Employers Responsibilities
Only members of the CRTO are permitted to use the title “Respiratory Therapist”, or any variation or abbreviation, or equivalent in another language.
An individual may not in any way hold him/herself out as a person qualified to practice respiratory therapy in the province of Ontario unless registered with the CRTO and employers are responsible for ensuring that an individual is registered with the CRTO prior to practicing in Ontario. Practicing respiratory therapy includes: the provision of oxygen therapy, cardio-respiratory equipment monitoring and the assessment and treatment of cardio-respiratory and associated disorders to maintain or restore ventilation.
It is considered an offence under the Regulated Health Professions Act to hire an individual to perform controlled acts if the individual is not authorized by virtue of registration with the appropriate regulatory body or through delegation. The authorized acts for Respiratory Therapists (subject to any terms, conditions or limitations on individual certificates of registration) include:
- Performing a prescribed procedure below the dermis;
- Intubation beyond the point in the nasal passages where they normally narrow or beyond the larynx;
- Suctioning beyond the point in the nasal passages where they normally narrow or beyond the larynx;
- Administering a substance by injection or inhalation; or
- Administering a prescribed substance by inhalation.
To verify the registration of an individual please visit the Public Register.
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Registration Verification
- each Member’s name and former name;
- registration numbers;
- class of registration;
- any terms, conditions and limitations imposed on a Member’s certificate of registration;
- business contact information;
- any suspensions or revocations of a Member’s certificate of registration including suspension/revocation for non-payment of fees;
- information about discipline and incapacity proceedings against a Member;
- any finding of professional negligence or malpractice made by a court against a Member.
Employers may also contact the CRTO by phone, mail or email to verify that a person is registered to practice as a Respiratory Therapists in Ontario.
Reporting Obligations
The Health Professions Procedural Code sets out specific reporting obligations for facilities/employers of Respiratory Therapists (RTs). If you terminate the employment (including during probation), or revoke, suspend or impose restrictions on an RTs practice at your facility for reasons of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity you are required to report this to the CRTO. Should an RT resign in order to avoid revocation, suspension or restriction you are still required to submit a report to the CRTO outlining that you intended such action.
Even if you have not taken any of the above actions, you are also obliged to submit a report to the CRTO within 30 days if you have reasonable grounds to believe that an RT at your facility is incompetent, incapacitated or has sexually abused a patient. If you have cause to believe that the incompetence or incapacity is likely to expose patients/clients to harm or that sexual abuse will continue, you have an obligation to make your report immediately.
For more information read the fact sheet on Mandatory Facility/Employer Reports or contact the Deputy Registrar at extension 24.
Labour Mobility Legislation
The amended Federal/Provincial/Territorial Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) and the Ontario Labour Mobility Act removes barriers for Respiratory Therapists who are registered in other Canadian provinces to become registered with the College of Respiratory Therapist of Ontario.
Under the Ontario labour mobility legislation a person registered to practice Respiratory Therapy in a regulated jurisdiction (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador) may be eligible for registration in Ontario without any additional reassessment or restrictions.
In addition, applicants from non-regulated jurisdictions (British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon) may also apply under the labour mobility provisions, provided that they are:
- registered members of the CSRT practicing in an unregulated jurisdiction in Canada;
- permitted by the CSRT to use the title “Registered Respiratory Therapist”; and
- have practiced the profession within that unregulated jurisdiction for a minimum of 750 hours within the previous two years while holding a current registered membership with the CSRT.
Applicants applying under the labour mobility provision, must complete the CRTO Application for Registration form, and submit this form, with the applicable fee(s) and documentation, to the CRTO office. Applicants should allow at least 2 to 6 weeks for the processing of their application.
Hiring From Outside Ontario
An individual registered to practice Respiratory Therapy (RT) in another jurisdiction, is not automatically eligible to practice in Ontario. He or she must apply to the CRTO and meet the CRTO entry-to-practice registration requirements. Some applicants may be eligible for registration under labour mobility legislation. For example, they may apply for registration in Ontario based on their membership with another Canadian RT regulatory body. When applying under the labour mobility provision, the applicant must complete the full registration process. This may take 2 to 6 weeks.
Verify whether an individual is registered with the CRTO by clicking on the Public Register button.