Licensing guide · Ontario

How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Ontario

Last checked 5 sources checkedNOC 32103

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with The College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario to work as a respiratory therapist in Ontario or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
Respiratory Therapist, GRT, RRT
Show the source
“To practise as a Respiratory Therapist in Ontario, you must be registered with the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO). You may not work as a Respiratory Therapist or use the Respiratory Therapist title or designation (e.g., GRT, RRT) in Ontario until you have received written confirmation from the CRTO that your certificate of registration has been issued.”

From crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $75
  • 7 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $1,120
  • Listed time: 0 to 0.1 months (only 1 of 8 steps state a time)

  1. Read the registration requirements section and the Application for Registration Guide before starting.

    Source
    “Review the Registration Requirements section and the Application for Registration Guide.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-from-cdn-rt-programs

  2. Fill out the online application and pay the application fee by online Visa or MasterCard.

    Source
    “Complete the online application and pay the $75.00 application fee (online Visa or MasterCard transaction).”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-from-cdn-rt-programs

  3. One or two business days after the CRTO receives your application, it will email you information on accessing the Applicant Portal to check your application status.

    Time: 1 to 2 days
    Time source
    “One or two business days after receiving your online application, the CRTO will email you with information on how to access the Applicant Portal and check the status of your application.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-from-cdn-rt-programs
    Source
    “One or two business days after receiving your online application, the CRTO will email you with information on how to access the Applicant Portal and check the status of your application.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-from-cdn-rt-programs

  4. Log in to the Applicant Portal and upload documents such as proof of citizenship, residency or work permit, a Vulnerable Sector Check, and if applicable evidence of passing the approved examination.

    Source
    “Log in to the Applicant Portal to submit (upload) supporting documents, for example: Proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent residency status, or a valid work permit; A Vulnerable Sector Check issued by your local Canadian police service. If applicable, provide evidence of successful completion of the approved examination, e.g., a photocopy of your HPTC exam results letter.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-from-cdn-rt-programs

  5. Make sure documents such as your transcript, and if applicable Employment Verification and Registration Verification forms, are sent to the CRTO directly from third parties.

    Source
    “Ensure that other supporting documentation has been sent to the CRTO from third-party organizations, for example: Transcript of academic record must be sent directly to the CRTO from the educational institution. Employment Verification Form – If you have been practising as a Respiratory Therapist in the last five years, you will need to complete the Employment Verification Form. Registration Verification Form – If you hold (or have ever held) a license or registration to practise Respiratory Therapy outside of Ontario, and/or if you hold (or have ever held) a license or registration to practise another profession, you will need to complete the Registration Verification Form.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-from-cdn-rt-programs

  6. Wait for the CRTO to confirm your application is approved; if it is not approved, the CRTO will contact you about next steps.

    Source
    “Receive a confirmation from the CRTO when your application is approved. If your application is not approved, we will contact you regarding next steps/options in the registration process.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-from-cdn-rt-programs

  7. Submit the applicable registration fee.

    Source
    “Submit the applicable registration fee.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-from-cdn-rt-programs

  8. Receive your certificate of registration, and the CRTO will email you when it is issued.

    Source
    “Receive your certificate of registration. The CRTO will send you an email confirmation when your certificate is issued.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-from-cdn-rt-programs

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $75

One-time fees listed for Trained in Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $75 100%
One-time total $75 100%

7 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $1,120 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 3 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 1 step without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $1,120

  1. Complete the CRTO's online Application for Registration and submit the applicable fees and documentation.

    Source
    “Applicants applying under the labour mobility provision must complete the CRTO’s online Application for Registration and submit the applicable fee(s) and documentation to the CRTO.”
    crto.on.ca/employers/hiring-from-outside-ontario/labour-mobility-le...

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with The College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $1,120 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 3 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $500
  • 9 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $1,120

  1. Start the registration process by completing the online application.

    Source
    “To start the registration process you must complete the online application.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

  2. Obtain a credential assessment from an approved service such as ICAS, ICES or World Education Services (Canada).

    Source
    “International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) or World Education Services (Canada)”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

  3. If you have practised as a Respiratory Therapist in the last five years, complete the Employment Verification Form, and if you hold or have ever held a licence to practise Respiratory Therapy outside Ontario or another profession, complete the Registration Verification Form.

    Source
    “Employment Verification Form – If you have been practising as a Respiratory Therapist in the last five years, you will need to complete the Employment Verification Form. Registration Verification Form – If you hold (or have ever held) a license or registration to practise Respiratory Therapy outside of Ontario, and/or if you hold (or have ever held) a license or registration to practise another profession, you will need to complete the Registration Verification Form.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

  4. Submit the assessment fee to start the assessment process; it covers the education review and the interview.

    • Application Review and Assessment Fee: $500
      Source
      “Application Review and Assessment Fee– To start the assessment process, you will need to submit the $500.00 assessment fee which will cover the Education Review and the Interview (see below).”
      crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada
    Source
    “Application Review and Assessment Fee– To start the assessment process, you will need to submit the $500.00 assessment fee which will cover the Education Review and the Interview (see below).”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

  5. The CRTO conducts a detailed review of your education program, for which you complete an Education Program Review Worksheet and submit it with supporting documentation such as course outlines and curriculum.

