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Part II .

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Respiratory Therapy Regulations

made under Sections 4, 13 and 14 of the

Regulated Health Professions Act

S.N.S. 2023, c. 15

O.I.C. 2025-229 (effective November 1, 2025), N.S. Reg. 152/2025

Table of Contents

Please note: this table of contents is provided for convenience of reference and does not form part of the regulations.

Click here to go to the text of the regulations .

Interpretation

Citation

Definitions

Regulator

Nova Scotia College of Respiratory Therapists continued

Bylaw authorization

Public representatives on Board

Scope of Practice

Scope of practice of respiratory therapy

Scope of practice of designations and licensing categories

Registration and Licensing

Practising licence categories

Conditional licence categories

Application and criteria for registration in practising register

Criteria for practising licence

Criteria for registration in conditional register

Criteria for conditional licence

Practice and Title Use Restrictions, Services Not Prohibited and Publication Restrictions

Restriction on practice of respiratory therapy

Restriction on use of “respiratory therapist” title, description or designation

Restriction on practice of anaesthesia assistance and use of “anaesthesia assistant” title,

description or designation

Restriction on use of bylaw licensing category title, description or designation

Services not prohibited by Act, regulations or bylaws

Restriction on use of title or designation in advertisement or publication

Fines

Professional conduct fine maximum

Criminal Offences and Withdrawal or Suspension of Privileges

Criminal offence or suspension or withdrawal of privilege of applicant or registrant

Interpretation

Citation

1 These regulations may be cited as the Respiratory Therapy Regulations .

Definitions

2 In these regulations,

“Act” means the Regulated Health Professions Act ;

“Board” is further defined to mean the board of the Regulator;

“competency framework” means a framework approved by the Board establishing

the competencies that registrants are required to possess to practise safely and

ethically within the scope of practice of their designation or licensing category;

“former Act” is further defined to mean

Chapter 13 of the Acts of 2007, the

Respiratory Therapists Act ;

“General Regulations” means the Regulated Health Professions General

Regulations made under the Act;

“Nova Scotia College of Respiratory Therapists” means the college continued

under

Section 3 of the former Act;

“registration and licensing decision maker” means the registrar, the registration and

licensing committee or the registration and licensing review committee, as

applicable;

“Regulator” means the Nova Scotia Regulator of Respiratory Therapy;

“title protection” means the restriction on the use of a title associated with a

particular designation or category of licence to persons who are authorized to

practise within the scope of that designation or registered and licensed in that

category of licence.

Regulator

Nova Scotia College of Respiratory Therapists continued

3 The Nova Scotia College of Respiratory Therapists is continued as a regulatory body

under the name Nova Scotia Regulator of Respiratory Therapy with the purpose of

regulating the profession of respiratory therapy in accordance with the objects set out in

Section 6 of the Act.

Bylaw authorization

4 The Regulator is authorized to make bylaws under clauses 12(2)(i), (k), (

l) and (

m) of the

Act, in accordance with the Act and these regulations.

Public representatives on Board

5 In addition to the requirement of subsection 7(2) of the Act, the number of public

representatives on the Board must be no fewer than 3 and no more than 4.

Scope of Practice

Scope of practice of respiratory therapy

(1) The scope of practice of respiratory therapy is the application of specialized and

evidence-based respiratory therapy knowledge, skills and judgment that have been

taught in an approved education program or are set out in 1 or more of the

following approved by the Board:

(

a) competency frameworks;

(

b) standards of practice;

(

c) practice guidelines.

(2) The scope of practice of respiratory therapy as described in subsection (1) includes

the performance of any or all of the following activities:

(

a) assessing, treating and managing acute and chronic cardiorespiratory health

conditions of any client population in any setting;

(

b) providing anaesthesia assistance in collaboration with other regulated health

professionals;

(

c) promoting cardiorespiratory health and the prevention of illness;

(

d) performing any other services, roles, functions and activities included in the

scope of practice of the designations and licensing categories set out in the

bylaws.

(3) The scope of practice of respiratory therapy also includes health promotion,

research, education, inter-professional collaboration, consultation, management,

administration, advocacy, regulation or system development that is related to the

activities and application of specialized and evidence-based respiratory therapy

knowledge, skills and judgment described in subsections (1) and (2).

