The Lakeland Community College respiratory therapy program has once again been selected by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care to receive the “Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist Credentialing Success Award.” This year marks the fifth consecutive year that Lakeland’s program has received the recognition, school officials confirmed. The commission, headquartered in Bedford, Texas, uses objective criteria based on key accreditation metrics to select programs for the award, which includes maintaining a registered respiratory therapist credentialing success of 90 percent or above among Lakeland’s respiratory therapy graduates for the past three years. The organization accredits degree-granting programs in respiratory care throughout the country that have “undergone a rigorous process of voluntary peer review and have met or exceeded the minimum accreditation standards set by the professional association.” According to the commission, the credential must be submitted as part of the application for licensure to work as a respiratory therapist in the state of Ohio. In 2022, Lakeland’s program was one of only 23 programs nationwide to be honored with the “President’s Award for Credentialing Success,” the highest achievable award given by the commission. Lakeland’s department is led by David Goswick, director and associate professor of respiratory therapy. “Our faculty works very hard to maintain an excellent program and provide the best education to our students,” he said. “Our graduates go on to work in important roles in Northeast Ohio and it’s our honor to get them ready for the professional world.” The program leads to an associate of applied science degree and is completed in just five semesters, officials added, noting participants are then eligible to sit for the national registered respiratory therapist exam. Additionally, students may opt for dual enrollment with Ursuline College, which allows courses to be taken concurrently toward a bachelor of science in respiratory care. For more information about dual enrollment, students should contact an academic counselor. Lakeland’s respiratory therapy program accepts a new cohort of students each fall. For more information, contact David Goswick at [email protected] or call 440-525-7181.