Written by AI from public information on 2026-10-26. Fees and rules change and vary by province — confirm with the official body before relying on anything here.
Typical cost
about CA$1,500 to CA$3,000
an estimate in Canadian dollars
Time to earn it
about 3 years
Issued by Canadian Board for Respiratory Care and provincial regulators
Required to start: In the provinces that regulate it, working as a respiratory therapist needs registration.
About
Respiratory therapists care for people who have trouble breathing. They work with patients of all ages, from newborns to older adults. Many work in hospitals, in intensive care units, emergency rooms, operating rooms and neonatal units. Others work in home care, clinics and education.
To practise as a registered respiratory therapist, you first pass a national exam run by the Canadian Board for Respiratory Care. Then you register with the regulator in the province or territory where you want to work. Registration gives you the legal right to use the title and to carry out the duties of the profession.
How to get it
Complete an approved program
Finish an accredited respiratory therapy program at a college or university. These programs mix classroom learning with hands-on clinical placements in hospitals.
Apply to write the national exam
Once you graduate, apply to the Canadian Board for Respiratory Care to sit the certification exam. You will need to show proof that you finished an approved program.
Pass the exam
Prepare carefully and write the exam. Passing it earns you the national credential.
Register with your provincial regulator
Apply to the provincial or territorial college that regulates respiratory therapists where you plan to work. Expect to provide your exam results, your education records and other documents, such as a criminal record check.
Start working and keep your registration active
Once you are registered, you can practise legally. Stay in good standing by meeting your regulator's yearly requirements.
The exam
The national exam is a written test that checks whether you have the knowledge and judgment needed to practise safely. It covers topics such as patient assessment, treatment, equipment and emergency care. Most people study for several months and use practice questions and study guides to prepare.
Licensed by each province
Each province and territory issues this itself, under its own rules. Each province and territory sets its own rules for registration, fees and renewal. In some places the profession is regulated by law and registration is required to work. In others the rules may be different. If you move to another province, you will usually need to apply to that regulator, but your national exam result is generally recognized. Always check with the regulator where you plan to work.
Careers that mention it
No Canadian career on the site names this yet.
Keeping it
You must renew your registration with your provincial regulator on a regular schedule. Renewal usually means paying a fee and showing that you are still fit to practise. Many regulators also ask you to complete ongoing learning and to have worked a minimum amount in the profession. Check your regulator's rules so you do not let your registration lapse.