1.0     POLICY STATEMENT

The CRTO Professional Development Program (PDP) consists of the following components:

• Launch RT Jurisprudence Assessment;
• RelevanT eLearning Module;
• Portfolio Online for Respiratory Therapists (PORTfolio^OM);
• Specific Continuing Education or Remediation Program (SCERP); and
• Practice Assessment.

A description of each component is listed below

2.0     PURPOSE

t is our policy to uphold the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario’s (CRTO’s) mandate to act in the public interest by supporting the ongoing professional development of Ontario Respiratory Therapists (RTs). The purpose of this policy is to facilitate CRTO member’s successful completion of the components of the Professional Development Program which is designed to:

• promote continuing competence and continuing quality improvement;
• promote interprofessional collaboration; and
• address changes in practice environments, standards of practice, and entry-to-practice competencies, as well as advances in technology.

3.0     APPLICABILITY

This policy applies to all members of the CRTO, which includes members registered with General, Limited, Graduate or Inactive Certificates of Registration.

4.0     RESPONSIBILITIES

CRTO Members

Launch RT Jurisprudence Assessment
All new and reinstated CRTO members, regardless of route of entry to practice, must complete the Launch RT Jurisprudence Assessment within three (3) months of registration. Launch RT Jurisprudence Assessment is designed to assess members’ knowledge, skill, and judgment and requires a passing mark of 70%. Deferrals for the Launch RT Jurisprudence Assessment will only be granted by the QAC in extenuating circumstances.

More information on the deferral process is available in the Deferral of Professional Development Program Requirements Policy.

RelevanT eLearning Module
All CRTO members must complete the RelevanT Learning Module on an annual basis, which provides information about practice standard changes. It is not a pass/fail module, rather completion only. In order to successfully complete the RelevanT module, each member is required to correctly answer all of the questions in the module. Members are permitted to attempt the questions as many times as necessary in order to correctly answer all of them. Deferrals are not granted for the RelevanT eLearning Module.

PORTfolio^OM
All CRTO members must maintain their PORTfolio on an ongoing basis. CRTO members with General, Limited and Graduate Certificates of Registration are required to submit their PORTfolio online, using the PDKeepr module, during their predefined Review Year. Review Years are available on a member’s CRTO webpage and are on a five-year cycle. Members registered with Inactive Certificates of Registration are not required to submit their PORTfolio. Deferrals for PORTfolio submissions will only be granted by the QAC in extenuating circumstances.

More information on the deferral process is available in the Deferral of Professional Development Program Requirements Policy.

Specific Continuing Education or Remediation Program (SCERP)
CRTO members whose knowledge, skill, and judgment have been assessed and found to be unsatisfactory may be directed by the Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) to participate in a Specified Continued Education or Remediation Program (SCERP). This remediation process is intended to be an educational opportunity for the member to improve their knowledge, skill, and judgment.

The form and nature of the SCERP will depend on the member’s identified learning needs and challenges and may take the form of:

• A customized educational tool that is implemented utilizing a mentor;
• An existing course or educational program; or
• Another educational tool that is appropriate for the Member’s learning needs.

There are three (3) circumstances where a member may be required to undergo a SCERP:

• If a member receives a score below 70% on two consecutive attempts at the Launch RT Jurisprudence Assessment; and/or
• If a member submits two consecutive PORTfolios that are determined to not meet the requisite criteria for successful completion; and/or
• If a member has completed a practice assessment and found to have unsatisfactory knowledge, skill, and judgment. In these instances, the member will be referred to a panel of the QAC.

Practice Assessment
The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 requires that all health regulatory Colleges have a Quality Assurance Program that consists of self, peer, and practice assessments. A CRTO member may be selected by the QAC to undergo peer and practice assessments to determine whether the members’ knowledge, skill and judgment are satisfactory. A Practice Assessment may also be required for reasons including but not limited to criteria specified by the Committee. One such criteria specified by the QAC is that new CRTO Members who have not graduated from an approved Canadian program shall be required to complete a Practice Assessment as outline in the CRTO’s Entry-to-Practice Competency Assessment Policy.

More information on the deferral process is available in the Deferral of Professional Development Program Requirements Policy.

5.0     AUTHORITY & MONITORING

This policy is in alignment with section 80 of the Health Professions Procedural Code (the Code) being Schedule 2 to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, (RHPA) and Ontario Regulation O. Reg. 379/12: General (Part VI – Quality Assurance).

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. If a CRTO Member does not complete their PDP requirements by the established deadline, they will be sent a reminder notice. If they do not complete their obligation within 15 days of the sent date of the reminder notice, they will be charged a penalty fee of $25 as outlined in the CRTO Schedule of Fees. If the Member does not submit the required PDP evaluation despite repeated notification (See Summary of Non-Compliance and Late Submission of PDP Requirements in Appendix A), a panel of the QA Committee may do any one or more of the following:

• require the Member to undergo a peer and practice assessment; and/or
• disclose the name of the Member and allegations against the Member to the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) if the QAC is of the opinion that the Member may have committed an act of professional misconduct or may be incompetent or incapacitated.

7.0     RELATED DOCUMENTS

• CRTO Professional Development Program (PDP)
• Deferral of Professional Development Program Requirements Policy
• PDP Peer Assessors, Mentors, Practice Assessors Fact Sheet
• Section 80 of the Health Professions Procedural Code (the Code) being Schedule 2 to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, (RHPA)
• Ontario Regulation O. Reg. 379/12: General (Part VI – Quality Assurance)
• CRTO By-Laws (By-Laws 3 – Membership) s. 4.12

8.0     APPENDICIES

• Appendix A – Summary of Non-Compliance & Late Submission of PDP Requirements

9.0     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