How Specialty Credentials Can Advance Your Career
To become a respiratory therapist is one of the most important decisions you can make. By the time you graduate from your entry-into-practice respiratory therapy education program and pass your first NBRC Examination, you are more than capable of saving and changing lives. Your education and training are the foundation for excellence in respiratory care, but there’s always more to learn. If you’re seeking advancement in your career, specialty knowledge or maybe you just love to learn, consider obtaining an NBRC specialty credential.
What Specialty Credentials Do The NBRC Offer?
The NBRC has five specialty areas of expertise in respiratory care:
- Adult Critical Care Specialist (RRT-ACCS)
- This credential validates specialty knowledge in adult critical care. It also signifies an increased ability to administer technical devices, such as selective pulmonary vasodilators, other pharmacology, ECMO and more.
- Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist (RRT-NPS)
- This credential validates the skills, knowledge, and expertise of a respiratory therapist in the care of infants and children.
- Sleep Disorders Specialist (CRT-SDS or RRT-SDS)
- This credential is available to CRTs and/or RRTs and validates the competencies unique to diagnosing and treating sleep disorders.
- Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT, RPFT)
- These two credentials validate the ability to perform diagnostic breathing assessments that evaluate lung function, helping healthcare providers identify and track respiratory diseases, such as asthma and COPD.
- Asthma Educator Specialist (AE-C)
- This credential measures comprehensive knowledge of asthma pathophysiology and management, including developmental theories, cultural dimensions, the impact of chronic illness, and teaching-learning principles.
Why Should I Seek Specialty Credentials?
Earning a specialty credential demonstrates your dedication to advancing your knowledge and delivering excellent patient care. Employers, patients and colleagues will recognize you for your advanced knowledge, further cementing you as an indelible part of the healthcare team. The skills you bring to the table will in turn grant highly qualified specialty care to those who need it while expanding career opportunities for yourself. No matter which credentials you choose to pursue, having a specialty credential reflects your ability to learn advanced skills and maintain commitment to respiratory care.
For more information, click here to find powerful stories of respiratory therapists who have obtained specialty credentials.
