Do You Need a Bachelor’s Degree to be an RT Department Director?

The proliferation of online RRT-to-BS degree completion programs across the country — many therapists with department director aspirations but only an associate’s degree may be wondering if moving that far up the career ladder will really be possible for them.

We asked three former chairs of the AARC’s Management Specialty Section, along with current chair Gboly Harris, MS, RRT, RRT-SDS, RRT-NPS, RPSGT, to tell us where they think the opportunities lie today and why.

Geography matters

Harris says he’s watched the pathway to leadership in respiratory care change dramatically over the course of his career, going from a time when many RTs moved into leadership roles based primarily on clinical excellence, reliability, and years of service to today’s demand for higher skills requiring advanced degrees.

Twenty-first century leaders are expected to navigate complex systems, manage multimillion‑dollar budgets, drive quality and safety outcomes, lead multidisciplinary teams, and influence organizational strategy, said Harris, a former director of respiratory care at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, TX, and now independent consultant with Premier Financial Alliance.

“As these responsibilities expanded, the profession naturally aligned with the educational expectations already established in nursing, imaging, and other clinical departments,” he continued. “The bachelor’s degree became the new baseline — not as a barrier, but as a reflection of the sophistication and scope of modern RT leadership.”

2023-2024 Section Chair Joel M. Brown II, MSM-HCA, RRT, FAARC, FNAP, CEO of Arrived Leadership, LLC, and president-elect of the AARC, agrees with Harris that times have changed. He recalls a period early in his career when most RTs in leadership roles held only an associate’s degree.

“Part of the issue at that time was accessibility,” he explained. “Bachelor’s programs were difficult to find.”

In some cases, that is still the case today. For example, Brown says that in his home state of Delaware, there are just two associate’s degree programs for respiratory therapists and zero bachelor’s degree programs.

Cheryl Hoerr, MBA, RRT, who served as section chair from 2015 to 2018, has lived this experience as well. As director of respiratory and sleep services at Phelps Health in Rolla, MO, she is well acquainted with the challenges faced by RT departments outside of the major metropolitan areas.

“There are still a lot of opportunities for RTs without a bachelor’s degree, especially in rural areas where the shortage of RTs is especially acute,” she said.

Kim Bennion, MsHS, RRT, CHC, FAARC, who served as section chair from 2019 to 2023, has seen the same thing play out in her region. Even at her institution, the multi-hospital Intermountain Health, headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, there have been times when associate degree therapists have been tapped to take on leadership roles.

“Within my organization, a bachelor’s degree is required,” said Bennion, who serves as system research director for respiratory care and clinical services. ”We have previously allowed for associate degrees as the requirement for two of our facilities who are rural and hard to recruit.”

What does it add?

It all begs the question: what does a bachelor’s degree add that makes therapists with one better candidates for top leadership positions than highly experienced RTs who don’t? These managers also have opinions on that.

“Health care issues and challenges continue to mount, and health care organizations need leaders with flexible skills and more nuanced insights to handle the increasingly complex aspects of bedside care as well as the intricate details of managing a multi-generational workforce,” said Hoerr. ”A degree often provides additional people skills as well as an array of tools that a manager can implement to tame the chaos.”

Harris emphasizes that a bachelor’s degree doesn’t replace experience but adds critical competencies that aren’t covered by experience or the associate’s degree alone.

“It strengthens a leader’s ability to think at the systems level, communicate with executive presence, understand financial and operational drivers, and lead change effectively,” he said. “It equips RT leaders to participate confidently in conversations about strategy, workforce planning, regulatory readiness, and organizational performance. In short, it expands the lens through which we see the profession and our role within it.”

Bennion says that associate’s-degree therapists still have plenty of leadership opportunities, but a bachelor’s degree makes it easier to advance.

“We have many highly effective informal leaders within our organization and the profession who have AS degrees,” she said. But the greater amount of time available in a bachelor’s degree program allows for the development of higher clinical skills, and these programs cover more managerial topics as well.

