Respiratory Therapy

• Three-year diploma
• Fall start
• Includes second-year practica and third-year clinical setting
• 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 start with observational clinical rotations in the second year and in the third year students go through practicum rotations such as adult, paediatric and neonatal intensive care units, emergency department, anaesthesia, 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 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 at least 60% in each of the following courses: English Language Arts 30-1, Pure Math 30 or Applied Math 30 or Math 31, Chemistry 30, and 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.
• For upgrading options, please refer to the Academic Upgrading program.
• For international students, please refer to the International section.
• For mature students, please refer to the Admissions section.
• Advance credit may be granted to applicants who have completed equivalent education at a post-secondary institution or have demonstrated equivalent experiential learning. Please refer to Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition.

Selection Criteria

This program typically has more applications than seats. Meeting the Admission Requirements is the first step in the selection process. However, students may also be required to meet additional criteria in order to gain admission into the program. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the selection criteria.

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 to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses and attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better.

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.
• Graduates wishing to work outside of Alberta may register with the CSRT by paying the $130 membership fee.
• After graduates become members of a professional organization they may register with the CBRC by paying the $575 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.
• CPRS 212 Health Care Provider course in CPR. Annual update required – CPRS 222 Health Care Provider Renewal. All CPR courses must be from the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Call SAIT Life Support Training at 403.210.4009 for further information.
• Students are responsible for any additional expenses related to their practica including relocation costs to practicum sites outside Calgary.

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 (2009 - 2010)

• 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-350) 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.

For More Information

Information: 403.284.8481
E-mail: hps@sait.ca
Website: School of Health and Public Safety

Diploma to Degree… and Beyond

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

To learn more, visit Transfer Options.

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.

Related Links (Internal):

• School of Health and Public Safety

• Student-For-A-Day

• Academic Calendar