PRINTEligibility Requirements
Policy Approved: November 20th, 2008
REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY TO ATTEMPT THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF RESPIRATORY THERAPY (CSRT) NATIONAL CERTIFICATION EXAM FOR THE PURPOSES OF OBTAINING THE CSRT RRT CREDENTIAL:
1. Eligibility
All candidates wishing to attempt the CSRT National Certification Examination must have their eligibility verified by the CSRT before they write the exam.
a) Canadian candidates wishing to write the CSRT National Certification Examination must:
i. Have successfully completed the prescribed course of instruction in a Respiratory Therapy education program that has been approved by the CSRT.
ii. Be a member in good standing with the CSRT (either a Student or Associate member as the case may be).
iii. Complete the exam application and pay the prescribed fees as required by the CSRT and the approved exam corporation.b) U.S. Candidates that have obtained the RRT credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care:
Your eligibility to write the Canadian exam to obtain RRT registry will be determined by the CSRT. To be considered registry-eligible, you must be a member of the CSRT at the time you write the exam. An RRT (NBRC) candidate may join the CSRT as an Associate Member at a cost of $215 Cdn. A membership application is available in the membership section of the CSRT web site at http://www.csrt.com/en/membership/new_members.aspIndividuals who want to practice in non-regulated provinces (British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland)
If individuals holding the RRT designation from the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBCR) in the United States are moving to one of these provinces, they may earn the CSRT RRT credential upon successfully completing the CSRT certification exam as provided through the Canadian Board for Respiratory Care (CBRC).Individuals who want to practice in regulated provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia)
Individuals who plan to move to a province where the profession is regulated, these individuals must contact the appropriate regulatory body for their specific requirements to work in that province. Contact information is available on the CSRT website (www.csrt.com) under ‘About CSRT’.
2. Application
a) An application to attempt the CSRT National Certification Examination must be submitted to the approved exam corporation. Applications must be received within all published timelines. Please see the CBRC website for details on Candidate Information Manual, fees and deadlines.
b) Separate application to become a member of the CSRT must be received at the Head Office of the CSRT 400 - 331 Cooper St., Ottawa, ON, K2P 0G5 prior to any published deadlines associated with application to the approved exam corporation.
3. Timelines
a) 0nce eligibility has been determined, the candidate must make the first attempt at writing the CSRT Approved National Certification Examination within eighteen (18) months of their graduation from a CSRT approved Respiratory Therapy program.
b) Candidates who have failed their first attempt at the CSRT Approved National Certification Examination are no longer classified as ‘Student’ members of the CSRT at membership renewal time. Membership status switches to that of ‘Associate’ at March 31 following their first attempt, at the dues prescribed for that category.
c) Successful completion of the CSRT Approved National Certification Examination must be made within four (4) years of graduation from a CSRT approved Respiratory Therapy program.
d) A candidate who does not successfully complete the CSRT Approved National Certification Examination within four (4) years will only be permitted to re-take the examination after successfully re-completing the entire components of a Respiratory Therapy Program at a CSRT approved school.
e) Upon successful re-completion of the Respiratory Therapy Program at a CSRT approved school, an individual is eligible to attempt the CSRT Approved National Certification Examination for four (4) more years as outlined above.
4. Exceptions
a) A registrar of a provincial licensing body may submit a candidate’s name to write the CSRT Approved National Certification Examination. If successful an individual will NOT obtain the CSRT RRT Credential unless they have met the above requirements.
b) An individual that does not meet the above criteria may make a special request in writing to the CSRT Board of Directors for special permission to attempt the CSRT National Certification Examination.
