Qualifications Required as a Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory therapists (RT) are graduates of three-year diploma or four-year joint diploma/degree programs. These programs are offered at colleges and universities in conjunction with teaching hospitals and other health care organizations.
To work in the province, you must first pass a registration examination to become a Member of the
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO). RTs are regulated and licensed professionals like; physicians and nurses.
Accredited Respiratory Therapy Programs available in Ontario include:
Respiratory Therapy at The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
The Michener Institute offers a full-time, three-year respiratory therapy advanced diploma program. The program covers subjects including cardiopulmonary diagnostics and rehabilitation, the physics and dynamics of breathing, pharmacological therapies and adult, pediatric and neonatal critical care.
For more information, visit the
Respiratory Therapy page at Michener.ca.
Professional and Inter-professional Education
Respiratory therapists both receive and provide educational training from a variety of health care professions daily.
Respiratory therapists provide a variety of educational training and certification activities for staff and students in the following professions:
- Respiratory therapy
- Nursing
- Medical residents and fellows
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Pharmacy
- Clinical Nutrition
Respiratory therapists also participate in UHN continuing education programs to maintain their competency. Registered respiratory therapists must participate in ongoing quality assurance activities. This ensures high professional standards and is required for respiratory therapists to maintain their licenses to practice.
Respiratory therapists take part in professional and departmental committees, and they routinely participate in unit-based care rounds, tracheostomy rounds, morbidity and mortality rounds, research rounds and many different ongoing in-services and lectures offered within the hospital. RTs are encouraged to participate in conferences and workshops throughout the year.
Contact Us
Michael Long, Discipline Head – Respiratory Therapy
Phone: 416 340 4800 ext. 8310
Email: michael.long@uhn.ca
