FAQ
What does a Respiratory Therapist do?
An RT sssists in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory and cardiac disorders.
Who should apply for this program?
If you have an interest in working in the health care field in a variety of settings, from critical care to community care, this is the program for you. Graduates work with all types of patients and provide a wide range of patient care, from diagnostics and general therapeutics to advanced life support. Graduates combine complex therapeutic and patient management skills to provide these multifaceted levels of care.
How many people are accepted into the program each September?
40 students are accepted in to the program each year.
What field placements are included in the program?
Field placements occur in the second and third year of the program. In second year, the students apply their theoretical knowledge to gain an understanding of the scope of practice for a Respiratory Therapist in an observer role during field placements. The third year of the program consists of clinical experiences. Students rotate through areas of either hospital or community care settings to gain experience in the skills within the scope of practice. Students are expected to progress from direct supervision to independent practice as they proceed through clinical training, and act as an integral member of the health care team in a multitude of situations.
Experiences range from general wards to emergency, to highly specialized areas such as adult and neonatal intensive care units and operating rooms. This affords students the opportunity to experience potential work placements and plan a career path that meets their goals and strengths. Students will complete their clinical experience in eastern Ontario hospitals, and must be prepared to relocate for a portion or all of the placement experience. It should also be noted that clinical experience will include day, evening, and night shifts. Shifts can vary from 8 hours, 10 hours, and 12 hours and may be scheduled any of the 7 days a week.
Can you get a job in the field while you are in the program?
No, however, some students are able to obtain employment in the hospital setting in other capacities, such as electrocardiogram technicians.
What kinds of jobs are available when you graduate?
Graduates generally find employment as a general duty therapist in a hospital. However, some graduates are now directly hired into specialty areas. In addition, graduates sometimes work in private industry, such as with Home Care companies or in related medical sales. After completing this program, students can look at specializing in certain areas through post diplomas offered in Anaesthesia Assistant and Polysomnography at Algonquin College.
Are there any exams after graduation required to work?
There are national credential exams from the Canadian Board for Respiratory Care.
Do you require a license to work? Or must you be a member of an Association?
Yes, respiratory therapists must have a license granted by The College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario in order to work in the field. This can only be granted upon graduation and subsequently passing the National Exam.
Can you work internationally?
The profession is a relative “newcomer” in medicine and thus we are not recognized in all countries. It is a developing field and we are making progress in many ways. Canada’s Canadian Board for Respiratory Care credential is recognized in the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, China and Singapore, among others. The profession is working on reciprocity agreements with many countries such as Japan, Austria, France and Mexico. In addition, the profession is working on establishing itself in new countries, such as Peru, India, England, Germany and Brazil. It is an exciting time to be a Respiratory Therapist because of the new horizons in the international world of medicine.