The need for all health care practitioners to participate in continuing education is well established. Participation in continuing education, whether mandatory or voluntary, offers the potential to be one of the most powerful tools to ensure quality patient care. In recognition of the value of and need for participation in continuing education, the American Association for Respiratory Care recommends that practitioners participate in a minimum of fifteen (15) hours of continuing education activities each year.
AARC members may wish to utilize the Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) system as the mechanism for recognition and documentation of such activities.
Respiratory therapists are encouraged to select their continuing education activities carefully in order to meet their own personal and professional needs. Providers of continuing education activities (which can include clinical institutions, educational institutions, public and private associations or organizations, and proprietary corporations) are encouraged to assist respiratory therapists in their efforts to gain at least the recommended number of continuing education hours with activities which will enable practitioners to meet their professional goals.