Guide — RT Career & Professional Practice
Professional Organizations in Respiratory Care
Four kinds of organizations govern and support respiratory care: the professional association, the credentialing board, the education accreditor, and state societies. This guide explains who does what and why it matters to your career.
7 min read · RT Career & Professional Practice
Written by Apex Respiratory Editorial Team
Educational use only. This material supports respiratory therapy education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, or physician orders. Always follow facility policies and current provider orders, and verify calculations independently before clinical use.
Overview
The respiratory care profession is shaped by four distinct types of organizations, each with a non-overlapping role. One advocates for the profession and advances clinical practice. One certifies individual competence through examinations and credentials. One ensures that educational programs meet the standards graduates need. And state-level societies protect licensure and provide local representation. Understanding who does what prevents confusion — and helps you engage with the right organization at the right time in your career.
Key Concepts
The four pillars of professional organization in respiratory care:
| Organization | Role |
|---|---|
| American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) | Professional membership association — advocacy, education, clinical practice guidelines, statement of ethics, scope-of-practice statements, and the journal Respiratory Care. |
| National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) | Credentialing body — develops and administers the CRT/RRT examinations and specialty credentials, and manages credential maintenance. |
| Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) | Accredits respiratory care educational programs. Graduation from a CoARC-accredited program is required for NBRC exam eligibility. |
| State societies / chartered affiliates | Represent RTs at the state level — licensure advocacy and local continuing education. |
Why It Matters
Each organization addresses a different layer of professional life, and understanding the division helps you know where to turn.
- AARC — advancing the profession. The AARC publishes clinical practice guidelines that inform bedside decisions, maintains the statement of ethics, and advocates in Washington for respiratory care’s scope of practice. Membership connects you to national standards and continuing education.
- NBRC — certifying competence. The NBRC examinations (TMC, CSE) and the resulting credentials (CRT, RRT and specialty designations) communicate to employers and patients that you have met a validated standard. The NBRC also manages credential maintenance requirements.
- CoARC — ensuring education quality. Because NBRC exam eligibility requires graduation from a CoARC-accredited program, CoARC is the quality gate for every RT entering the workforce. Employers use accreditation status as a signal of program rigor.
- State societies — protecting your license. Licensure is governed at the state level. State respiratory care societies monitor and engage in state legislative processes, advocating on scope-of-practice and licensure issues that directly affect your daily work. They also host local continuing education events.
Common Pitfalls
- Confusing the AARC with the NBRC. The AARC is the professional association; the NBRC is the credentialing body. They are separate organizations with separate missions, governance, and membership. A question about your CRT or RRT exam goes to the NBRC; a question about clinical practice guidelines goes to the AARC.
- Assuming AARC membership grants a credential. AARC membership provides professional benefits — education, advocacy, networking — but it does not certify clinical competence. Credentials are earned through NBRC examinations only.
- Overlooking the state society. Licensure issues, scope-of-practice legislation, and local continuing education are handled at the state level, not by the national AARC or the NBRC. RTs who ignore their state society may miss developments that affect their license and daily practice.
Key Takeaways
- AARC is the professional association — advocacy, education, clinical practice guidelines, ethics, scope-of-practice statements, and the journal Respiratory Care.
- NBRC is the credentialing body — it develops and administers the CRT, RRT, and specialty credential examinations, and manages credential maintenance.
- CoARC accredits educational programs; graduation from a CoARC-accredited program is required for NBRC exam eligibility.
- State societies provide state-level representation — licensure advocacy and local continuing education.
- These are separate, complementary bodies. AARC membership does not confer a credential, and NBRC credentials are not managed by the AARC.
FAQ
What is the difference between the AARC and the NBRC?
The AARC (American Association for Respiratory Care) is the professional membership association — it handles advocacy, education, clinical practice guidelines, and the journal Respiratory Care. The NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care) is the credentialing body — it develops and administers the CRT, RRT, and specialty credential examinations. They are entirely separate organizations with different missions.
What does CoARC do?
The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredits respiratory care educational programs. Graduation from a CoARC-accredited program is required for NBRC exam eligibility, making CoARC a gateway to credentialing.
Does AARC membership grant a respiratory care credential?
No. AARC membership is a professional affiliation — it provides access to education, networking, advocacy resources, and clinical practice guidelines. Credentials such as the CRT and RRT are issued solely by the NBRC after passing its examinations.
Why join the AARC or a state society?
The AARC advocates at the national level for the profession, publishes clinical practice guidelines, and provides continuing education. State societies and chartered affiliates represent RTs in state legislatures on licensure issues and offer local continuing education opportunities. Membership in either connects you to the profession beyond your institution.
Go deeper
Each organization plays a different role — and different letters after your name. See the credentials glossary.
See the credentials glossary →Related Resources
Sources
- Kacmarek RM, Stoller JK, Heuer AJ. Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care. 12th ed. Elsevier; 2021. The respiratory care profession.
- American Association for Respiratory Care. About the AARC and the respiratory care credentialing and accreditation system. AARC.