Scope of practice of designations and licensing categories

7 Under clauses 12(2)(

k) and (

l) of the Act, the Regulator may make bylaws setting out all

of the following:

(

a) the scope of practice of each designation and licensing category established

(

i) in these regulations, and

(ii) in the bylaws;

(

b) the title protection authorized for each designation and licensing category

established in the bylaws.

Registration and Licensing

Practising licence categories

8 The following are the practising licence categories for respiratory therapy:

(

a) respiratory therapist practising licence;

(

b) any other category of practising licence established in the bylaws.

Conditional licence categories

9 The following are the conditional licence categories for respiratory therapy:

(

a) respiratory therapist conditional licence;

(

b) any other category of conditional licence established in the bylaws.

Application and criteria for registration in practising register

(1) An application required by

Section 34 of the Act must be completed in the form

required by the registrar.

(2) In addition to the completed application, an applicant for registration in a practising

register must submit all of the following to the registrar:

(

a) proof satisfactory to the registration and licensing decision maker that the

applicant meets all of the following criteria, except if any or all of the

criteria are waived under

Section 59 of the Act:

(

i) they are a graduate of 1 of the following:

(

A) an education program approved for registration in the practising

register in which they seek to be registered,

(

B) an education program that, in the opinion of the registration

and licensing decision maker, is equivalent to an education

program approved for registration in the practising register in

which they seek to be registered,

(

C) an education program that, together with the applicant’s

additional education and experience and in the opinion of the

registration and licensing decision maker, provides the

applicant with the competencies to practise in the scope of

practice of registrants in the practising register in which they

seek to be registered,

(ii) they have successfully completed any examinations required by the

Board for registration in the practising register in which they seek to

be registered,

(iii) they have completed a competence assessment, if directed to do so

by the registration and licensing decision maker,

(iv) they have successfully completed any bridging education required for

registration that was determined to be necessary by a competence

assessment,

manner prescribed by the registrar,

(vi) they are a Canadian citizen or legally entitled to live and work in

Canada,

(vii) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and

ethically engage in the practice of the profession in which they seek

to be registered without conditions or restrictions,

(viii) they have no outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions,

agreements or restrictions originating from the Regulator or any other

registration or licensing authority that would preclude registration in

a register other than a conditional register,

(ix) they are the person named in the documentation submitted in support

of the application,

(

x) under the requirements of the Act, these regulations and the bylaws,

they are eligible for a practising licence that corresponds with the

practising register in which they seek to be registered,

(xi) they meet any additional criteria for registration in a practising

register set out in the bylaws;

(

b) the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a

method acceptable to the registrar.

(3) The processing under

Section 36 of the Act of an application and its associated

information, documents and fee described in subsections (1) and (2) must be

completed by the registrar as soon as practicable.

(4) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an

application must be completed by the registration and licensing committee as soon

as practicable.

Criteria for practising licence

(1) In addition to the completed application in a form approved by the registrar

required by

Section 35 of the Act, an applicant for a practising licence must submit

all of the following to the registrar:

(

a) proof satisfactory to the registration and licensing decision maker that the

applicant meets all of the following criteria, except if any or all of the

criteria are waived under

Section 59 of the Act:

(

i) they meet the registration criteria in subclauses 10(2)(a)(iii), (iv), (v),

(vi), (vii) and (ix),

(ii) they are registered in the practising register that corresponds with the

licensing category for which they are seeking a practising licence,

(iii) they have professional liability insurance or another form of

malpractice coverage or liability protection in the form and amount

set by the Board,

(iv) they meet the requirements of the continuing competence program

for the licensing category for which they are seeking a practising

licence,

(

v) they meet the currency of practice requirements for the licensing

category for which they are seeking a practising licence,

(vi) they have no outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions,

agreements or restrictions originating from the Regulator or any other

registration or licensing authority that limit their ability to practise,

(vii) they have completed any assessments or education required by the

Board for the licensing category for which they are seeking a

practising licence,

(viii) they meet any additional criteria for issuing a practising licence set

out in the bylaws;

(

b) the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a

method acceptable to the registrar.

(2) The processing under

Section 36 of the Act of an application and associated

information, documents and fee described in subsection (1) must be completed by

the registrar as soon as practicable.

(3) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an

application must be completed by the registration and licensing committee as soon

as practicable.

