Respiratory Therapy
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Program Overview
Respiratory Therapy is a three-year Ontario College Advanced Diploma program where students learn cardiopulmonary anatomy, chemistry, theory, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and more. This program is taught in a brand new clinical lab by experts in the field. Graduates will be able to perform diagnostic tests such as pulmonary function, cardiac stress and sleep behaviour.
Program Details
Program Code
RST4
Credential:
Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Duration
100 weeks
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 September
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 September
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
Your Learning Experience
You’ll hit the ground running and be able to perform diagnostic tests such as pulmonary function, cardiac stress and sleep behaviour. You’ll also work in Fanshawe’s brand new clinical labs, using state-of-the-art technology and equipment, learning from experts in the field. Additionally, you'll gain hands-on experience in a clinical internship in the third year, while learning from a nationally-approved and accredited curriculum, giving you the scientific foundation and clinical experience you’ll need to practice at the entry-level in Ontario, the rest of Canada, or the rest of the world – as soon as you graduate.
This program follows a curriculum approved by the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO), the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (CRST) and the National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies (NARTRB), and is accredited nationally through Accreditation Canada. College faculty, together with instructors from the clinical affiliates, provide the scientific foundation and clinical experience required to prepare students for practice at the entry-level within Ontario, as well as nationally and internationally. Graduates will be eligible to write national certification exams and apply for a license with the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario or other regions of Canada.
Graduates of the program must undertake a nationally recognized certification exam in order to make an application for credentialing with the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO), or to other Regulators within Canada, depending upon where they desire to practice. This program is known for preparing its graduates well for certifications. In fact, in 2024, the Fanshawe graduates achieved a 93% pass rate on the Health Professionals Testing Canada (HPTC) exam, which is well above the national average. Graduates who intend to practice in Ontario must apply for registration with the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO).
Career Information
Graduates of Fanshawe’s Respiratory Therapy program possess the skills and knowledge to become essential members of a health care team. Career opportunities extend beyond hospital services to include homecare, community care, research, education, sales/promotion, management, administration and consulting for public or private health care entities.
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here’s an example of an employment opportunity Career Services has received for students and graduates of Fanshawe’s Respiratory Therapy program:
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Responsible for assessing and managing clients with a wide range of respiratory disorders, ensuring their health care needs are met including appropriate sleep and/or oxygen therapies.
Train in a Realistic Emergency
Every year, Fanshawe holds an emergency preparedness exercise at its London Campus that simulates realistic emergencies to help test and train students and campus emergency first responders. The College is one of the only post-secondary institutions to provide an experiential learning opportunity on this scale. Students in this program will get the chance to participate in this exciting event.
The Respiratory Therapy program prepared me with the knowledge and skills to become a proficient RT who is a vital part of the health care team both in hospitals and the community. The program prepares you for the workplace through theory and simulation based learning. The hands-on learning occurs in labs with the latest equipment being utilized in our field. The professors of the program are all respiratory therapists who bring their experiences to the classroom to help supplement our learning. Class sizes are small enough that you will be on a first name basis with both your classmates and professors. In addition to the excellent academics, there are many opportunities to become involved in the program and a variety of social and extracurricular events around campus to help balance school and life. I loved my three years at Fanshawe and would highly recommend this program to anyone who is wanting to pursue a career in the health field.
Emily Spiers
Respiratory Therapy Graduate
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to
1. practise in a professional manner.
2. practise competently, safely, and effectively in diverse practice settings*.
3. communicate effectively with clients* and health care team members.
4. participate as a team member to support clients'* achievement of their health outcomes.
5. assess clients* in a comprehensive manner.
6. collect and interpret information to plan, implement, and evaluate outcomes-based* practice.
7. select and use a variety of respiratory* modalities to support clients'* achievement of their health outcomes.
8. collaborate with clients* and health care team members to develop, implement, and evaluate clients'* learning plans.
9. integrate theory, principles, and concepts into respiratory* practice.
10. incorporate research* theory into practice.
