Advocacy in Action: How Membership Protects Our Profession
Recently, I attended a conference for respiratory therapy leaders across the field. During one of the sessions,
a story was shared that perfectly illustrates why advocacy matters—and why membership in our professional
organizations is not optional, but essential.
At the state level, our lobbyists and legal advocates successfully stopped a bill in the Senate that would have
allowed anyone practicing under a nursing license to perform and document ventilator checks.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Had that bill passed, a core responsibility of respiratory therapists could have been reassigned outside our
profession. The implications would have been serious—not just for patient safety, but for the integrity, scope,
and future of respiratory care itself.
Ask yourself: What would your job look like today if that legislation had passed? Would your role be the same?
Would your expertise still be valued in the same way? Would your position even exist?
Too often, we hear the question: “What do my dues actually go toward?” This is your answer.
Membership supports the policy monitoring, legal expertise, and advocacy efforts that protect our profession—
often behind the scenes, and often before many of us even realize a threat exists.
Why Membership Matters—and Why We Need You
Make no mistake: protecting respiratory care requires continued support and active involvement. State societies and national organizations like the AARC do not run on goodwill alone. They rely on members who are willing to invest in the future of the profession, step up, and participate.
Join a committee. Learn how the organization operates. After a few years, consider running for a leadership position. These efforts help keep our profession strong, visible, and respected. Advocacy is not a right. It is earned—and it is paid for.
An annual membership fee of $95 is a small investment when viewed in context. Most respiratory therapists work approximately 1,800 to 1,950 hours per year. That breaks down to roughly five cents per hour to protect your license, your scope of practice, and your career.
Many employers cover professional memberships or offer education stipends that can offset dues while also supporting continuing education. The resources are often there—we simply need to use them.
In New Jersey, there are approximately 4,000 practicing RTs, yet only about 1,100 are members. That means 1,100 individuals are carrying the advocacy burden for nearly 3,000 others. That imbalance is not sustainable. If we want a strong profession tomorrow, we need stronger participation today.
So when someone asks why membership matters, proudly tell this story. Advocacy protects our work, our patients, and our future—but only if we show up and support it.
Let’s go, RTs.
