MTC respiratory therapy program earns national honor

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Midlands Technical College’s respiratory therapy program has been awarded the highest level of distinction by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, the accrediting agency for all such programs in the country.

The Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist Credentialing Success award is presented to programs in recognition of success in preparing graduates to achieve educational and professional aspirations, according to a news release from MTC.

“MTC’s respiratory care program has been putting top-quality therapists into the workforce for more than 40 years,” Ron Rhames, MTC president, said in the release. “This is a testament to the dedicated faculty who teach these life-saving skills as well as the students and graduates who meet such rigorous criteria.”

Programs must meet key metrics to receive the award, including a 90% professional board exam pass rate. MTC graduates have achieved a 100% pass rate for the past four years, according to the release, and the program has posted 100% job placement for the past 10 years.

“Our graduates are highly sought after in the local healthcare community,” Eddie Jackson, MTC respiratory care program director, said. “In addition to the 100% job placement rate, 100% of the employers who hire our graduates report they are happy with their performance.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects jobs for respiratory therapists to grow 23% from 2016 to 2026, and respiratory therapists in the Midlands earn an average of $45,000, according to the release.