Academic School
Program Coordinator
Julie Brown, BSc, RRT, MSc(c), FCSRT
Admission Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent,
or a
mature applicant with a minimum final grade of 70 in each of
the following courses:
- Grade 12 English (C or U)
- Grade 12 Math (C* or U)
- Grade 11 or 12 Physics (C or U)
- Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry (C or U)
- Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C or U)
This is a competitive program; we receive more applications
from qualified applicants than we have seats available. Applicants
who do not meet admissions requirements may choose to do the
one-year
Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees
preparatory program. Graduates who have a final cumulative GPA of
3.0 and no grade in the courses listed above below 70% will meet
all the admissions requirements for this program, gain academic
skills and make a future application more competitive. Please see
www.fanshawec.ca/hcp for
details on competitive programs.
* Grade 12 Foundations for College Math (MAP4C) may not be
adequate academic preparation for this program. We recommend a
minimum of MCT4C if applicants are choosing a college level Math to
meet the requirements.
International students, please note: you must successfully
graduate from Pre-Health Sciences before being considered for this
program.
Competitive Programs
| This is a highly competitive program; the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of seats available. Post-Secondary education may be required for successful admission to this program. Please see www.fanshawec.ca/hcp for details. International students, please note: you must successfully graduate from Pre-Health Sciences before being considered for this program. |
International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 92 (22 writing, 26 speaking, 20 reading and 20 listening) |
| IELTS Academic | Overall score of 7.0 with no score less than 6.5 in reading and listening and a score of 7.0 in writing and speaking |
| CAEL | 70 in writing, reading and speaking and a score of 80 in listening |
| PTE Academic | 65 |
| Cambridge English | Overall score of 185 with no language skill less than 176 and a score of 185 in listening |
| ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 10 |
| Duolingo | Overall 135 with Literacy minimum 130 and no other subscores below 125 |
Recommended Academic Preparation
Recommended Academic Preparation
- Grade 12 Business and Technological Communication (O)
Recommended Personal Preparation
Recommended Personal Preparation
- Students should develop personal responsibility, emotional maturity and those personal characteristics which will enable them to co-operate with others in the delivery of health care
Applicant Selection Criteria
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:
- Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
- Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
- Achievement in the Admission Requirements
- Admission to the Fanshawe College Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program does not guarantee admission in a subsequent year to the Respiratory Therapy program. Successful completion of the Fanshawe College Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program, however, does enable the student to be given additional consideration when applying to the Respiratory Therapy program. The Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program is the preferred designated preparatory program for admission to the Respiratory Therapy program.
- *Students who are currently registered in the Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program at Fanshawe College or at any Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology must successfully complete their Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees Ontario College Certificate with a minimum 3.0 GPA average by April 30, 2023 and meet the academic pre-requisite courses and grades for the Respiratory Therapy program in order to be eligible for admission consideration in the immediately following academic year to the Respiratory Therapy program.
Post-Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
The following items are applicable to the program and are time sensitive. Please refer to www.fanshawec.ca/preplacement for important information about preparing for placement by the due date.
- Possession of a Standard First Aid course certificate (either St. John Ambulance or Canadian Red Cross or equivalent) and a Basic Rescuer course certificate - Basic Life Support (BLS) for BLS Providers course in accordance with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Canadian Guidelines for CPR
- Evidence of Good Health
- Police Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening, including a check of the Pardoned Sexual Offenders Database
- Mandatory Placement Assessment for WRIT Course
- Guide to Completing your Professional Practice Requirements
- Pre-Placement Process
- Year 1: Professional Practice Health Form
- Year 2: Professional Practice Health Form
- Year 3: Professional Practice Health Form
- Placement Agreement
For all programs requiring the submission of pre-placement forms, please submit all supplemental forms (with the exception of transcripts) by email to regforms@fanshawec.ca.
The deadline for submission of these forms for the RST4 program is June 1st (for a September start date) for Year 2 and April 1st (for a September start) for Year 3 students.