“Many BS programs require a minor in administration, hospital operations, etc.,” said Bennion. “This makes those aspects of a manager’s level requirements so much easier to understand and complete with the ability to exceed expectations.”

Brown says the greater number of bachelor’s degree RTs out there today taking on top leadership roles is changing the landscape of those roles as well.

“I believe that increased access to bachelor’s degrees has naturally led to higher expectations and requirements,” he said. “Years ago, RTs with a bachelor’s degree were less common. Now, it has become commonplace.”

Bennion agrees, noting that preparation at the bachelor’s degree level makes it much easier to stand toe-to-toe with nurses, physicians, and others with higher degrees.

Why it’s worth it

So, should you take the plunge and go for a BSRT? These managers believe it is worth the investment in time and money.

“Why should an organization invest in you if you aren’t moving forward?” asked Hoerr. “Earning a degree when ‘you don’t have to’ is a sign that you’re willing to invest in your future.”

She believes if you aren’t continually learning, you are falling behind. A higher degree says that you are open to change, new ideas, and new ways of doing things.

“The pace of change in health care is incredible, both technologically and managerially,” said Hoerr. ”A degree says that you’re taking steps to stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest techniques and research in your field.”

Getting that degree is also a lot easier these days. “There are now many programs that allow RTs with associate degrees to transition seamlessly into bachelor’s programs, and many of those programs are 100% virtual, which makes them much easier for a working RT to attend,” said Brown.

Acquiring your BS can set you up for even more advancement in the future, too, if you are willing to go the extra mile and earn your master’s. Brown remembers what his senior leader told him when he questioned the value of that degree in his own career.

“When I asked him why a master’s degree was required for me to move into a senior director or vice president role, he said the degree provides a basic understanding of concepts that will surface at higher levels of leadership,” said Brown. “More importantly, it demonstrates the ability to learn and to learn at an advanced level.”

He believes that mindset is part of the reason why so many RT departments are now requiring BS degrees for department directors. “Many graduate programs require a great deal of independent work, which mirrors one of the core expectations of senior leadership,” he said. “I believe that expectation has trickled down to the director level over time.”

Of course, a bachelor’s degree doesn’t hold the only key to success. Bennion believes RTs who seek leadership roles would do well to remember that there is another, equally important side of the coin to consider.

“The application of advanced learning will only be respected when trust is earned,” she warned. ”The degree alone may get you in the door, but the application of the knowledge with excellent communication skills will be what assists you to be fully successful.”

Harris advises all RTs who aspire to leadership to earn their bachelor’s degree, especially those who want to move into management, but really, anyone who wants to pursue an upper-level position. “A bachelor’s degree opens doors to supervisor and manager roles, director positions, system‑level leadership, and even nontraditional paths like education, consulting, quality, and operations,” he said. “It also lays the foundation for graduate studies, which can further expand your influence.”

That’s been true in his career. “I’ve experienced firsthand how education amplifies experience. It gave me the language, confidence, and strategic mindset to lead at a higher level and contribute meaningfully to the profession.”

Time to get ahead of the game

These managers have provided some food for thought for RTs who see themselves in a leadership position. But back to the question at hand. Can you move into a department director role without a bachelor’s degree?

Right now, in smaller communities and rural areas, opportunities still exist. But how long those opportunities last is anyone’s guess.

If you have your sights set on a department director position in the future, and particularly if you see yourself in a more urban or suburban setting, earning your BS degree will offer a big leg up on achieving your goals.

As Harris said, “Pursuing the degree is worth it. It increases your career mobility, strengthens your credibility, and positions you to shape the future of respiratory care rather than simply participate in it. The profession is evolving, and those who invest in their growth will be the ones who lead it forward.”

Start your search for an accredited degree advancement program on the Find an Accredited Program page of the CoARC website.