Note: This file photo was taken in spring semester before suspending face-to-face courses due to the pandemic.
Dalton State’s respiratory therapy program was recently recognized for its continued success and commitment to providing students real-world experience.
For the seventh year in a row, the program earned the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award, a designation received by 17% of accredited programs, said Cindy Davis, program director.
“We have one of the highest pass rates on the RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) credentialing exam in the nation,” Davis said. “Since 2013 we have been being recognized by the accrediting board through our selection for this prestigious award.”
Students in the respiratory therapy program utilize a state-of-the-art simulation lab at Dalton State. The lab allows students to experience real-life situations in a safe environment before ever working with patients.
Real-life learning doesn’t stop in the simulation lab. Respiratory therapy students also spend hundreds of hours in a clinical setting before graduating. With 14 additional clinical sites in the region, students can gain experience working in a wide variety of environments ranging from community hospitals to major trauma centers, Davis said.
The Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award is only given to institutions that meet a specific list of objective criteria based on various metrics measured annually. Among them is success of the program, including RRT credentialing success of over 90% and other thresholds measured by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
“We have not only one of the most successful programs, but also one of the most affordable. We are offering all of this to students at one of the lowest tuition rates in the state,” Davis said.
To learn more about the respiratory therapy program at Dalton State and how to apply, visit the Respiratory Therapy webpage or contact Davis at [email protected].
