Concorde Career Colleges expands access to respiratory therapy education programs to address rising national demand

Core Insights - Concorde Career Colleges is expanding its respiratory therapy education programs to meet the rising national demand for skilled therapists, particularly in rural and remote areas [1][2][5] Enrollment Expansion - Concorde has received programmatic approval to increase enrollment in respiratory therapy programs at eight campuses, allowing for an additional 160 students annually [3][4] - The campuses include locations in California, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee, where demand for respiratory therapists is particularly high [2][3] Job Market Growth - Employment of respiratory therapists is projected to grow by 12% from 2024 to 2034, which is more than triple the average growth rate for all occupations [2][10] - In specific states like California, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas, the growth rate for respiratory therapists is expected to be between 20-24% from 2022 to 2032 [2][10] Hospital Partnership Model - Concorde has developed a hospital partnership model to address workforce shortages in rural areas, which has expanded from three to 20 hospital systems across 11 states [5][6] - Hospitals identify high-potential employees interested in respiratory care and sponsor their education costs [6][7] Educational Collaboration - The partnership model allows Concorde to provide foundational online coursework while hospital partners offer hands-on training, preparing students for licensure exams [7][8] - This collaboration aims to build a skilled workforce from within the hospital systems, enhancing team integration and patient care [8][9]