Entry into Practice Standards

Current Version in Effect 3/2024

Accreditation Standards for Entry into Respiratory Care Professional Practice

CoARC is revising its Accreditation Standards for Entry into Respiratory Care Professional Practice and seeks public comments on the proposed 2025 Standards.

SECTION I Draft 2

SECTION II Draft 2

SECTION III Draft 2

SECTION IV Draft 2

SECTION V Draft 2

DEFINITIONS Draft 2

Deadline for Written Comments:
Comments must be received by September 30, 2025, and should be addressed to Shelley Christensen (shelley@coarc.com)

Submitting Written Comments:
Written comments may be submitted in advance, at the public hearing, or
directly to CoARC staff. All written testimony must:

• -Be related to the draft 2025 Standards
• -Include the commenter’s full name, affiliation or
  relationship to the profession (e.g., student, educator, employer,
  clinical preceptor, community member), and contact information (email and phone)
• -Be signed (typed signature acceptable if submitted
  electronically)

2025 Entry Standards Revision Process

The Policies/Standards/Bylaws Committee will review feedback, and revisions will continue until final approval. Updates about the Standards review process will continue to be posted.

Questions about the process for submitting comments and suggestions should be addressed to Tom Smalling, CEO, at tom@coarc.com.

*CoARC’s communities of interest include:

• -Matriculated and prospective students of RC programs
• Respiratory care educators (PDs, DCEs, Medical Directors, faculty)
• -Individuals associated with RC educational program (CEOs, Deans, Advisory Committee members)
• -Individuals involved in the accreditation process (CoARC employees, site visitors)
• -Professional organizations associated with CoARC
  • -American Association for Respiratory Care, the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Thoracic Society, the Society for Critical Care Medicine, the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions, and the National Board for Respiratory Care
• -Practitioners
• -Employers of graduates of CoARC-accredited programs
• -Respiratory care department supervisors
• -Consumers (patients)
• -Regulators (licensure boards, state and federal higher education agencies)
• -Recognition bodies (Council for Higher Education Accreditation)
• -Accreditors (regional, national, and specialized accreditors)
• -Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors
• -Other health care professionals and organizations.