Study Kneads

One of the final steps in your registration as an RMT is submitting three character references. While this may sound simple, many applicants are surprised to learn that not all relationships qualify—even if the person knows you very well. The College is strict because these references help assess your professionalism, reliability, and ethical conduct from people who have observed you in a non-social capacity.

✔️ Basic Requirements

A valid character referee must:

• Have known you for at least two years
• Be a Canadian resident
• Not be a relative, friend, classmate, or someone connected socially
• Be able to comment on your character, professionalism, communication, and reliability

❌ Relationships That Are Commonly Rejected

CCHPBC specifically warns against using anyone connected to you in a social context, even if it feels “professional enough.” Here are examples of relationships that are often rejected:

• Neighbours
• Coaches (sports, extracurricular, private lessons)
• Friends of your family members
• Family members of your friends
• Teachers or instructors of your child or sibling
• Parents of your child’s classmates
• Anyone who interacts with you mostly socially—birthday parties, family gatherings, community events, clubs, etc.

Even if the relationship feels neutral, the College may still classify it as social, and therefore not objective enough to evaluate your character.

✔️ Strong, Acceptable References

The best character referees come from professional or academic environments where your behaviour, commitment, communication style, and integrity could be observed consistently.

Examples of strong referees include:

• Teachers or instructors from your own education (college, university, RMT school)
• Coworkers who worked with you for 2+ years
• Supervisors or managers
• Volunteer coordinators (if you volunteered long-term)
• Professional mentors
• Healthcare professionals you’ve worked with in a non-social setting
• Colleagues from previous careers

These individuals can speak about your dependability, interpersonal skills, punctuality, and ability to work responsibly—qualities the College prioritizes.

✔️ Why Social Contacts Are Rejected

The College wants references who can speak from a professional standpoint, not personal loyalty. Social contacts are considered at risk of offering biased or incomplete opinions because they only see parts of your character in informal situations.

Even relationships that feel neutral—like neighbours who see you every day—do not meet the College’s threshold for professional insight. The reference must come from someone who has witnessed your work habits, ethics, emotional maturity, and decision-making.

✔️ Tips for Choosing the Right Referees

• Think about schools, jobs, volunteer roles, and professional organizations from the past 2–5 years.
• Prioritize people who:
  
  • supervised you
  • evaluated you
  • collaborated with you on work or projects
  • saw you consistently in a professional or structured environment
• Contact them early—explain the purpose and what the College is looking for.

✔️ If You’re a New Graduate

Most students can still find suitable referees by looking at:

• Instructors from RMT school
• Former employers (including retail, hospitality, childcare, or healthcare)
• Volunteer supervisors
• Past coworkers from any industry

As long as they knew you for 2+ years and the relationship wasn’t based on friendship, they can qualify.