Educational opportunities abound for respiratory therapists—and respiratory therapists to-be—if they know
where to look. Here, RM streamlines the searching process
with the following compilation of educational sources we
have identified for RTs, be they eager beginners or seasoned
veterans.
Continuing Education
If you’re an established respiratory therapist seeking credits
for continuing respiratory care education, there are several
source options available to you. The AARC offers approved
self-study webinars and online courses, some of which are
free for members. All are available at a fee for non-members.
Topics include a prep course for Asthma Educator
Certification, how to wade through the healthcare reimbursement
system, and technical information on the latest aerosol
medications. To learn more, go to www.aarc.org.
Sometimes respiratory equipment companies can be an
RT’s best source for education, as such companies are often
on the cutting edge of the latest trends and technologies in
the field. However, the type and scope of education that is
provided varies widely from source to source. The chart at
the bottom of pages 26 and 27 lists by geographic region
respiratory companies that provide educational services. Use
the key below the chart to determine which companies offer
which services. (Note: The information below is subject to
change and may not include every company offering education.
We encourage you to check other additional HME
companies and inquire.—Ed)
Just Starting Out?
Although basic training in respiratory therapy is a two-year
process, that minimal education is less than ideal for a
beginner looking to compete in today’s market. Employers
now often look for a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree
before taking on a new RT.
Programs at the following colleges have been accredited* to
offer a baccalaureate degree in Respiratory Therapy:
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, http://main.uab.edu
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, www.uams.edu
- Loma Linda University (California), www.llu.edu
- University of Hartford, www.hartford.edu
- Florida A&M University, www.famu.edu
- *Georgia State University, www.gsu.edu
- Medical College of Georgia, www.mcg.edu
- Clarian Health and Affiliated Universities:
- Ball State University, www.bsu.edu
- Indiana University, www.iu.edu
University of Indianapolis, www.uindy.edu - University of Kansas Medical Center, www.kumc.edu
- Bellarmine University (Kentucky), www.kumc.edu
- *Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center,
www.lsuhsc.edu - Salisbury University (Maryland), www.salisbury.edu
- Universities at Shady Grove (Maryland),
www.shadygrove.umd.edu - St. Catherine University (Minnesota), www.stkate.edu
- University of Minnesota-Mayo Clinic, www.r.umn.edu
- University of Missouri, www.missouri.edu
- University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey,
www.umdnj.edu - SUNY Health Science Center at Stony Brook (New York),
www.hsc.stonybrook.edu - SUNY Upstate Medical University (New York),
www.upstate.edu - St. Alexius Medical Center-University of Mary (North Dakota),
www.umary.edu - The Ohio State University, http://osu.edu
- University of Akron, www.uakron.edu
- University of Toledo, www.utoledo.edu
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania, www.hhs.iup.edu
- West Chester University-Bryn Mawr Hospital,
www.wcupa.edu - Baptist College of Health Sciences (Tennessee), www.bchs.edu
- Tennessee State University, www.tnstate.edu
- Texas State University-San Marcos, www.health.txstate.edu
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio,
www.uthscsa.edu - University of Texas Medical Branch, www.sahs.utmb.edu
- Shenandoah University (Virginia), www.su.edu
- Wheeling Jesuit University (West Virginia), www.wju.edu
*Accreditation is subject to change; this was the most current information
available at press time.
**Respiratory Therapy programs at these institutions also award a
master’s degree.
Sleep Therapy Education
Sleep therapy is a rapidly growing specialization for respiratory
therapists. For more about sleep education, contact any
of the following sources:
Alabama School of Sleep Medicine & Technology
(800) 338-0757
www.alsleep.com
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
(708) 492-0930
www.aasmnet.org
American Association of Sleep Technologists (AAST)
(708) 492-0796
www.aastweb.org
Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine & Technology
(678) 651-2000
www.sleepschool.com
National Sleep Foundation
(202) 347-3471
www.sleepfoundation.org
School of Clinical Polysomnography
(800) 949-8195
www.oregonsleepschool.com
School of Sleep Medicine
(650) 326-1296
www.sleepedu.net
Sleep Health Management Resources Inc
(815) 298-0696
www.sleep-health.com
About Accreditation
The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) reminds
students to seek out accredited respiratory therapy schools,
which will carry official approval from The Commission on
Accreditation in Allied Health Education (CAAHEP) or the
Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). The
websites of the CAAHEP and the CoARC both provide search
functions for locating accredited education programs at the entry
and the advanced levels. To use these valuable tools, go to
www.caahep.org or
www.coarc.com.
degree.
