Respiratory Therapist
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Respiratory therapists assist physicians in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. They are employed in hospitals, extended care facilities, public health centres and respiratory home care companies. (National Occupational Classification)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- OCCinfo by alis - Alberta-based occupational information
- O*NET Online - U.S. resource for occupational descriptions and information
- Sokanu: Respiratory Therapist - occupational videos and info
- Respiratory Therapist career profile - ExploreHealthCareers.org
- The RT Profession - overview from the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists
- Interview: Respiratory Therapist at a pediatric hospital - StudyinCanada.com
- Video: Life & Breath - info about the RT profession from AARC
- Career Mentor profile - University of Manitoba alumnus, Respiratory Therapist
- Discover your Future in Healthcare: Respiratory Therapist - University of Manitoba
Education
U of M Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar & Catalogue outlines program admission and course requirements. Use the left menu to navigate to a specific faculty and program. To determine which degree path suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant. For support with course registration and academic issues, speak with an Academic Advisor.
Faculty and Department Homepages
Visit U of M's faculty and department homepage to learn about program application deadlines and processes, as well as additional in-house resources and opportunities. Ergonomics may be pursued with either a Bachelor of Kinesiology or a Master of Occupational Therapy depending on the work environment desired.
- College of Rehabilitation Sciences (Bachelor of Respiratory Therapy) - Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
- Access Program - including Health Careers Access Program (HCAP)
Exploring Other Education Options
- Respiratory Therapy Programs in Canada - Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapy
- Accreditation Canada - Respiratory Therapist
- U.S. Accredited Programs - Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
- Search Education Directories
- Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials - information for foreign-trained RTs
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Trend Analysis: Job Market Report (Winnipeg region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
- Collective Agreements - Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals
- Canadian Institute for Health Information: About Respiratory Therapists - within annual reports view 'Table of Contents' (tab 3 within Excel doc)
- OpportuNext - salary range and job growth prospects - Manitoba
Professional Associations
Professional associations may organize events and provide directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities may also be available: engage, learn and network!
- Manitoba Association of Registered Respiratory Therapists
- Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapy (CSRT)
- American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- Regional Health Authorities - Province of Manitoba
- Health Regions in Canada - listings and maps from Statistics Canada
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
Other links
These external resources may provide you with additional information about the occupation and opportunities to build experience.
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Community Mentorship Program - U of M student-led program that pairs undergraduate students with a student Mentor from a Faculty of Health Sciences College
- University of Manitoba Undergraduate Leaders in Healthcare - campus student group
- Canadian Lung Association
- Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy