Respiratory Care: Organizations and Associations

Since 1947, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) has been committed to enhancing the professionalism of respiratory care practitioners, improving performance on the job, and helping to broaden the scope of knowledge essential for success. With more than 47,000 members nationwide, the AARC is the only professional society for respiratory therapists in hospitals and employed with home care companies, as managers of respiratory and cardiopulmonary services, and working educators who provide respiratory care training. The Respiratory Care links provides a comprehensive list of affiliated organizations, AARC state societies, government and health care organizations. Several excellent resources are also available.

From the website: "The American College of Chest Physicians is the global leader in advancing best patient outcomes through innovative chest medicine education, clinical research, and team-based care. With more than 18,700 members representing 100+ countries around the world, our mission is to champion the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases through education, communication, and research."

From the website: "ALA is the oldest voluntary health organization in the United States. Founded to fight tuberculosis, the American Lung Association today fights lung diseases in all its forms, with emphasis on asthma, tobacco control and environmental health."

The ATC supports and educates healthcare professions in the areas of pulmonology, critical care, sleep medicine, infectious disease, pediatrics, allergy/immunology, thoracic surgery, behavior science, as well as environmental and occupational medicine.

From the website: "The California Society for Respiratory Care (CSRC), as an affiliate of the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC), is a non-profit professional organization, whose mission is to represent and support our members through public and legislative advocacy, educational opportunities, and to continuously strive for excellence in the cardiopulmonary profession. The CSRC strives to be the elite provider of education, consumer information and the benchmark for professionalism."

The State of California's Licensing Board for Respiratory Care Therapists.

The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) is a voluntary health certifying board which was created in 1960 to evaluate the professional competence of respiratory therapists.