Criteria for registration in conditional register

(1) The registrar must enter the name of a person who meets all of the following in a

conditional register:

(

a) for an existing registrant in a practising register, they have

(

i) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise,

(ii) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise

imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process;

(

b) for an applicant for registration in a register, they meet all of the following

requirements:

(

i) all of the criteria for registration in a practising register, other than the

criteria in subclauses 10(2)(a)(vii), (viii), (

x) and (xi), and except as

provided in subsection (4),

(ii) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and

ethically engage in the practice of the profession in which they seek

to be registered with conditions or restrictions,

(iii) they have either

(

A) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to

practise, or

(

B) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise

imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process,

(iv) under the requirements of the Act, these regulations and the bylaws,

they are eligible for a conditional licence that corresponds with the

conditional register in which they seek to be registered,

(

v) any other requirements for registration in a conditional register set

out in the bylaws,

(vi) they have paid the applicable fee, within the time determined by the

registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.

(2) The processing of an application under

Section 36 of the Act for an applicant

described in clause (1)(

b) must be completed by the registrar as soon as

practicable.

(3) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an

application made by an applicant described in clause (1)(

b) must be completed by

the registration and licensing committee as soon as practicable.

(4) An applicant who has not passed the examinations required for registration, but

who otherwise meets the requirements of subsection 13(1), may be granted

conditional registration by the registration and licensing decision maker pending

the passing of the registration examinations.

Criteria for conditional licence

(1) The requirements to be met for issuing a conditional licence under

Section 43 of

the Act are as follows:

(

a) for a person who is an existing registrant holding a practising licence, they

have

(

i) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise,

(ii) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise

imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process;

(

b) for an applicant for a licence, they meet all of the following requirements:

(

i) all of the criteria for registration in a practising register, other than the

criteria in subclauses 10(2)(a)(vii), (viii), (

x) and (xi), and except as

provided in subsection (4),

(ii) they are registered in a conditional register that corresponds with the

licensing category for which they are seeking a conditional licence,

(iii) the requirements for a practising licence in subclauses 11(1)(a)(iii)

and (vii),

(iv) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and

ethically engage in the practice of the profession in which they seek

to be licensed with conditions or restrictions,

(

v) any additional criteria for issuing a conditional licence set out in the

bylaws,

(vi) they have either

(

A) agreed to the registration and licensing decision maker’s

imposition of conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to

practise, or

(

B) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise

imposed by the registration and licensing decision maker or a

statutory committee;

(

c) for all applicants, they have paid the applicable fee, within the time

determined by the registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.

(2) The processing of an application under

Section 36 of the Act for an applicant

described in clause (1)(

b) must be completed by the registrar as soon as

practicable.

(3) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an

application made by an applicant described in clause (1)(

b) must be completed by

the registration and licensing committee as soon as practicable.

(4) An applicant who has not passed the examinations required for registration, but

who otherwise meets the requirements of subsection (1), may be issued a

conditional licence by the registration and licensing decision maker pending the

passing of the registration examinations.

Practice and Title Use Restrictions, Services Not Prohibited and Publication Restrictions

Restriction on practice of respiratory therapy

14 No person may engage or offer to engage in the practice of respiratory therapy or

describe their activities as “respiratory therapy” unless they are 1 of the following:

(

a) a registrant holding a respiratory therapist practising licence or a respiratory

therapist conditional licence;

(

b) otherwise authorized to practise respiratory therapy, in accordance with the

Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws;

(

c) exempt from the application of the Act, these regulations, the General

Regulations or the bylaws.

Restriction on use of “respiratory therapist” title, description or designation

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), no person may take or use the title,

description or designation of “respiratory therapist”, the abbreviation “RT” or

“RRT” or any derivation or abbreviation of them either alone or in combination

with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the following:

(

a) a registrant holding 1 of the following under these regulations or the bylaws:

(

i) a respiratory therapist practising licence, as permitted by clause 40(

a) of the Act,

(ii) a respiratory therapist conditional licence;

(

b) otherwise authorized to practise as a respiratory therapist or to use the

relevant title, description or designation in accordance with the Act, these

regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws.

(2) A person who meets all of the requirements for registration in the respiratory

therapist practising register except for passing the registration examinations

approved by the Board, and who has been issued a respiratory therapist conditional

licence pending the passing of the examinations, may use the title “graduate

respiratory therapist” and the abbreviation “graduate RT” only.

