Respiratory Care Program Honored for Credentialing Success
March 02, 2026
Posted by School of Health Professions in News Resources
St. Louis Community College’s respiratory care program has been recognized with the 2025 President’s Award for Excellence in Credentialing Success from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
The President’s Award is CoARC’s highest recognition and is presented to programs that demonstrate exceptional outcomes in credentialing success, retention and overall program performance. STLCC’s recognition reflects the program’s strong results and continued commitment to student achievement.
With this honor, STLCC’s respiratory care program has now been recognized for six consecutive years. From 2020 through 2023, the program received the Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Credentialing Success Award. In 2024 and 2025, the program earned the President’s Award for Excellence in Credentialing Success.
Programs receiving this recognition must meet rigorous standards, including maintaining accreditation without a progress report, achieving high credentialing success rates and meeting or exceeding national benchmarks for exam performance and retention .
STLCC’s respiratory care program has been accredited since 1968 and continues to build on a long-standing record of student success. The program offers both an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in respiratory care, providing students with opportunities to advance their education and prepare for leadership roles in the field.
The demand for respiratory care practitioners remains high both locally and nationwide. In the St. Louis region, workforce shortages continue to highlight the need for well-trained professionals.
Through classroom instruction, lab experience and clinical training, the program prepares students to assess, treat and care for patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary conditions. Graduates are prepared to enter the workforce and support health care teams in hospitals, clinics and other care settings.
This recognition highlights STLCC’s continued commitment to excellence in respiratory care education and student outcomes.
