The new Currency Condition, as outlined in the CRTO’s Registration Regulation, is  designed to safeguard patient safety and  uphold professional standards. It  supports the ongoing competency of Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs), ensuring they remain current in their practice and  capable of delivering safe, high-quality care.

RRTs will meet the condition if they have practised Respiratory Therapy for at least 1,125 hours in a given three year period. If they haven’t worked enough hours, they can still meet the condition through another method approved by the CRTO, for example, demonstrating to the Registration Committee that they can meet the current standards of practice in Ontario or by completing a refresher course approved by the Registrar.

RRTs who don’t meet one of these options by the end of a three-year cycle, cannot provide direct patient care or supervise others, unless the Registration Committee allows them to provide patient care under supervision.

The new currency condition applies to all Members registered in the General Class (RRTs).

No. RRTs are not required to practice clinically to meet the Currency Condition. Practising Respiratory Therapy can include a wide range of clinical and non-clinical activities that use your RRT knowledge, skills, and judgment. This could mean teaching, managing or leading teams, doing research, developing policies, or working on quality improvement projects. What matters most is that your work supports safe, competent, and ethical care. We encourage you to review the “Am I Practising” Fact Sheet to help you determine if your practice hours can count toward meeting the currency condition.

Yes. The currency requirement only affects direct patient care or supervision of RT practice. Non-clinical roles are not impacted.

Yes, you can still maintain your RRT registration even if you are working outside of Respiratory Therapy. However, if you do not meet the Currency Condition, you cannot provide direct patient care or supervise the profession. It is also important to note that as a regulated health care professional, you must practice within your personal scope of practice and must refrain from performing activities/procedures for which you are not competent and that are beyond your current knowledge, skill, and abilities.

Yes, you may be able to count those hours if your role draws on your respiratory therapy knowledge and experience to support the delivery of healthcare — for example, in leadership, education, or administrative work that affects patient care. We encourage you to review the “Am I Practising” Fact Sheet to help you determine if your practice hours can count toward meeting the Currency Condition.

No. The currency requirement only affects direct patient care or supervision of RT practice. Non-clinical roles are not impacted.

If  you are providing direct patient care but do not have the minimum practice hours, you may still meet the currency condition by, for example, demonstrating to the Registration Committee that you  can meet the current standards of practice in Ontario (e.g., through continuing professional development and quality improvement activities) or by completing a refresher course approved by the Registrar. If you do not meet these requirements, you cannot provide direct patient care unless the Registration Committee gives you permission to do so under supervision.

Practice hours can include both employment and related volunteer activities. If you do not meet the 1,125-hour threshold, you may satisfy the requirement through other ways, such as continuing professional development and quality improvement activities.

Members must declare that they meet the currency requirement on their annual renewal form. From time to time, the CRTO may also conduct compliance audits by for example, checking with a Member’s employer(s).

It is the RRTs responsibility to track whether they comply with the Currency Condition. The employers’ responsibilities and reporting obligations have not changed because of the new Currency Condition. However, the CRTO may from time to time, conduct compliance audits by for example, checking with a Member’s employer(s).