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ABOUT THE STANDARDS

The Standards of Practice (Standards) outline the framework for legal and professional practice for all College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO) Members, in all categories of registration. Members are professionally accountable to practise in accordance with these Standards. The CRTO may refer to this publication to determine whether appropriate Standards of practice and professional responsibility have been met and/or maintained by its Members. These Standards are intended to inform Respiratory Therapists (RTs)* of their accountabilities and to inform the public what they can expect when receiving care from an RT. These Standards apply to all RTs, regardless of their role, job description, and area of practice.

Members of the CRTO are professionally accountable to practice in accordance with these Standards. Standards of Practice can be revised at any time, and it is individual Members’ responsibility to be aware of any changes relevant to their practice.

* For the purpose of this document, all CRTO Members are Respiratory Therapists (RTs), regardless of the class of certificate of registration they hold.

It is important to note that s.1 (2) of the Professional Misconduct regulation (O. Reg. 753/93) states that it is an act of professional misconduct if a Respiratory Therapist is found to be: Contravening a standard of practice of the profession or a published standard of the CRTO, or failing to maintain the standard of practice of the profession.

Development and Revision of the Standards of Practice

These standards were originally drafted in 1996, revised in 2004, and again in 2010. In 2017, the CRTO and the Saskatchewan College of Respiratory Therapists (SCRT) collaborated on a redesigned version of the Standards, which was updated in 2019. In 2025, this document was reviewed and revised by the National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies (NARTRB) with the goal of adopting these Standards of Practice across multiple Canadian jurisdictions.

Purpose of the Standards of Practice

The ‘Standards of Practice’ of a profession describe the requirements for professional practice. Many standards are written down and formally approved by the CRTO. Other standards are unwritten expectations that define generally accepted practice adopted by Ontario respiratory therapists.  Collectively, the standards, as well as relevant legislation (including regulations and bylaws), position statements, policies, and practice guidelines, establish a framework for the practice of Respiratory Therapy in Ontario.

Members of the CRTO are professionally accountable to practice in accordance with these Standards. Standards of Practice can be revised at any time, and it is each individual Member’s responsibility to be aware of any changes relevant to their practice.

It is important to note that employers may have policies in place that relate to specific Standards. If an employer’s policies are more restrictive than the CRTO’s expectations, the RT must abide by the employer’s policies. Where an employer’s policies are more permissive than those of the CRTO, the RT must adhere to the CRTO’s requirements.

Standards of Practice serve a variety of purposes to different system partner groups, as outlined in Table 1.

Table1. Purpose of Standards of Practice According to System Partner Group

SYSTEM PARTNER PURPOSE OF STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
Members Outlines performance requirements, accountabilities, and responsibilities involved in providing safe, competent and ethical care.
Regulatory College Provides a reference for professional practice, complaints, and discipline against which actual performance can be compared.
Public Outlines what the public and patients/clients can expect when receiving care from, or interacting with, Members; contributes to the protection of the public.
Other Health Professionals Provides others with a description of the profession’s specific roles and RTs’ responsibilities.
Employers Provides a reference for the development of job descriptions, professional roles/ supports, and performance evaluation.

How the Standards of Practice are Organized

The Standards are designed as a comprehensive, integrated entity. Each Standard should be considered in conjunction with the others. The Standards of Practice are organized alphabetically for ease of access.

Each Standard includes the following headings:

  • Standard statement: describes the legal and professional requirements of Members.
  • Performance requirements: outlines the actions that must be demonstrated to indicate how the standard is met. The requirements are not outlined in order of importance, nor are they a comprehensive list.
  • Patient/client expected outcome: describes what patients/clients should expect when they receive care.
  • Related standards: provide essential additional information related to the specific standard. Members are strongly encouraged to read the information included in Related Standards.
  • Resources: includes a list of documents that provide additional information related to the standard.
  • Glossary: includes a list of definitions of key terms used in the standards. Words are bolded the first time they appear in the Standard

Assumptions

The Standards are based on the following:

  • Respiratory Therapists are committed to:
    • providing safe, competent, collaborative, and ethical patient/client-centred care;
    • maintaining a high standard of professional practice through self-governance;
    • lifelong learning and the development of knowledge, skills, and abilities throughout their careers;
    • ongoing professional development;
    • the principles of accountability in all aspects of their professional practice; and
    • practising in a manner consistent with legislation/regulations.
  • The Standards are intended to:
    • reflect the CRTO’s public responsibility/commitment to the public;
    • collectively outline mandatory minimum performance expectations/criteria that all Members are expected to meet regardless of their experience, role or area of practice; and
    • be used in conjunction with other CRTO documents (e.g., Ethical Guidelines/Code of Ethics, Position Statements, and Professional Practice Guidelines) that together describe and guide professional practice.