National Occupation Code (NOC): 32103

Respiratory therapists assist physicians in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. Clinical perfusionists provide technical support to patients undergoing cardiac surgery and patients requiring cardio-respiratory support. Cardiopulmonary technologists assist physicians in the technical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. Respiratory therapists are employed in hospitals, extended care facilities, public health centres, sleep, private or dental clinics and respiratory home care companies. Clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists are primarily employed in hospitals. Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists who are supervisors or instructors are included in this unit group.

Employment Requirements for Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists

• Respiratory therapists require the completion of a three-year college or university degree program in respiratory therapy, both including clinical training.
• Licensing is required for respiratory therapists in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
• A national certification for respiratory therapists is available for therapists working in Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
• In Quebec, a certificate is required for respiratory therapists to prescribe smoking cessation medication.
• Clinical perfusionists require the completion of a respiratory therapy or registered nursing program with a minimum of one year of work experience as a respiratory therapist or registered nurse and completion of a college or university program in clinical perfusion, including clinical training.
• Certification with the Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion is required for clinical perfusionists.
• Cardiopulmonary technologists require a two-year college diploma in an allied health discipline such as respiratory therapy, nursing diploma, or a university degree in a related science and completion of a college post-diploma program in cardiovascular technology and additional training in pulmonary technology through courses or supervised on-the-job clinical training.
• Registration with the Canadian Association of Cardio-pulmonary Technologists (CACPT) may be required.

Alternate Job Titles

• Anesthesia Assistant
• Anesthesia Technologist
• Cardiopulmonary Technician
• Cardiopulmonary Technologist
• Cardiopulmonary Technology Instructor
• Cardiopulmonary Technology Supervisor
• Cardiovascular Perfusion Clinical Instructor
• Cardiovascular Perfusion Instructor
• Cardiovascular Perfusion Supervisor
• Cardiovascular Perfusion Technologist
• Cardiovascular Perfusionist
• Certified Clinical Perfusionist (CCP)
• Chief Perfusionist
• Chief Respiratory Technologist
• Clinical Perfusion Clinical Instructor
• Clinical Perfusion Supervisor
• Clinical Perfusionist
• Extracorporal Circulation Technologist
• Extracorporal Technician
• Extracorporal Technologist
• Inhalation Technologist
• Oxygen Therapy Technician
• Perfusion Technologist
• Perfusionist
• Polysomnographic Technologist
• Pulmonary Function Technologist
• Registered Respiratory Care Practitioner
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
• Respiratory Care Practitioner
• Respiratory Technician
• Respiratory Technologist
• Respiratory Therapist
• Respiratory Therapy Chief
• Respiratory Therapy Clinical Instructor
• Respiratory Therapy Supervisor
• Anesthesia Assistant - Full Time
• Anesthesia Assistant
• External Posting - Anesthesia Assistant