Restriction on practice of anaesthesia assistance and use of “anaesthesia assistant” title,

description or designation

(1) No person may engage or offer to engage in the practice of anaesthesia assistance

or take or use the title, description or designation of “anaesthesia assistant”, the

abbreviation “AA” or any derivation or abbreviation of them either alone or in

combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person has the

approval of the registrar to engage in the practice of anaesthesia assistance.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any of the following:

(

a) a registrant who has the approval of their regulatory body to engage in the

practice of anaesthesia assistance;

(

b) a person who has the approval of an existing regulator to engage in the

practice of anaesthesia assistance.

Restriction on use of bylaw licensing category title, description or designation

17 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of a licensing category

established in the bylaws under clause 12(2)(

l) of the Act, unless the person is 1 of the

following:

(

a) a registrant holding a licence in the category that authorizes the use of that

title, description or designation;

(

b) otherwise authorized to practise within the scope of the designation or to

use the title, description or designation of that licensing category, in

accordance with the Act, these regulations or the bylaws.

Services not prohibited by Act, regulations or bylaws

18 In addition to the services set out in

Section 164 of the Act, nothing in the Act, these

regulations or the bylaws prohibits the provision of the following services:

(

a) the practice of respiratory therapy during an interprovincial or international

client transfer;

(

b) the practice of respiratory therapy in the Province by or the recovery of fees

or compensation for professional services rendered by a person registered in

the profession of respiratory therapy in another country, state, territory or

province who, once engaged, must accompany and temporarily care for a

client during the period of the engagement, if that person does not represent

or hold themselves out as a person registered under the Act or these

regulations;

(

c) the practice of respiratory therapy by a non-registrant through delegation or

assignment of tasks by a registrant, if the practising and delegation is

performed in accordance with

Section 59 of the General Regulations.

Restriction on use of title or designation in advertisement or publication

19 In any advertisement or publication, including business cards, websites and signage, that

refers to activities that fall within the scope of practice of respiratory therapy, the

following restrictions apply:

(

a) only a person who is authorized to do so by these regulations may use the

following alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions:

(

i) the title of “respiratory therapist” or “anaesthesia assistant” or any

other title or designation protected by these regulations or the bylaws,

(ii) any derivation or abbreviation of the titles or designations described

in subclause (i);

(

b) only a person who is authorized to do so under

Section 14 may describe

their activities as “respiratory therapy”.

Fines

Professional conduct fine maximum

20 A fine imposed by the professional conduct committee under clause 110(1)(

m) of the

Act must not exceed a maximum amount of $50 000.

Criminal Offences and Withdrawal or Suspension of Privileges

Criminal offence or suspension or withdrawal of privilege of applicant or registrant

21 In addition to the requirements of

Section 61 of the Act and

Section 60 of the General

Regulations, an applicant or registrant who is charged with, pleads guilty to or is

convicted of any offence under the Food and Drugs Act (Canada) or its regulations or

who has privileges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) suspended

or withdrawn must immediately report the offence, suspension or withdrawal to the

registrar.

Legislative History

Reference Tables

Respiratory Therapy Regulations

N.S. Reg.

152/2025

Regulated Health Professions Act

Note: The

information in these tables does not form part of the regulations and is

compiled by the Office of the Registrar of Regulations for reference only.

Source Law

The current consolidation of the Respiratory Therapy Regulations made

under the Regulated Health Professions Act includes all of the following regulations:

N.S.

Regulation

In force

date*

How in force

Royal Gazette

Part II Issue

152/2025

Nov 1, 2025

date specified

Aug 8, 2025

The following regulations are not

yet in force and are not included in the current consolidation:

N.S.

Regulation

In force

date*

How in force

Royal Gazette

Part II Issue

*See subsection 3(6) of the Regulations Act for

rules about in force dates of regulations.

Amendments by Provision

ad. = added

am. = amended

fc. = fee change

ra. = reassigned

rep. = repealed

rs . = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

..........................................................

Note that changes to headings are not

included in the above table.

Editorial Notes and Corrections

Note

Effective

date

Repealed and Superseded

N.S.

Regulation

Title

In force

date

Repealed

date

Note: Only

regulations that are specifically repealed and replaced appear in this

table. It may not reflect the entire

history of regulations on this subject matter.