Pennsylvania Society
For Respiratory Care
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Respiratory Care Educational Programs in Pennsylvania
Thank you for your interest in becoming a respiratory therapist! It's an exciting and rewarding career that is growing. By visiting this page, you are taking an wise step to gain more information on how to obtain the necessary education in order to become a respiratory therapist. There are many schools in Pennsylvania that offer programs in Respiratory Care. However, not all schools are alike and there are pros and cons to attending all of them. Like any other profession, it is important that you do your homework on the schools you are considering to make sure you pick the one that is best for YOU! We recommend you pay particular attention to the school's accreditation type, the Respiratory Care program's accreditation status and the program's outcomes data.
Schools In Pennsylvania
All accredited programs in Pennsylvania are listed at the bottom of this page. Scroll down the page to view the list.
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School Accreditation
To begin practicing as a licensed respiratory therapist in one of the 48 states that require a license or legal credentialing (including Pennsylvania), you must first obtain a minimum of an Associate’s Degree in an accredited program of Respiratory Care. In addition, some colleges and universities offer a Bachelor’s Degree as well. There are currently over 20 programs in respiratory care offered throughout the state and while there are many differences among these programs, if they appear on this page, they meet the necessary accreditation requirements for graduates to sit for the licensing examination.
The word "accreditation" is used often in the Respiratory Care profession. This is especially true when it comes to colleges and universities that offer respiratory therapy programs. These schools in Pennsylvania are either regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education or nationally accredited by one of several agencies such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Is there a difference? In a word - YES. The main difference between the two types of accreditation are that credits earned from institutions that are regionally accredited are more widely accepted and thus more easily transferable. This is particularly important if you wish to continue your education to earn a higher degree such as a Bachelor degree OR if you would like to transfer to a different respiratory care program. If you attend a program that is regionally accredited, you will find a much larger number of programs that will accept your completed credits towards to be used towards meeting the higher degree requirements. If you attend a program in a nationally accredited program, you will only be able to transfer those credits to another nationally accredited program. For a more detailed explanation of the differences between regional and national accreditation, click here!
Program Accreditation
In addition to a school's accreditation, the respiratory care program itself must be accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). The schools listed below offer a program in respiratory therapy that has received either "Continuing Accreditation" or "Initial Accreditation". Other programs may be available in various parts of the state that have received "Provisional Accreditation" from CoARC. These programs will be listed on this page once they have received their "Initial Accreditation". For more information on the different types of CoARC accreditation, click here.
Program Outcomes
CoARC requires Respiratory Care programs to submit an annual report of certain outcome measurements. Click Here to view / download the report showing all schools in Pennsylvania (2017 reporting data).
Respiratory Therapy Programs in Pennsylvania
Programs are listed alphabetically by their location in a PSRC district. See the PSRC District map below and scroll down the page to view the schools in each district.
West District Central District East District
NOTE: Click on the name of the school (in blue) to visit their website. Only schools who's program director is member of the AARC / PSRC are listed on this page.
Provisional Accreditation status denotes a developmental program, in which assurances are expected to be provided that the program may become accredited as programmatic experiences are gained, generally, once graduates have been produced and at least three (3) reporting years of outcomes has been collected and analyzed. The conferral of Provisional Accreditation also authorizes the sponsor to admit its first class of students.
East District RC Programs
Community College of Philadelphia
Respiratory Care Technology - AS Degree only
1700 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
Program Director: Lauren Diduch, MBA, RRT
Phone: 215-751-8801
Email: ldiduch@ccp.edu
Last Accreditation Review March 2017. Next Accreditation Review March 2027
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Gwynedd Mercy University
Respiratory Care Program - AS & BS Degrees offered
1325 Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437
Program Director: Randy Solly, MS, RRT
Phone: 215-646-7300
Email: solly.w@gmercyu.edu
Last Accreditation Review: March 2018. Next Accreditation Review March 2028
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​Northampton County Community College​
Respiratory Care Program - AS Degree only
511 E. Third Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
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Program Director: Tina Fitzgerald, MA, RRT
Phone: 610-332-6410
Email: tfitzgerald@northampton.edu
Last Acceditation Review July 2024 with Provisional Accreditation. Next Accreditation TBD.
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Reading Area Community College
Respiratory Care Program - AS Degree only
10 South Second St., PO Box 1706, Reading, PA 19603-1706
Program Director: Jenna Sychterz, MEd, RRT, RRT-ACCS
Phone: 610-372-4721 EXT. 5435
Email: jsychterz@racc.edu
Last Accreditation November 2016. Next Accreditation Review November 2026.
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West Chester University / Bryn Mawr Hospital
Respiratory Care Program - BS Degree only
130 South Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Program Director: Brian Kellar MS, MEd, RRT-NPS, RPFT
Phone: 484-337-3347
Email: kellarb@mlhs.org
Last Accreditation Review March 2016. Next Accreditation March 2026.
