Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists

Entry-level training programs in respiratory therapy, clinical perfusion and cardiopulmonary technology (outside of B.C.) are generally two to three years in length. To become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) with the Canadian Society of Respiratory Technologists (CSRT) requires:

• Completion of an accredited Respiratory Therapy program in Canada.
• Completion of the national registration exams provided by the Canadian Board for Respiratory Care.

All respiratory therapy training programs in Canada are a minimum of three years. Respiratory therapists may also become members of the British Columbia Society of Respiratory Therapists (BCSRT). For more information, visit the CSRT website at www.csrt.com and the BCSRT website at www.bcsrt.com.

Clinical perfusionists must be certified or eligible for certification by the Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion (CSCP). Certification requires:

• Completion of a bachelor's degree.
• Completion of an accredited clinical perfusion program.
• Completion (or challenge) of the CSCP national credentialing exam.

Those currently enrolled in an accredited clinical perfusion program can become student members. For more information, visit www.cscp.ca. In jurisdictions outside of B.C., in order to become a Registered Cardiopulmonary Technologist with the Canadian Association of Cardio-pulmonary Technologists (CACPT) candidates must write the CACPT registration exams. In order to write the exams, they must:

• Have a Bachelor of Science degree or medical technology diploma in an appropriate discipline, or a nursing degree or diploma.
• Be able to demonstrate practical experience through work experience or completion of a recognized cardiovascular program or pulmonary courses.

Visit the CACPT website at www.cacpt.ca for more information.

Workers who are certified for an occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Job opportunities are expected to come from retirements and new job creation.

The growing demand for health-care services will increase work opportunities for these workers. In particular, hospitals and related health-care facilities are expected to experience growth that will result in new jobs.

An older population will see an increase in respiratory ailments and cardiopulmonary diseases, such as pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and heart disease, thereby increasing the need for health-care workers in this group. Advances in treatment for heart attacks, accidents and premature babies will also continue to increase demand for workers in these occupations.

Growth in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry will be somewhat offset by efforts to better run the medical system so costs do not get out of control. Cost management measures include reduced hospital stays, increased outpatient services, and prevention and wellness programs.

Advances in medical technologies, treatments and procedures mean that these workers must stay on top of new innovations to be effective in their jobs.

Industry sources report that there is currently a significant shortage of respiratory therapists, particularly in larger hospitals, and that the current supply of graduates cannot fill the vacancies. To meet their staffing needs, B.C. employers continue to look for respiratory therapists from other provinces and internationally.

The current supply of clinical perfusion graduates is also insufficient due to a lack of a clinical perfusionist programs in western Canada. A new perfusionist program is now available at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.