NSCRT MIGRATION TO THE RHPA
Subject: Important Update: NSCRT Transitioning to the NSRRT under the RHPA on November 1, 2025
Dear Registrant,
We are writing to inform you of an important legislative and organizational change that will affect all members of the Nova Scotia College of Respiratory Therapists (NSCRT).
Effective November 1, 2025, the Respiratory Therapists Act will be repealed, and the NSCRT will transition to the Nova Scotia Regulator of Respiratory Therapy (NSRRT) under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), including its General and Profession-Specific Regulations.
About the RHPA
The Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) is a modern legislative framework designed to strengthen the regulation of health professions in Nova Scotia and promote consistency across regulators. It replaces outdated, profession-specific statutes with a unified approach that promotes consistency, transparency, and public protection across all regulated health professions.
By establishing clear standards for governance, registration, complaints, and professional conduct, the RHPA ensures that regulators like the NSRRT operate with accountability and fairness. It empowers regulatory colleges to define scopes of practice, designate reserved practices, and uphold high standards of care—ultimately enhancing patient safety and professional integrity.
The NSCRT has been working tirelessly to prepare for this transition, ensuring that all systems, documents, and processes are aligned with the new legislative requirements. This dedication reflects the College’s commitment to a smooth migration and to supporting registrants throughout the transition.
The RHPA marks a significant step forward in aligning Nova Scotia’s health regulation with national best practices, while reinforcing the public’s trust in the professionals who deliver essential care.
What This Means for You
- Terminology Update
- Members will now be referred to as registrants.
- Licensing Categories
- The NSRRT will offer two licensing categories:
- Practising License
- Conditional License (includes Graduate Respiratory Therapy Licenses and any license with restrictions or conditions on practice)
The non-practising license category will cease to exist.
Registration & Renewal
Requirements will remain unchanged except for Anesthesia Assistants (AAs).
Reserved Practice: Anesthesia Assistance
Under the RHPA, the NSRRT Board has the authority to designate certain professional activities as reserved practice. These require additional education, training, or qualifications beyond entry-to-practice standards.
Under the RHPA, Anesthesia Assistance is identified as a reserved practice. Registrants must:
- Meet the board approved requirements for reserve practice
- Seek Registrar approval prior to engaging in the practice.
For the 2026–2027 license renewal, registrants wishing to practice as AAs must submit documentation verifying their training and education. Approval from the Registrar is required before the reserved practice approval can be granted.
Further details including educational requirements, continuing competency expectations, approved examinations, and any applicable “grandfather” clauses—will be shared with current AAs following the transition and well in advance of the 2026-2027 license renewal.
Annual Registrar approval will be required for all registrants engaging in anesthesia assistance.
Currency of Practice Requirements
Practice Hours Requirement
Under the RHPA, currency of practice requirements will remain unchanged. To be eligible for renewal, registrants must meet one of the following criteria:
- Have completed at least 1,500 hours of respiratory therapy practice (paid or unpaid) in the four years immediately preceding their application; or
- Be a graduate of an approved respiratory therapy education program within the two years prior to applying to the regulator.
Record-Keeping Reminder
Registrants are required to maintain a record of hours worked for at least the immediately previous four years. This documentation may be requested during registration or renewal processes to verify compliance.
Updates to Registrant Directory
The NSRRT registrant directory has been updated to include details on the following:
- First and Last name (preferred name)
- License Number
- License Status
- License Expiry Date
- Registration Class
- Initial Registration Date
- Conditions/Restrictions
- Sanctions
- Approved reserved practice
Committee Changes Under RHPA
Several committees will be newly established or renamed:
|
New Committee Name |
Former Name |
|
Registration and Licensing Committee |
Credentials Committee |
|
Registration and Licensing Appeals Committee |
Registration Appeal Committee |
|
Appointments Committee |
Nominations Committee |
|
Complaints Committee |
No change |
|
Professional Conduct Committee |
No change |
|
Fitness to Practice Committee |
New under RHPA |
|
Reinstatement Committee |
No change |
|
Practice Review Committee |
New under RHPA |
|
Professional Practice Committee |
No change |
In the coming weeks, the Registrar will confirm committee transitions with current members and begin recruiting registrant volunteers to populate these essential bodies.
Why Your Participation Matters
Volunteering for a Committee Is Vital
These committees are critical to fulfilling the legislated responsibilities of the NSRRT as a health regulator. They ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability in areas such as registration, professional conduct, fitness to practice, and public protection.
By volunteering, you contribute directly to:
- Upholding professional standards
- Supporting your peers and the public
- Strengthening the integrity of respiratory therapy in Nova Scotia
Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or early in your career, your voice and expertise are needed.
If you're interested in serving on a committee, please watch for upcoming communications from the Registrar with details on how to apply.
Stay tuned for upcoming Town Halls. A great opportunity to ask questions!
Thank You for Your Attention to These Updates
In conjunction with this change, our website URL will change to www.nsrrt.ca. Please update your records accordingly. Upon migration, all traffic to our previous URL, nscrt.com, will be automatically redirected to the new address.
Additionally, the Registrar’s email address is changing to registrar@nsrrt.ca. We encourage you to use this new contact information for all correspondence as of November 1, 2025.
In the months ahead, we will be diligently updating all relevant information, committee compositions and documents to ensure they accurately reflect our new name and the legislative changes under the RHPA. We appreciate your patience during this period of transition and encourage you to reach out with any questions you may have.
Thank you for your continued dedication and professionalism during this important transition. More updates will follow as we move toward November 1, 2025.
Warm regards,
Board of Directors