Tuesday, March 10, 2026
CVTC leader helps WI become inaugural member of Respiratory Care Interstate Compact
From left, Dustin Goodman, Respiratory Therapy adjunct instructor, and Theresa Meinen, Simulation Education Manager, both of Chippewa Valley Technical College, are seen here at the Wisconsin state capitol as they advocate for the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact. Wisconsin is one of the first states in the nation to join the compact.
Wisconsin has become one of the first states in the nation to join the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, helping expand workforce mobility for respiratory therapists and creating new opportunities for students entering the field.
The legislation allows licensed respiratory therapists to practice in multiple participating states without obtaining a separate license in each state. The compact is designed to strengthen the respiratory care workforce, improve access to care, and allow clinicians to respond more quickly to workforce shortages.
Theresa Meinen, Simulation Education Manager at Chippewa Valley Technical College and president of the Wisconsin Society for Respiratory Care, played a key role in advocating for Wisconsin’s participation.
“Allowing licensed respiratory therapists to practice across compact member states makes it easier for them to go where they’re needed most,” Meinen said. “The compact improves licensure portability, reduces the burden of maintaining multiple licenses, and expands employment opportunities while ensuring patients receive timely, high-quality respiratory care.”
Meinen worked alongside respiratory care leaders, a legislative committee, and national partners to advance the legislation. The effort included collaboration with the American Association for Respiratory Care and support from state lawmakers, including Jessie Rodriguez and Rachael Cabral-Guevara. Recently, the legislation passed unanimously in the Wisconsin Legislature.
Because Wisconsin is one of the first seven states to pass the compact, it will serve as an inaugural member and help shape how the agreement is implemented nationwide.
For students in CVTC’s Respiratory Therapy program, the compact will make entering the workforce easier and more flexible. Graduates will face fewer barriers when seeking employment in other compact states and may be able to live in one state and work in another as neighboring states join the agreement,” Meinen said.
The compact also makes it easier for respiratory therapists from other member states to move to Wisconsin, helping strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce and support hospitals and clinics throughout the region.
Overall, the compact expands job opportunities, reduces licensing delays and costs, and helps new graduates begin their careers more quickly while maintaining strong standards for patient safety and care.
