Items of Interest
National Competency Profile
The 2011 Canadian Respiratory Therapy National Competency Profile (NCP) is the culmination of
a comprehensive practice review conducted in 2009. Professional Examination Services, a not-for-
profit organization based in New York, was hired following a competitive process to conduct
the review of respiratory therapy practice in Canada using industry-accepted statistical analysis
and standards. A Task Force representative of clinical experts and educators from across Canada
began the review process in the fall of 2008.
The entry-level competencies listed in the 2011 NCP are those that students are expected to
possess at graduation in order to ‘enter the practice’ and a two year time frame following
graduation is considered the period in which graduates work to ‘master the practice’.
Utilization of the 2011 Respiratory Therapy National Competency Profile by educators, accrediting
and examination bodies, will strengthen consistency within educational programs and assessment
mechanisms, build confidence in labour mobility provisions and ensure that graduates of
approved respiratory therapy programs are able to practice safely and competently.
Also presented is the companion document to the NCP, developed by representative educators from all Education programs in Respiratory Therapy in Canada. This companion document provides further explination to each competency, and the degree to which they are to be taught.