Respiratory Therapy at Algonquin College

Explore a rewarding career advancing community care with clinical care.

The Respiratory Therapy Ontario College Advanced Diploma program prepares you for success in the profession of respiratory therapy. With access to state-of-the-art equipment, simulation techniques and clinical placements, you gain the hands-on skills necessary for employment.

Learn to practice competently, safely and effectively in diverse practice settings. By the end of the program, you demonstrate the ability to work as a team member in support of clients` respiratory care.

You participate in clinical lab simulations and apply theory to clinical practice. You also complete more than 1,200 hours in clinical placements, which may require relocation for a portion or for the full placement to another clinical setting across Ontario. These experiences take place in various settings: general wards, emergency departments, neonatal intensive care units, and operating units. Graduates are eligible to take the National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies credential exam, which is required to work in Canada and to use the title of Registered Respiratory Therapist.

Graduates typically find employment:

• as staff therapists in hospitals
• in adult, pediatric and neonatal intensive care units
• in emergency departments and cardiopulmonary diagnostic units
• in the private sector in community care, medical sales, dental offices or research

Graduates may choose to pursue post-graduate studies in areas such as polysomnography, anesthesia assistant or cardiopulmonary perfusion.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Are able to work effectively in stressful situations.
• Have strong observational and analytical skills.
• Possess an applied technical aptitude.
• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills while interacting with patients, their families and other members of the healthcare team.

Careers

Successful completion of the National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies credential exam allow graduates to work in Canada. This exam is conducted by the Canadian Board of Respiratory Care (CBRC). Students apply to the CBRC in the third year of the program in order to write the exam upon graduation. Graduates and Registered Respiratory Therapists working in regulated provinces must be a member of their Regulatory College, the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO).

Graduates typically find employment as staff therapists in hospitals. They work wards, adult, pediatric and neonatal intensive care units, emergency departments and cardiopulmonary diagnostic units. Graduates may also find employment in the private sector in community care, medical sales, physicians` or dental offices or research. Graduates may pursue post-graduate studies in such areas as polysomnography, anesthesia assistant or cardiopulmonary perfusion.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Provide cardio-respiratory care in compliance with relevant legislation, professional standards, codes of ethics and practice setting policies and procedures.
2. Use preventive measures that contribute to a culture of patient and employee health and safety within a range of practice settings.
3. Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships and communicate in a culturally sensitive manner with diverse patients/clients and their families to support cardio-respiratory health.
4. Collaborate with patients/clients and members of the inter-professional health care team to optimize cardio-respiratory health and well-being.
5. Assess and interpret relevant diagnostic and patient information when treating patients/clients who are experiencing a range of cardio-respiratory conditions.
6. Develop patient`s/client`s plan of care in collaboration with patients/clients and health care team members by identifying priorities, establishing goals and determining interventions to support optimal cardio-respiratory outcomes.
7. Select, implement, evaluate and modify therapeutic cardio-respiratory interventions to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care in a range of practice settings.
8. Develop, implement and evaluate cardio-respiratory related learning plans in collaboration with patients/clients, families and health care team members to support client independence and self-management.
9. Complete written and electronic documentation of patient/client care to meet legal, organizational and professional requirements.
10. Read, interpret and participate in research and use relevant evidence-based findings to inform and guide respiratory therapy practice.
11. Engage in reflective practice and ongoing professional development activities to maintain and enhance competence in the field of respiratory therapy.
12. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Program Eligibility

• English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent) with a grade of 65% or higher.

• Mathematics, Grade 12 (MAP4C or equivalent) with a grade of 65% or higher.
• Biology, Grade 11 or 12 with a grade of 65% or higher.
• Chemistry, Grade 11 or 12 with a grade of 65% or higher.
• Physics, Grade 11 or 12 with a grade of 65% or higher.
• All applicants must complete an assessment of their knowledge and skills through the Test Centre, and pay an exam fee. Results from the Algonquin College Health Program Admissions Test (AC-HPAT) will be utilized to establish minimum eligibility and applicant ranking. The AC-HPAT can only be written once per academic cycle. For further information on the HPAT and how to book your assessment, please visit Algonquin`s Test Centre.
• Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
• IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT)-overall 88, with a minimum of 22 in each component: Reading 22; Listening 22; Speaking 22; Writing 22.
• International Applicants:
  International applicants who meet the program eligibility requirements are required to complete preparatory courses (4-months in duration): Introduction to Canadian Health Studies (ICHS). Students who successfully complete the introduction will then proceed to their original health program of choice. The ICHS requires applicants to submit an academic IELTS score.