Any Respiratory Care student enrolled in an AARC-recognized or accredited entry-to-practice educational program is eligible for the Early Professional Membership. At $25 for your first year, you’ll gain access to possible mentors, exam prep, and scholarships, all designed to help you find success in your path to being an RT.
Persons with NBRC credentials are not eligible to enter the Early Professional program.
In addition to discounted membership fees, AARC offers tools and resources to help students succeed.
NBRC Discount
All AARC members get a one-time $40 discount on an NBRC exam.
NextGen RT Network
The AARC NextGen RT Network is an exclusive, AARConnect community only available to respiratory care students and recent graduates (within 3 years of graduation). This is your private space to network, share tips and resources, participate in webinars and more. New AARConnect app now available in the Apple App and Google Play stores.
What the NextGen RT Network offers:
- Networking: Connect fellow students and recent grads to discuss topics that are important to you or ask questions on AARConnect
- Webinars & Education: Attend free, career-focused webinars on leadership, exam prep, career development and more. Have topic ideas? Email us.
- Mentoring: Engage with experienced RTs to gain insights and advice
- Plus, join any communities of interest to you on AARConnect and engage with experienced RTs across the country
Exam Prep Videos
All AARC student members now have access to a collection of Exam Prep videos. This benefit includes more than 31 hours of video instruction by experts in the field and associated handouts. Student members have unlimited viewing privileges while they are student members.
Scholarships
The American Respiratory Care Foundation (ARCF) is the arm of the AARC that supports projects and charitable endeavors to advance the profession. Please visit the ARCF’s website’s Awards Section to learn more about their Undergraduate Awards, Postgraduate Student Awards, Research Fellowships/Abstract Awards, Research Awards, and other awards.
Early Professional Membership for Students
To help students transition from the academic to the working world, the AARC offers a tiered pricing structure called the Early Professional Membership.
How does the Early Professional Membership work?
To qualify as an Early Professional Member, students must join the AARC prior to their graduation. Members joining after graduation will not be eligible for this program. Respiratory Care students enrolled in an AARC-recognized or accredited entry-to-practice educational program are eligible for the Early Professional Membership. Persons with NBRC credentials are not eligible to enter the Early Professional program. Each tier of membership is based on the member’s join date — not their status in or out of school. We want early professionals to take full advantage of the benefits of AARC membership as early in their career as possible.
Early Professional Membership Rates:
Year 1 enrollment: $25
Year 2 renewal: $25
Year 3 renewal: $40
Year 4 renewal: $60
Year 5 and beyond renewal: Active Member Pricing
Discounts apply in the first four years of AARC membership. Members must renew their AARC membership each year before it expires to remain in the program. If AARC membership lapses, they will be removed from the tiered pricing.
Join online or contact our Customer Service team at (972) 243-2272 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. central).