    Source
    “Education Review– The CRTO will conduct a detailed (content) review of your education program. The purpose of this review is to determine if your educational qualifications are sufficiently similar to the Canadian standard reflected in the NCF. As part of the education program review, you will be asked to complete the Education Program Review Worksheet and submit the form to the CRTO office together with supporting documentation (e.g., detailed course outlines, and program curriculum/syllabus).”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

  6. After the program review, attend a structured interview conducted by two Respiratory Therapists contracted by the CRTO who compare your knowledge, skills and experience against the NCF competencies.

    Source
    “Structured Interview – after the program review is complete, you will be asked to attend a structured interview. The interview will be conducted by two Respiratory Therapists who have been contracted by the CRTO. The interviewers will ask you questions and compare your knowledge, skills, and experience against the competencies listed in the NCF.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

  7. After the interview you receive an interim assessment report and meet with CRTO staff to review it and discuss next steps.

    Source
    “Feedback– After the interview, you will receive an interim assessment report. The report will be based on the educational program review and the structured interview. At that time, you will also be asked to meet with CRTO staff to review your interim assessment report and to discuss the next steps in the assessment process.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

  8. After completing all three assessment stages, your application is referred to a Panel of the Registration Committee, which reviews a comprehensive assessment report.

    Source
    “Registration Committee Referral – after you complete all three stages of the assessment process, your application will be referred to a Panel of the Registration Committee. The Panel will review a comprehensive assessment report prepared by the CRTO staff.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

  9. If the Registration Committee orders that a certificate be issued, submit the applicable registration fee.

    Source
    “If the Registration Committee orders to issue you a certificate of registration, you will be asked to submit the applicable registration fee.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

  10. After the registration fee is processed, receive your certificate of registration and an email confirmation from the CRTO.

    Source
    “After the registration fee is processed, you will receive your certificate of registration. The CRTO will send you an email confirmation when your certificate is issued.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $500

One-time fees listed for Trained outside Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Assessment $500 100%
One-time total $500 100%

9 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $1,120 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 3 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total.

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • Applicants must have graduated from an educational program approved by the CRTO.

    Source
    “a) graduation from an educational program approved by the CRTO, and”
    crto.on.ca/student/registration/exams

  • The CRTO cannot register applicants who were trained in another health profession, even if they have experience providing respiratory care.

    Source
    “The CRTO cannot register applicants who were trained in another health profession — such as nursing, medicine, or anesthesia — even if they have experience providing respiratory care.”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

Police check

Insurance

Other

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

A person registered to practise Respiratory Therapy in a regulated Canadian jurisdiction may be eligible for registration in Ontario without any additional reassessment or restrictions.

Source
“Under the labour mobility legislation, a person registered to practice Respiratory Therapy in a regulated jurisdiction (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador) may be eligible for registration in Ontario without any additional reassessment or restrictions.”
crto.on.ca/employers/hiring-from-outside-ontario/labour-mobility-le...

  1. Complete online application

    Source
    “Applicants applying under the labour mobility provision must complete the CRTO’s online Application for Registration and submit the applicable fee(s) and documentation to the CRTO.”
    crto.on.ca/employers/hiring-from-outside-ontario/labour-mobility-le...

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with The College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

  • International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)

    credential assessment for internationally educated applicants

    Source
    “International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) or World Education Services (Canada)”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

  • International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)

    credential assessment for internationally educated applicants

    Source
    “International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) or World Education Services (Canada)”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

  • World Education Services (Canada)

    credential assessment for internationally educated applicants

    Source
    “International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) or World Education Services (Canada)”
    crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with The College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with The College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with The College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 32103, Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Ontario and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Ontario $27.39 $44.66 $53.81 Good (4 of 5)
Canada $30.16 $41.00 $51.00 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Ontario

Wages in every province and territory

Respiratory therapists in other provinces and territories

Regulated in all 12 other jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare respiratory therapist licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Applicants Educated Outside of Canada - CRTO crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-educated-outside-of-canada · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Applicants From Canadian RT Programs - CRTO crto.on.ca/applicants/applicants-from-cdn-rt-programs · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Labour Mobility Legislation - CRTO crto.on.ca/employers/hiring-from-outside-ontario/labour-mobility-le... · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Exams - CRTO crto.on.ca/student/registration/exams · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Approved By-law Changes - CRTO crto.on.ca/members/surveyspolls/by-law-consultation-2016 · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a respiratory therapist in Ontario?

Yes. Registration with The College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario is required to practise in Ontario, and to use the title Respiratory Therapist, GRT or RRT.

Which exams are required?

Health Professionals Testing Canada (HPTC) Examination, Launch RT Jurisprudence Assessment, Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA).

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