Respirology in Canada

Informative Guide on Training, Practice Settings, and Salary Expectations

What is a Respirologist?

Respirologists are physicians who specialize in the respiratory system and focus on the detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the lungs. They also administer tests for lung related issues and interpret imaging studies.

Practitioners of Respirology specialize in the diagnosis, management and treatment of the respiratory system. This includes respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, asthma, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis. They frequently work with ICUs (Intensive Care Units) and also work with other health care professionals to handle more complex health issues.

The role includes patient consultation, diagnosis and management of respiratory disorders, this includes conditions such as sleep apnea. These consultations include informing patients on chronic respiratory conditions and advising them on treatment or maintenance.

Delivery of Care Settings

Respirologists deliver care in many settings. They work in hospitals, research institutions, private practices, and intensive care units (ICUs).

These specialists can also work in sleep centers. Respirologists working in these centers diagnose and treat sleeping disorders such as narcolepsy, insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome. They can conduct tests on patients with sleep disorders and prescribe the necessary medications and treatments for reducing health risks and improving the patient’s quality of life.

Their care settings include a wide range of respiratory conditions such as performing tests on patients that exhibit respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, cough, and shortness of breath.

Canadian Training General Requirements

Upon completion of medical school, to become certified in Internal Medicine requires 4-5 years of specialty residency. During this residency, the doctor must undergo the following:

• 2 years' worth of approved residency in adult respirology. Please take note that not more than 1 year of this training can be undertaken in training towards internal medicine certification.
• 3 years core training for Royal College Certification in internal medicine.
• 18 month’s worth of approved residency in clinical adult respirology. This residency should include rotations of sleep medicine, critical care medicine and patient care in respirology ambulatory care medicine.
• 6 months of approved residency. This may include laboratory training, research, or electives in respirology.

A certification from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are also required.

Applying to Canadian Medical Schools

Canada has 17 accredited faculties of medicine, distributed geographically across the country. Canadian medical schools are accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

According to The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), the number of places available is determined by provincial governments based on educational and financial resources, as well as Canada’s future physician workforce requirements. Medical schools have an increasing number of applicants every year, while the number of positions available for entry does not increase significantly.

Can International Students Apply to Canadian Medical Schools?

Since the universities are under provincial jurisdiction, the majority of places in the faculty of medicine are allocated to permanent residents of the province in which the university is located. So, although 14 out of the 17 medical schools accept international students, the number of actual positions is limited.

What International Medical Schools are Recognized in Canada?

Anyone with a Medical Degree (MD) from outside of the accredited Canadian and American programs who wants to undertake residency training or practice medicine in Canada is considered an International Medical Graduate (IMG). This includes Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) has a helpful guide to the acceptable medical schools as defined in the Model Standards for Medical Registration in Canada.

How are Respirologists Paid?

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) which provides essential information on Canada's health systems and the health of Canadians and has the following data:

• Most physicians receive compensation through multiple models, including both fee-for-service and alternative payments.
• Alternative methods of paying physicians include salaries, sessional and hourly rates, capitation models and contract-based payments.
• The largest payment program as a proportion of total gross clinical payments to physicians in Canada is fee-for-service, at about 73% of total payments in 2018–2019.
• Fee-for-service services provided by physicians can be split into 2 broad types: consultations/visits and procedures.

What are Respirologists Paid in Canada?

The gross range of potential annual earnings can vary based on factors including hours, experience, province, rural or urban location, clinic setup, as well as incentives and bonuses offered. A range we see for Respirologist across Canada is $400,000 to $600,0000.

Demand for Respirologist in Canada

The demand for Respirologist is high in Canada. This occupational group is expected to face labour shortage conditions over the period of 2019-2028 at the national level.

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This page is a general guideline only and is not intended as financial or other professional advice. Remuneration ranges are from both source information and our job board. All content is subject to change.