MCC’s Respiratory Care Program Receives RRT Credentialing Success Award

MANCHESTER, Conn. (June 23, 2022) – Manchester Community College has again been recognized with the Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Credentialing Success Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

The award recognizes MCC’s superb pass rate on the RRT credentialing exam, which has averaged 97 percent over the last three years. The college’s program has been recognized by CoARC every year since 2016.

In the state of Connecticut, in order to get a Respiratory Care license, the graduate needs this credential.

“The success of the program is largely because of the classroom and clinical instructors, along with the guidance of our students provided by specialists at hospitals,” according to Professor Nancy LaRoche-Shovak, MS, RRT, MCC’s Respiratory Care program coordinator. “We have many clinical hospital sites in the Hartford and New Haven area, and they offer excellent exposure for our students. We also have a very active advisory committee adding support to remain relevant to changing healthcare needs.”

MCC’s Respiratory Care Class of 2022. Photo credit: Brian Lombardo

Programs awarded were required to have three or more years of outcomes data, hold accreditation without a progress report, document RRT credentialing success of 90 percent or above, and meet or exceed established CoARC thresholds for certified respiratory therapist credentialing success, attrition and positive job placement.

About the Respiratory Care Program

MCC’s respiratory care program offers a two-year associate in science degree designed to meet the standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care. The program offers students a combination of strong classroom preparation and rigorous clinical experience in a wide variety of healthcare settings. Graduates of this program are trained to care for patients with heart and lung diseases.