Accreditation/Approval of Programs

The CRTO is responsible for setting respiratory therapy entry to practice requirements in the province of Ontario in the public interest. Ontario Regulation 596/94, Part VIII (Registration) sets out the requirements for registration with the College including the requirement that an applicant must:

(a) have successfully completed a respiratory therapy program offered in Canada that, at the time of completion, was approved or accredited by the Council or by a body approved by the Council;

(b) have successfully completed a program offered outside Canada for training respiratory therapists that, at the time of completion, was considered by the Council to be equivalent to a program referred to in clause (a); or

(c) demonstrate through a prior learning assessment approved by the Registration Committee that he or she has knowledge, skills and judgment equivalent to those of a person who has successfully completed a program referred to in clause (a). O. Reg. 69/99, s. 1.

The approval of respiratory therapy education programs is one of the mechanisms that assists the CRTO in ensuring that applicants who wish to enter the profession possess the minimum competencies required for the safe and effective practice of the profession.

In order to obtain approved program status (clause 54(2) (a) of the Registration Regulation), a Canadian respiratory therapy education program must obtain and maintain satisfactory accreditation status with the Council on Accreditation for Respiratory Therapy Education (CoARTE). The criteria applied by CoARTE are viewed by the Council as relevant to the approval of respiratory therapy education programs.

Equivalency Status

In order for an applicant to be considered as having successfully completed a respiratory therapy program offered outside Canada that at the time of completion, was considered by the Council to be equivalent to an approved program, the College must be satisfied that the entry to practice competencies are being effectively taught and evaluated by the program. This includes, for example, ensuring that: the didactic and clinical components enable students to attain all the required competencies; students have exposure to a variety of practice locations; training is provided by expert clinical and didactic instructors; thorough and effective evaluation of students takes place in all didactic and clinical settings using appropriate techniques; there is a program quality management/evaluation system in place. Where possible, original documentation should be sent directly from the institution to the CRTO. Where this is not possible , the CRTO will accept notarized copies of the documentation. Documents required for assessment of equivalency may include the following:

  • transcripts / mark sheets / grade lists;
  • a description of the program;
  • date program began;
  • list of affiliations with other organizations (e.g., clinical sites, hospitals and other educational institutions;
  • program admission criteria;
  • program curriculum (didactic and clinical components);
  • detailed course outlines that include how students are evaluated;
  • information on the clinical rotations of the program including location and number of hours/weeks;
  • faculty lists and credentials; and
  • accreditation status, if any.

The Registration Committee will review the information provided to determine equivalency. The Registration Committee may make a recommendation to Council that a specific program(s) during a specific time frame be deemed equivalent to a Canadian respiratory therapy program.

To determine whether a respiratory therapy program (offered outside Canada) is equivalent to an approved Canadian program please contact the College.



RELEVANT DOCUMENTS / LINKS