A short blurb...

I have been really thinking about this a lot.  The AARC had assigned a task force for a thing called "Transitioning the Respiratory Therapist workforce for 2015 and beyond"  where they held three conferences between 2008 and 2010.  They decided a lot of things and one of those things was that the CoARC needed to abandon the AS and AAS credentialing of Respiratory Programs and only credential BS degrees.

I originally agreed with this, because it makes sense; a BSRT means that you are more prepared than an ASRT, right?  Probably not, actually.  There has been no difference in the clinical judgement abilities of AS vs BS new graduates that I have seen, but with a BS we do have more opportunity for advancement through management; which is cool.

I have decided the change needs to be in the ability of an RT to climb a clinical ladder.  There needs to be a Masters degree and a Doctorate degree available to an RT, where there currently is not.

I propose these additional program developments available to RT's

Masters of Science in Cardiopulmonary Medicine
"Pulmonology Associate" or "Pulmonology Physician's Assistant"
* Credentialed by the CoARC and the AAPA
You would become a credentialed PA by the AAPA, and the school would be accredited by both the CoARC and the AAPA.  Prerequisit would be a requirement to hold a BS and be a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
The scope of practice and prescriptionary allowance would be the same as a PA.

Doctorate in the Philosophy of Cardiopulmonary Medicine
This would not require additional credentialing other than the normal PhD program requirements.
The idea behind this would be a Philosophy in Pulmonology allowing for Research Scientist work or the ability to be a highly educated, educator.

Creating a clinical ladder would help the field a great deal and stop people from leaving to join other ladders that have better growth options.

Respiratory Therapy is a very unique profession, we are an interventionist like no other and cannot really be compared to any other profession without a great deal of exception.