Respiratory Therapy

• Three-year diploma
• Fall start
• Includes second-year and a third-year practica
• Graduates in high demand

Program Description

Respiratory Therapy is a diverse and specialized profession that assists physicians in diagnosing, treating, and managing patients by providing such services as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ventilator management, oxygen and aerosol therapy, patient assessment and evaluation, and diagnostic services including pulmonary function testing and blood analysis. Since 1970, SAIT Polytechnic has been providing students with the right combination of leading-edge theory and hands-on practice needed to succeed.

At SAIT, Respiratory Therapy students participate in a comprehensive three-year diploma program featuring two years of classroom, lab study and clinical simulation followed by one year of clinical education in an acute and community care facility. Students go through practicum rotations such as adult, pediatric and neonatal intensive care units, emergency department, anesthesia, wards, homecare pulmonary function and blood gas labs. The first two years each consist of eight months study at SAIT. The third year is an 11-month clinical placement at an affiliated health care facility. The program will strive to give students their location preference for practica, but as each hospital has limited seats available, students may have to relocate to complete their clinical year at their own expense.

Our instructors, as respiratory therapy professionals, are equipped to offer the latest insights into new technology and best practices in the field including our Centre for Advanced Patient Care Simulation – a simulation education facility that uses high fidelity human patient simulators which physiologically respond to medical treatment.

Online elements require that students have a personal computer and access to the Internet. This program is under review and could undergo changes.

Your Career

Graduates find employment as respiratory therapists in acute care hospitals, community and home care programs, diagnostic laboratories, educational institutions, research facilities, pharmaceutical companies, medical sales and services and private companies. Future career opportunities may also exist in research, education, administration and management.

Admission Requirements

Alberta High School Diploma or equivalent, with the following admission requirements or equivalents:

• At least 60% in Pure Math 30 or Applied Math 30 or Math 30-1, or at least 70% in Math 30-2, AND,
• At least 60% in English Language Arts 30-1, AND,
• At least 60% in Chemistry 30, AND,
• At least 60% in Biology 30.
• All applicants to SAIT Polytechnic must demonstrate English Language Proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada. For more information, please see English Proficiency.
• View High School Course Equivalencies Admission Equivalencies by Province.

English Language Requirements

The College and Association of Respiratory Therapists of Alberta (CARTA) is the regulatory body governing respiratory therapists in Alberta. To practice in Alberta, respiratory therapists must be registered with CARTA. CARTA mandates that licensed respiratory therapists in Alberta meet English language benchmarks prescribed by the Enhanced Language Placement Assessment (ELTPA), which specifies communicative competence in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English. CARTA requires applicants who have English as an additional language achieve the following passing scores at the time of submitting an application for membership.

• Speaking Benchmark level 9
• Listening Benchmark level 9
• Reading Benchmark level 9
• Writing Benchmark level 9

The language assessment can be completed through the Immigrant Language Vocational Assessment Referral Centre (contact: 403.262.2656). The waitlist is approximately three weeks to access the ELTPA and assessment duration is approximately three hours.

Please note that CARTA does not accept International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL), Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) or Michener English Language Assessment (MELA) as equivalent to the Canadian Language Benchmarks.

Selection

To be included in selection, applications along with all supporting documents must be submitted. Selection is done on a continuous basis. The first round of selection will start December 1. Applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis.

Applicants who apply after the program has been filled will be required to complete the selection process and be placed on a waitlist. There will be 48 seats offered for fall.

Selection Criteria

Admission into the Respiratory Therapy program is determined by a selective process based on academic qualifications. In the selection process applicants will be assessed according to the following weighted criteria:

• Admission Requirements course average 70%
• Additional education or certifications
  (The number of years of post-secondary education. Completed diploma or degree.) 18%
• Career Aptitude
  (Interview, Career and Program Investigation) 12%

Selection Priority

• Up to eight seats are reserved for Saskatchewan residents.

Selection

We receive more qualified applicants than our quota of seats in the program.  In order to best select our students, the department will forward a selection package to those that meet Admission Requirements. Applicants will be ranked based on the selection criteria stated above. A composite score will be determined and seats will be offered in rank order.

Successful candidates must sign a practicum agreement contract prior to final acceptance.

Applicants who are successful in gaining admission will be requested to provide proof of the following prior to the start of classes/practicum (a requirements package will be sent to you following your offer letter).

