1.0     POLICY STATEMENT

It is our policy to grant College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO) Members a temporary deferral of their Profession Development Program (PDP) requirements, provided certain defined criteria are met

2.0     PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to acknowledge that exceptional circumstances may temporarily make it difficult for Members to meet their PDP obligations within the time frame specified by the CRTO.

3.0     APPLICABILTY & SCOPE OF POLICY

This policy applies to all CRTO Members who are required to complete the:

• Launch RT Jurisprudence Assessment
• PORTfolio^OM

Please note that deferrals for the above PDP components will not be granted to Members who have been referred to the Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) by the Registration Committee.

4.0     RESPONSIBILITIES

Member Requesting the Deferral
Members must submit deferral request in writing prior to the completion deadline.

QAC Panel
A panel of the QAC will consider each deferral request on a case-by-case basis based on
the Member’s deferral application.

CRTO Staff
CRTO staff will communicate the QAC panel’s decision to the Member.

5.0     AUTHORITY & MONITORING

Section 80.1 of the Health Professions Procedural Code (Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991) provides the framework for the quality assurance program that healthcare regulatory bodies are required to implement and maintain. In compliance with this legislation, as well as the Quality Assurance Regulation (O. Reg. 596/94 – Part IV), the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario’s (CRTO) Professional Development Program (PDP) exists.

6.0     CONSEQUENCES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

The CRTO establishes timelines for completion of all PDP components, criteria for successful completion and monitors participation of CRTO Members in the PDP on an ongoing basis.

Failure to complete the PDP requirements without an approved deferral by the QAC can be considered an act of professional misconduct.

7.0     RELATED DOCUMENTS

• CRTO’s Professional Development Program Policy
• Respiratory Therapy Act, 1991
• Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991
• Schedule 2 Health Professions Procedural Code
• CRTO’s Registration Currency Policy

8.0     CONTACT INFORMATION

College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario
180 Dundas Street West,
Suite 2103
Toronto, ON M5G 1Z8

Telephone: 416-591-7800
Toll-Free (in Ontario): 1-800-261-0528
Fax: 416-591-7890
General Email: questions@crto.on.ca