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Thomas Jefferson University / National Jewish Health
Respiratory Care Program - BS Degree Entry into Practice and BS Degree Advancement
901 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Program Director: Jerin Juby, DMgt, MA, RRT
Phone: 215-503-4943
Email: Jerin.Juby@jefferson.edu
Last Accreditation Review July 2023. Provisional Accreditation. Next Accreditation Review TBD.
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Central District RC Programs
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Respiratory Care Program - BS Degree
One Guthrie Square, Sayre, PA 18840
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Program Director: Sheila Merrill, MSEd, RRT
Phone: 570-887-4513
Email: merrill_sheila@guthrie.org
Last Accreditation Review: March 2016. Next Accreditation March 2026.
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Harrisburg Area Community College
Respiratory Care Program - AS Degree only
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110
Program Director: Curtis Aumiller MS, MBA, RRT-NPS
Phone: 717-780-2313
Email: rcaumill@hacc.edu
Last Accreditation Review July 2024. Next Accreditation July 2034.
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Respiratory Therapy Program - BS Degree
2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509
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Program Director: Jonelle Vinton, MHA ,RRT-NPS
Phone: 570-348-2278
Email: jvinton@maryu.marywood.edu
Last Accreditation Review March 2020 with Provisional Accreditation. Next Accreditation Review February 2026
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Luzerne County Community College
Respiratory Care Program - AS Degree only
38 East Main Street, Nanticoke, Pa. 18634
Program Director: John Conrad, BS, RRT-NPS
Phone: 570-740-0318
Email: jconrad@luzerne.edu
Last Accreditation Review November 2023 with Provisions.
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Respiratory Care Program - AS Only
850 Greenfield Road, Lancaster, PA 17601
Program Director: Joel Benner, M.Ed RRT
Phone: 717-947-6327
Email: jbenner1@sju.edu
Last Accreditation Review March 2017. Next Accreditation Review March 2017
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Millersville University/Lancaster Regional Medical
Program in Respiratory Therapy - BS Degree only
1 South George Street, Millersville, Pa 17551
Program Director: Elaine Chrissos BSEd, RRT
Phone: 717-625-5162
Email: elaine.chrissos@millersville.edu
Last Accreditation Review: November 2017. Next Accreditation Review November 2027.
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West District RC Programs
Respiratory Therapy - AS and BS offered
3333 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
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Program Director: April Butchki, MEd, RRT
Phone: 412-578-6558
Email: abutchki@carlow.edu
Last Accreditation Review: July 2024. Next Accreditation Review July 2029.
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Community College of Allegheny County
Respiratory Therapy - AS Degree only
808 Ridge Ave, Pittsburg, PA 15212
Program Director: Richard Laurent BS, RRT
Phone: 412-237-2704
Email: rlaurent@ccac.edu
Last Accreditation Review: July 2020. Next Review July 2030.
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Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Respiratory Care Program - BS Degree
400 Penn Center Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Program Director: Jackie Heisler, PhD, RRT
Phone: 724-294-6348
Email: jheisler@iup.edu
Last Accreditation Review November 2022. Next Accreditation Review November 2032
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Laurel Business Institute
Respiratory Care Program - AS Degree
11 East Penn Street, Uniontown, PA 15401
Program Director: Maria Schmucker, MBA, RRT
Phone: 724-439-4900
Email: maria.schmucker@laurel.edu
Last Accreditation Review November 2018. Next Accreditation Review November 2028
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Laurel Business Institute
Respiratory Care Program - AS Degree only
2370 Broadway Avenue, Hermitage, PA 16148
Program Director: Stacey Beckinger, MBA, RRT
Phone: 724-983-0700
Email: stacey.beckinger@laurel.edu
Last Accreditation Review June 2017. Next Accreditation Review June 2027.
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Mercyhurst University
Respiratory Care Program - AS Degree only
501 East 38th Street, Erie, PA 16546
Program Director: Christine Gluvna MS, RRT
Phone: 814-725-6334
Email: cgluvna@mercyhurst.edu
Last Accreditation Review December 2021 with probationary status. Next Accreditation Review December 2031.
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Respiratory Therapy - As Degree only
3000 Westinghouse Drive, Cranberry Township, PA 16066
Program Director: Peggy Brinton, MS, RRT
Phone: 865-288-8390
Email: mbrinton@south.edu
Last Accreditation July 2024 with Provisional Accreditation. Next Accreditation Review TBD
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University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Respiratory Care Program - AS Degree Only
450 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown, PA 15904
Program Director: Tara Penrod, MEd, RRT
Phone: 814-269-2960
Email: tmp95@pitt.edu
Last Accreditation Review July 2023. Next Accreditation Review July 2033.
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YTI Career Institute - Altoona
Respiratory Care Program - AS Degree
3200 Pleasant Valley Boulevard, Altoona, PA 16602
Program Director: Julia Polites, BS, RRT
Phone: 814-515-8847
Email: julia.polites@yti.edu
Last Accreditation November 2018 with probationary status. Next Accreditation Review November 2024.
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