Education · 1 of 5

The path

Three focused years, then a national exam.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Grade 12 biology, chemistry, physics and math. Most programs want all four.

2. 2

   Respiratory therapy program

   3 years

   A 3-year college advanced diploma, or a degree at a few universities. Years 1 and 2 are classroom and lab. Year 3 is full-time clinical placement in hospitals, unpaid.

3. 3

   Write the CBRC (Canadian Board for Respiratory Care) exam

   After graduation

   The national certification exam. The board recently renamed itself Health Professionals Testing Canada, but the exam still goes by CBRC (Canadian Board for Respiratory Care). Passing makes you a registered respiratory therapist.

4. 4

   Register with your provincial regulator

   A few weeks

   In Ontario that is the CRTO (College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario). Most provinces have a college.