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Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists and Cardiopulmonary Technologists  (NOC 3214)
Vancouver Island and Coast Region
Description |  Titles |  Duties |   Related Occupations

Respiratory therapists assist physicians in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. They are employed in hospitals, medical clinics, health units, extended care facilities, public health centres and respiratory home care companies. Clinical perfusionists provide technical support to patients undergoing cardiac surgery and patients requiring cardio-respiratory support. Cardiopulmonary technologists assist physicians in the technical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. Clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists are primarily employed in hospitals. Supervisors and instructors of respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists are included in this unit group.

cardiopulmonary technologist, cardiovascular perfusion supervisor, cardiovascular perfusionist, certified clinical perfusionist (CCP), chief respiratory technologist, clinical perfusionist, perfusionist, registered respiratory therapist (RRT), respiratory therapist, respiratory therapy clinical instructor.

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Respiratory therapists perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Perform diagnostic tests, such as arterial blood gas analysis and cardiopulmonary functions tests
  • Operate and monitor respiratory equipment to administer treatments such as oxygen, oxygen-air mixtures, humidified air or medications
  • Operate, monitor, maintain and test a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment
  • Assess patients and perform or assist with interventions such as airway maintenance, line insertions, inductions and intubations
  • Perform artificial respiration and external cardiac massage
  • Assist with transport of high-risk patients
  • Supervise and train students and other respiratory therapists
  • Participate in home care programs for chronic respiratory patients and provide patient and family education
  • Participate in research related to cardiac and pulmonary disorders.

Respiratory therapists may specialize in areas such as anaesthesia, critical care, pediatrics, cardiopulmonary diagnostics and respiratory home care.

Clinical perfusionists perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Assemble, maintain and operate extracorporeal circulation equipment, intra-aortic balloon pumps and other heart assist devices to support or temporarily replace patients' cardiopulmonary functions during open-heart surgery
  • Administer blood products, drugs and other substances through heart-lung machines and other devices as directed by cardiac surgeons and anaesthetists
  • Monitor vital signs to maintain patients' physiological functions during cardiopulmonary surgery
  • Supervise and train student clinical perfusionists and other clinical perfusionists.
Cardiopulmonary technologists perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Perform diagnostic tests, such as pulmonary function and asthma stress, or assist physicians with cardiac and cardiopulmonary stress tests and bronchoscopies
  • Determine patients' blood characteristics such as activated clotting time and oxygen saturation
  • Operate, monitor, maintain, calibrate and test diagnostic and therapeutic equipment
  • Monitor patients and advise physician of any changes in patients' condition
  • Prepare medications and administer inhaler and other treatments under supervision of cardiologist
  • Provide information and care for patients during tests
  • Assist with the preparation of cardiac catheterization room, prepare specialized catheters and assist cardiologists during catheterization
  • Perform analysis, programming and monitoring of implanted devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators during surgery
  • Supervise and train students and other cardiopulmonary technologists
  • Provide technical support for research.
Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Victoria, Campbell River, Colwood, Courtenay, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Port Alberni, Comox, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Port McNeill, Qualicum Beach, Sidney, View Royal, Cumberland, Sooke

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View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Outlook & Prospects for Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists and Cardiopulmonary Technologists in Vancouver Island and Coast Region

The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.

National Outlook – 10-Year Projection (2011-2020)

This section provides labour demand and labour supply projections for this occupation over the 2011-2020 period.

Note: The tables, graphs and middle paragraph shown under this section display updated 2011-2020 projection results. The remaining narrative text (2009-2018 projections) will be updated shortly. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The data in the following table are derived from HRSDC’s Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS). COPS uses a variety of models to produce a detailed 10-year labour market projection per broad skill level and per occupation at the national level, which focuses on the trends of labour supply and labour demand over the next ten years.

This occupation (Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists and Cardiopulmonary Technologists) is part of a larger occupational group called Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental Health) (NOC 321).

Table on the demographic profile for your chosen occupation at the national level.
Occupations in this group Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants (3211) 
Medical Laboratory Technicians (3212) 
Veterinary and Animal Health Technologists and Technicians (3213) 
Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists and Cardiopulmonary Technologists (3214) 
Medical Radiation Technologists (3215) 
Medical Sonographers (3216) 
Cardiology Technologists (3217) 
Electroencephalographic and Other Diagnostic Technologists, n.e.c. (3218) 
Other Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental Health) (3219) 
Employment (non-student) in 2010 88,822
Median Age of workers in 2010 40
Average Retirement Age in 2010 60

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, this occupation experienced solid employment growth while its unemployment rate, one of the lowest among all occupations, remained virtually unchanged. The average hourly rate increased at the same pace as for other occupations. According to key labour market indicators, the number of job seekers was insufficient to fill the job openings.

Over the 2011-2020 period, an occupation will be in excess demand (a shortage of workers) if the projected number of job openings is significantly greater than the projected number of job seekers. An occupation will be in excess supply (a surplus of workers) if the projected number of job openings is smaller than the projected number of job seekers. For Medical Technologists And Technicians (Except Dental Health), over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 40,304 and 41,321 job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill the job openings.

Based on projections and considering that there was a shortage of labour supply in this occupation, it is expected that the number of job seekers will be insufficient to fill the job openings over the 2011-2020 period. Job openings will arise from both expansion demand and retirements. Similar to the other health occupations, employment growth in this occupation over the next few years will be sizeable as a result of the aging population. This will lead to an increased demand for health services and, therefore, an increased demand for health professionals. Moreover, the arrival of new medical technologies and techniques, as well as the introduction of more advanced equipment, will require more technologists. With regard to labour supply, the majority of job seekers will come from the school system, which is not surprising, given the specific and high-level skills required for this occupation.

This Chart contains data for Projection of Job Openings vs. Job Seekers for Canada. Information is available in the following tables.

This Chart contains data for Projection of Job Openings vs. Job Seekers for Canada. Information is available in the following tables.
Table of job opening projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.
Category Openings %
Expansion Demand 15,906 39%
Retirements 20,058 50%
Other Replacement Demand 2,306 6%
Emigration 2,035 5%
Projected Job Openings 40,304 100%
Table of job seeker projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.
Category Seekers %
School Leavers 32,614 79%
Immigration 5,706 14%
Other 3,002 7%
Projected Job Seekers 41,321 100%
[ Source: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) ]

In which industry or sector do people in this occupation find jobs in Canada?

This table shows the industry and sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.

This table shows the industry sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.
Industry / Sector %
Health care and social assistance 94.20
Retail trade 2.20
[ Source: 2006 Census - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What percentage of people in this occupation are self-employed?

The graph displays the percentage of people in this occupation who are “self-employed”, according to the 2006 Census, in comparison to the Canadian average across all occupations.

As shown in the graph, according to the 2006 Census, 1% of people in this occupation were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 12%.

The data from the Labour Force Survey (2009) regarding self-employment for this group are not sufficiently reliable to be published.

[ Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What percentage of people in this occupation are members of a union?

This occupation (Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists and Cardiopulmonary Technologists) is part of a larger group called Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental Health) (NOC 321). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 56%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.

[ Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]
Please consult the Vancouver Island and Coast Region and British Columbia tabs for more useful information related to outlook.