Accrediation for Respiratory Care (COARC)
The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredits Entry into Professional Practice respiratory care programs at the Associate, Baccalaureate, and Master’s degree levels, as well as post-professional Degree Advancement respiratory care programs at the Baccalaureate and Master’s degree levels and Advanced Practice respiratory care programs at the graduate level. The CoARC also accredits certificate programs that train sleep disorders specialists offered by any of its accredited respiratory care programs. CoARC accreditation is limited to programs physically located in the United States and its territories. (2020) 2023
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CoARC is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). www.chea.org