Job requirements Respiratory Therapist in Canada

Employment requirements

This is what you typically need for the job.

• Respiratory therapists require the completion of a three-year college or university degree program in respiratory therapy, both including clinical training.
• Licensing is required for respiratory therapists in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
• A national certification for respiratory therapists is available for therapists working in Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
• In Quebec, a certificate is required for respiratory therapists to prescribe smoking cessation medication.
• Clinical perfusionists require the completion of a respiratory therapy or registered nursing program with a minimum of one year of work experience as a respiratory therapist or registered nurse and completion of a college or university program in clinical perfusion, including clinical training.
• Certification with the Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion is required for clinical perfusionists.
• Cardiopulmonary technologists require a two-year college diploma in an allied health discipline such as respiratory therapy, nursing diploma, or a university degree in a related science and completion of a college post-diploma program in cardiovascular technology and additional training in pulmonary technology through courses or supervised on-the-job clinical training.
• Registration with the Canadian Association of Cardio-pulmonary Technologists (CACPT) may be required.

Source National Occupational Classification

Professional certification and licensing