Polk State Respiratory Care celebrates decade of Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist Credentialing Success Award

Polk State College’s Respiratory Care Program is a leading training provider for respiratory therapists in Polk County, and students can rest assured that they are receiving quality higher education that contributes directly to their success in the field. Polk State Respiratory Care received the national Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Credentialing Success Award for the 10th consecutive year from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

The Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award requires programs to have three or more years of outcomes data; hold accreditation without a progress report; document RRT credentialing success of 90% or above; and meet or exceed established CoARC thresholds for TMC high cut score and retention.

Polk State Respiratory Care boasts a 100% pass rate on the credentialing exam as well as a 100% employment rate.

“It is always exciting when we receive this award, but especially this year as it’s the 10th consecutive year we have received it,” Program Director Jordan Emro exclaimed. “I am so proud of our program, and all the accomplishments we have achieved.”

Emro accepted the award alongside Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Shana Kent-Smith, former program director for Polk State Respiratory Care, during the American Association for Respiratory Care Conference in Utah.

They also utilized their time at the conference to learn, network, and bring back not only best practices to share but also $10,000 for student scholarships from the National Board of Respiratory Care.

“I was able to network with other educators, therapists, and speakers on all things respiratory care,” Emro shared. “I attended many sessions geared toward classroom learning, how to teach critical thinking, and other ways to improve the student experience in our program. I was able to observe some of the latest technology from vendors and learn about new policies that are coming our way for our program.”

While the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award is nothing new for Polk State Respiratory Care, it is a milestone accomplishment with 10 consecutive years of awards to celebrate. The Respiratory Care Program is committed to continuous improvement and enhancements for students to ensure training remains on the cutting edge of technology and healthcare needs.

“It was an honor to be recognized this year, and our hope is to continue this trend year after year,” Emro said.