Respiratory therapy diploma
Facts checked 7 September 2026
Report a mistake·How we check facts
Part of the route toRespiratory Therapist·Diploma
A three-year university diploma combining cardiopulmonary science, mechanical ventilation labs, and hospital clinical rotations.
Ways to get this paid for
Government money that can cover this course. Check who qualifies before you pay.
Free adult upgrading
FreeGrade 11 and 12 courses and English classes are free at public colleges and school districts. This covers the Grade 11 and 12 prerequisite courses, not the program itself.
Canada Training Credit
Half your tuition back, up to $5,000 in your lifeFederal tax credit. $250 a year builds up from age 26. Claim it on your tax return.
THE ROUTE
How this program works, step by step
Grade 11 to the job. Open any step to see what is inside.
The route (8 steps)
For the best view, open the map full screen.
STEP BY STEP
Step by step
The same route as the map, as a list.
Step 1 of 8
Grade 11
⏱ 1 school year- Physics 11 with a minimum grade of 67%
- Chemistry 11 (min 67%) and Physics 11 (min 67%)
Step 2 of 8
Grade 12
⏱ 1 school year- High school graduation with English 12 / English Studies 12 (minimum 73%)
- Pre-Calculus 12 or Foundations of Math 12 (minimum 67%)
- Chemistry 11 or 12 with a minimum grade of 67%
- Biology 12 (Anatomy and Physiology 12) with a minimum grade of 67%
- English Studies 12 (min 73%) or equivalent
Step 3 of 8
What you need to get in
- Attendance at a mandatory TRU Respiratory Therapy program information session
- Admissions assessment, CPR-C / BLS, and Criminal Record Check
Step 4 of 8
How to apply
- Apply online through the Thompson Rivers University admissions system between October 1 and February 1
- Submit official secondary transcripts and any post-secondary records
- Provide confirmation of attendance at a live or virtual TRU program information session
- Complete provincial criminal record check clearance under the Criminal Records Review Act
- Tuition: Not published
Step 5 of 8
Respiratory therapy diploma
⏱ 3 years- 3 years of intensive full-time study at TRU Kamloops campus followed by clinical training
- Cardiopulmonary anatomy, arterial blood gas interpretation, and respiratory pharmacology
- Mechanical ventilation management, airway maintenance, and critical care monitoring
- Neonatal, pediatric, and adult intensive care life support procedures
- 11 consecutive months of hospital clinical internship in intensive care units, emergency wards, and operating rooms across BC
Step 6 of 8
Where to take it
⏱ 1 school in BC- Thompson Rivers University — 3 years (Tuition not yet verified)
Step 7 of 8
Exams and registration after
- Canadian Board for Respiratory Care (CBRC) National Credentialing Examination
Step 8 of 8
Leads to: Respiratory Therapist
- Explore Respiratory Therapist wages, job outlook, and career pathways
SCHOOLS
Where you can take this(1 school)
Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.
We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.