• Updated Immunization Records. Details are included in the orientation package for successful candidates.
  Please note: Most practicum sites require students to demonstrate updated immunization status prior to attending practicum. Failure to do so could jeopardize your ability to complete the practicum portion of your program.
• Security Clearance: According to the Protection for Persons in Care Act, our practicum sites require that students obtain a criminal records check prior to going on practicum. Any criminal code offence for which a pardon has not been received, may be a deterrent to a student’s entry into practicum, and therefore will result in an uncompleted program, or non-graduating status.
• In compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, G8.40 Respiratory protection – Fit test, students are fit-tested for respiratory masks prior to their practica. Fit-testing is available on campus. Failure to adequately fit an N-95 mask may result in a restricted practicum and\or limited employment. Facial abnormality/hair may result in unsuccessful fit testing.
• Current Basic Rescuer (Level C) CPR. The CPR requirement must be maintained for the duration of your program.

Student Success

• Students with higher secondary or post-secondary marks usually experience greater success in SAIT programs.
• Students who experience success in this program have a strong command of the English language.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills are paramount given the vast amount of patient interaction required on the job.
• The ideal candidate for this program needs to have very good communication skills, compassion and an interest in caring for others, good organizational and problem solving skills, the ability to think and act in crisis situations and the ability to work effectively, independently and as a member of a team. They are professional and flexible, and enjoy working in diverse settings. They value helping others and working in a high-energy, challenging environment.
• Due to the nature of this work, practitioners spend the majority of their working hours on their feet and may be required to help lift immobile patients.

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Credentials

• After successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT diploma in Respiratory Therapy.
• Graduates from the SAIT program must successfully challenge the Canadian Board of Respiratory Care (CBRC) examination to earn the right to practice Respiratory Therapy in Canada.
• Any graduate wishing to work in Alberta must be a member of CARTA and pay the $275 membership fee and provide proof of CLBA of 9 in all categories and a CLBA 10 in at least one category upon request.
• Graduates wishing to work outside of Alberta may register with the CSRT by paying the $170 membership fee.
• After graduates become members of a professional organization they may register with the CBRC by paying the $700 national examination fee that will then allow them to challenge the national exam.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Respiratory Therapy Education. The program also works closely with our Advisory Committee to ensure that our curriculum continues to exceed provincial and national accreditation standards.

Tuition And Fees (Subject To Change)

• Please refer to the Tuition and Fee Table.
• International Students, please refer to International Student Fees.
• For student funding, please refer to Financial Assistance.
• Students are responsible for any additional expenses related to their practica including relocation costs to practicum sites outside Calgary.
• The cost for a criminal record check, which is a requirement for practicum, is up to $40 or more.

Books And Supplies (Subject To Change)

• Books and supplies are approximately $2,500.
• Students are required to have access to a personal computer with the specifications listed in Fees and Expenses.

Program Outline

• To find the course description for a course shown below, please go to our Course Finder and enter the course acronym and numbers (i.e., DMST-202) into the Quick Search by Course Code field.
• This program is being reviewed and could undergo changes.
• SAIT students are offered an opportunity to develop lifelong learning skills in an online environment. Some core courses in the Respiratory Therapy program are offered fully or partially online.

Please be advised that full-time student status requires students to take 60 per cent of a full course load per semester. Depending on the number of courses completed by correspondence, a student may be considered a part-time student, which may impact his/her financial loan status.

For More Information

Information: 403.284.8500
Email: hps.info@sait.ca
Website: School of Health and Public Safety
Academic Chair: Meena Kumar

Transfer with Diploma to…

Through SAIT Polytechnic transfer agreements and institution partnerships, graduates of this SAIT program may be eligible for credit at the following universities and colleges:

• Athabasca University
• Memorial University
• NAIT
• Thompson Rivers University
• University of Calgary
• University of New Brunswick, Saint John
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Transfer options may also be available at other post-secondary institutions where credits from SAIT programs are evaluated on an individual basis. Interested students should contact the post-secondary institute of their choice for more information.

To learn more, visit Transfer Options.

Related Links (Internal):

• School of Health and Public Safety

• Student-For-A-Day
• Academic Calendar
• Academic Upgrading
• International Students
• Mature Students
• Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition