SPRINGFIELD, MO (July 23, 2025) — For the 16th year in a row, the Respiratory Therapy program at Ozarks Technical Community College received national recognition for its exceptional student outcomes. The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) honored Ozarks Tech with the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award, which acknowledges programs with high success rates on the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credentialing exam.
Ozarks Tech is the only community college in the nation to receive the award every year since its inception in 2009.
“This recognition speaks to the dedication of our students, faculty, and clinical partners who work together to prepare skilled, compassionate caregivers,” said Brandon Burk, Program Director of Respiratory Therapy. “It reflects a culture of excellence and a shared commitment to serving our communities when it matters most.”
Laboratory Coordinator Nathan Pounds accepted the award on behalf of the college during the AARC Summer Forum in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The honor comes as the respiratory care profession experiences rising demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, national employment for respiratory therapists is projected to grow 13% by 2033, with a median annual wage exceeding $80,000, outpacing many other health care fields. Ozarks Tech graduates work in hospitals, clinics and emergency settings across southwest Missouri and beyond.
Ozarks Tech made history in 2024 as the first community college in Missouri to graduate students with a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy. The program is designed to offer students an affordable and accessible four-year degree without the need to transfer.
Samantha Gonzalez, one of the program’s first bachelor’s degree graduates, credits the college with helping her find her calling.
“The COVID pandemic shined a spotlight on the vital work of respiratory therapists,” said Gonzalez. “I wanted to be part of something meaningful, and Ozarks Tech gave me the knowledge, skills and support to get there.”
To learn more about Ozarks Tech’s associate and bachelor’s degree options in Respiratory Therapy, visit the program website.