Respiratory Therapists
The College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario regulates the practice of respiratory therapy and governs the Members of the College in the public interest.
Registration Requirements
To practise as a respiratory therapist in Ontario, internationally educated respiratory therapists must hold a Certificate of Registration and meet the requirements set out by the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. To become eligible for the Certificate of Registration, internationally educated respiratory therapists must meet the following registration requirements:
- Have graduated from a program in respiratory therapy that has been approved or considered equivalent by the College (a list of the approved programs is posted on the CRTO website); or completion of a prior learning assessment (PLA)
- Successful completion of the Canadian Board of Respiratory Care (CBRC) national certification examination as the entry to practice examination.
- Note: Prior to completing the approved examination, an applicant may be granted a Graduate Certificate of Registration. This is a temporary certificate of registration – issued for 18 months. It allows the Graduate Member to perform the functions of a respiratory therapist under the supervision of a General RRT or another regulated health professional
- Must be able to communicate effectively in English or French in a health care environment
- Must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada or be authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) to engage in the practice of respiratory therapy
- An applicant for registration must have met the education requirement within the 2 years immediately preceding the application for registration unless the applicant was practising respiratory therapy within that two-year period
- Must not have been found guilty of:
- a criminal offence in Canada or in any jurisdiction outside Canada;
- an offence related to prescribing, compounding, dispensing, selling or administering drugs;
- an offence that occurred while practising health care;
- an offence in which the applicant was impaired or intoxicated; or
- any other offence relevant to the applicant’s suitability to practise the profession
- The applicant must also satisfy the College that he or she has not been found guilty of professional misconduct, incompetence, incapacity or other similar conduct in another profession or in another jurisdiction in respiratory therapy.
For more information, please visit the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario website.
How the Access Centre Can Help
The Access Centre within HFO MRA can assist internationally educated respiratory therapists on their path to practise by providing advisory services by appointment via telephone, in-person or Skype.
If you have previously registered as a client of the Access Centre and are seeking services offered to registered clients or have questions regarding any aspect of the licensure process, please call 416-862-2200 or toll free 1-800-596-4046 or e-mail AccessCentre@HealthForceOntario.ca.
If you are not a registered client of the Access Centre and would like detailed information on the licensing process for internationally educated respiratory therapists, please register online.
Information Sessions
Information sessions bring together groups of internationally educated health professions with a common goal. These sessions focus on various aspects of the registration process. Learn more.
Resources