Courses
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| WRIT-1048 | Reason & Writing 1 for Health Sciences | 3 | ||
| This course will introduce health sciences students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking. | ||||
| RESP-1026 | Health & Safety in Disease Prevention | 3 | ||
| The purpose of this course is to introduce students in the Respiratory Therapy program to pathogenic and physiological processes and their role in disease transmission. The students will also gain a general overview of relevant health and safety practices related to respiratory care. The competencies as taught, reinforced and evaluated will follow the 2016 Respiratory Therapy National Competency Framework (NCF) as well as the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD) Respiratory Therapy Vocational Learning Outcomes which details the competencies as required for credentialing and entry-to-practice. While the format for this course delivery is didactic classroom setting, it is expected that the student will conduct themselves in a professional manner as outlined in the Program Policies and Program Description. | ||||
| ANAT-1029 | Cardiopulmonary Anatomy & Physiology 1 | 4 | ||
| This course focuses on specialized concepts of cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology. It emphasizes the hierarchical organization of the human body, the intimate relationship between structure and function, and the homeostatic regulation of organ systems. The course is offered in two parts and provides the theoretical underpinnings for the study of applied disciplines such as pathophysiology and pharmacology. | ||||
| RESP-1018 | Theory of Equipment | 4 | ||
| This course introduces the student to the primary equipment used within the field of respiratory care. Subject matter includes in-depth analysis of equipment and therapies such as oxygen therapy and medical gas administration. The competencies as taught, reinforced and evaluated will follow the 2016 Respiratory Therapy National Competency Framework (NCF) as well as the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) Respiratory Therapy Vocational Learning Outcomes which details the competencies as required for credentialing and entry-to-practice. While the format for this course delivery is didactic classroom setting, it is expected that the student will conduct themselves in a professional manner as outlined in the Program Policies and Program Description. | ||||
| RESP-1023 | Professional Issues in Respiratory Care | 2 | ||
| This course introduces students to various professional issues confronting health care providers in today's world. Topics of concern to the Respiratory Therapist such as professional behaviour, professional associations, maintaining practice competency, communication, documentation and legal standards are discussed in the large group setting. The competencies as taught, reinforced and evaluated follow the 2016 Respiratory Therapy National Competency Framework (NCF) which details the competencies as required for credentialing and entry-to practice. While the format for this course delivery is didactic classroom setting, it is expected that the student will conduct themselves in a professional manner as outlined in the Program Policies and Program Description. | ||||
| RESP-1029 | Clinical Applications 1 | 1.5 | ||
| This course allows the student to perform practical applications of respiratory equipment, procedures, and patient care as learned in RESP-1018 in a safe simulation environment. The emphasis will be on therapeutic interventions and procedures to enhance and include the health and safety of the patient and therapist. The course will focus on medical gas administration, oxygen therapy, home oxygen therapy, humidification devices, aerosol therapy, inhaled medication administration, and gastric suction. The delivery of this course will incorporate practical skills stations, case based learning and high fidelity simulations to encourage critical thinking and team-based management. The student will conscientiously ensure that their practice falls within professional legal boundaries along with continued enhancement of concepts pertaining to professionalism, communication, problem-solving and health and safety. The competencies as taught, reinforced and evaluated will follow the 2016 Respiratory Therapy National Competency Framework (NCF) as well as the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) Respiratory Therapy Vocational Learning Outcomes which details the competencies as required for credentialing and entry-to-practice. The format for this course delivery is within the simulated respiratory laboratory setting, and therefore, it is expected that the student will conduct themselves in a professional manner as outlined in the Program Policies and Program Description. | ||||
| CHEM-1107 | Physiological Chemistry | 2 | ||
| This course introduces the student to the fundamental chemical principles required to understand the concepts presented. Emphasis will be placed on the chemistry of fluid and electrolyte balance and maintenance of acid base balance within the fluid compartments of the human body. Subject matter includes in-depth analysis of all concepts presented as outlined in the Detailed Content section. The competencies as taught, reinforced and evaluated will follow the 2016 Respiratory Therapy National Competency Framework (NCF) which details the competencies as required for credentialing and entry-to-practice. While the format for this course delivery is didactic classroom setting, it is expected that the student will conduct themselves in a professional manner as outlined in the Program Policies and Program Description. | ||||
| HLTH-1101 | Research Principles: Intro | 3 | ||
| This is an introductory course into the process and principles of research. Topics will include the purpose of research in health care, the research process, research paradigms, systematic review, reporting research, knowledge translation, and ethics in research. The student will learn about the components and theories of research, how the theories have changed over time, and through scientific methods, how research can impact their life and practice. This course will also discuss the importance of health care administration; relating to financial concerns of health care, such as public funding, health insurance and managing hospital practice in accordance with a budget. Topics such as assuring compliance with national and provincial regulations and delivery of high quality patient care will also be discussed. Delivery will include large and small group discussion; article critiquing, literature reviews and presentations of scientific articles. | ||||
Tuition Summary
London
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.