How to become a respiratory therapist in BC
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) · British Columbia
Help people breathe: ventilators, oxygen and airway care in hospitals. You need a three-year diploma and a national exam.
THE ROUTE
The route at a glance
Secondary Science Prerequisites & TRU Info Session
Complete prerequisite science and math courses with required minimum grades
Respiratory Therapy Diploma (TRU)
Graduate from the 3-year TRU Respiratory Therapy diploma program
CBRC National Credentialing Examination
Pass the CBRC National Examination
Professional RRT Practice & CPSBC Regulation (2027)
Practice as a licensed Registered Respiratory Therapist
Secondary Science Prerequisites & TRU Info Session
Complete prerequisite science and math courses with required minimum grades
Respiratory Therapy Diploma (TRU)
Graduate from the 3-year TRU Respiratory Therapy diploma program
CBRC National Credentialing Examination
Pass the CBRC National Examination
Professional RRT Practice & CPSBC Regulation (2027)
Practice as a licensed Registered Respiratory Therapist
This is the overview. For the courses to take, the entry rules, the exams and the schools, open the full route.
See the full route, step by step →THE JOB
What the job is like
Pay and outlook from WorkBC.
Work takes place in intensive care units (icu), high-acuity step-down units, and cardiovascular recovery rooms, as well as emergency departments, resuscitation bays, and level 1 trauma units managing critical airway compromises.
Be mindful of direct close-range exposure to aerosolized respiratory pathogens requiring n95 respirators and full ppe and follow all required safety procedures.
Complete post-diploma certification to work alongside anesthesiologists in hospital surgical suites.
Complete specialized perfusion education to operate heart-lung bypass machines during open-heart surgery.
JOBS
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