Education · 1 of 5
The path
Outside Quebec: three focused years, then a national exam. Quebec has its own route: tap Quebec route to add it.
- 1
High school
Grades 11 and 12
Grade 12 biology, chemistry, physics and math. Most programs want all four.
- 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
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. Quebec graduates get their permit from the OPIQ (Ordre professionnel des inhalothérapeutes du Québec) without it.
- 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.