Information for CASLPA certified
Speech-Language Pathologists who wish to apply for certification
with the professional associations
in the International Mutual Recognition Agreement
The Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and
Audiologists (CASLPA) has responded to Canadian priorities in
reducing barriers to internationally trained professionals,
by participating with the professional associations in Australia,
Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States,
in negotiating a mutual recognition agreement of professional
credentials for speech-language pathologists. According to the
World Health Organization ( 2002), due to globalization, the
education and training of professionals in the health sector
has expanded as these are among the most globally mobile of
all occupations and professions. CASLPA president, Linda Walsh,
along with presidents of the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association (ASHA), Irish Association of Speech and Language
Therapists (IASLT), New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists'
Association (NZSTA), Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
(RCSLT), Speech Pathology Australia signed a Mutual Recognition
Agreement (MRA) on November 20, 2008 that applies to specific
categories of membership or certification in the different associations:
- Speech-Language Pathologists holding the Certificate of
Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) in the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association (ASHA);
- Certified Speech-Language Pathologists (S-LP(C)) in the
Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists
(CASLPA);
- Full Members of the Irish Association of Speech and Language
Therapists (IASLT);
- Full Members of the New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists'
Association (Incorporated) (NZSTA);
- Certified Member (Cert MRCSLT) of the Royal College of Speech
and Language Therapists (RCSLT) ;
- Certified Practising Speech Pathologists (CPSP) of Speech
Pathology Association of Australia
The Agreement comes into effect January 2009. This is a very
exciting step for expansion of an earlier agreement signed in
2004 and places CASLPA and its certified speech-language pathologists
on the international stage.
The Agreement is of mutual recognition that, under some conditions,
the six associations have substantially equivalent credentials
and that it is possible for certified members, certificate holders,
or full members of the Signatory Associations to apply for expedited
certification (ASHA, CASLPA, RCSLT, and Speech Pathology Australia)
or full membership (IASLT and NZSTA) from the other Signatory
Associations.
This Agreement is not one of reciprocal recognition of qualifications.
The Agreement is not extended to provincial, state or country
licensing/registration, nor does it assure immigration or employment
in the new country. Those interested in working in a specific
state, province/territory or country will need to apply to any
licensing authority in that area and may need to meet legal
or other requirements that may be imposed through immigration
standards or national, state or provincial/territorial laws.
The professional associations will be able to refer interested
applicants to the relevant licensing authorities.
The Agreement applies only to certified CASLPA speech-language
pathologists. Those who hold CASLPA certification must be vigilant
in maintaining their certification. For those who hold membership
in CASLPA without certification or who are not members of the
association, the application and requirements for recognition
by the other professional associations will be more extensive.
The following information is a brief summary for CASLPA certified
speech-language pathologists who wish to apply for certification
with ASHA , Speech Pathology Australia, Royal College of Speech
and Language Therapists or full membership in the Irish Association
of Speech and Language Therapists, New Zealand Speech-Language
Therapists' Association. Applications and detailed information
on the requirements are now available by contacting parties
below:
ASHA requires CASLPA certification holders to provide the
following:
- Letter of good standing from CASLPA attesting to current
certification
- Completion of the applicable application form
- For certified members of CASLPA who have less than one
year of postgraduate professional clinical experience ( 1,260
hours): Completion of a Clinical Fellowship (CF) supervised
by an individual who is ASHA-certified or who is a CASLPA
Certified Speech-Language Pathologist. During this clinical
experience, these applicants will need to demonstrate successful
achievement of the skills identified in the current Clinical
Fellowship Skills Inventory instrument. CASLPA certified members
with at least one year of postgraduate professional experience
must complete and submit the verification of postgraduate
clinical experience form ( available on the ASHA website)
IASLT requires CASLPA certification holders to provide the
following:
- Letter of good standing from CASLPA attesting to current
certification.
- Completion of the applicable application form
- Documented evidence of having completed at least one year
of clinical practice as a speech and language therapist. A
year of clinical practice is defined as a calendar year of
continuous employment in clinical practice, with a minimum
of 1000 hours in that year.
- Evidence of recency of practice - 1000 hours of clinical
practice, and/or conducting clinical research or college/university
teaching within the previous five years.
NZSTA requires CASLPA certification holders to provide the
following:
- Letter of good standing from CASLPA attesting to current
certification
- Completion of the applicable application form
- Documented certified evidence of having completed one year
of supervised clinical speech-language therapy practice in
the country of certification. Clinical practice is defined
as no less than 36 weeks of full time clinical practice of
at least 30 hours per week paid employment. Employment as
an administrator, educator, researcher or any combination
of these is not sufficient for the initial year of clinical
practice in the country of certification.
- Certified evidence of recency of practice - 1000 hours
of speech-language therapy practice within the previous five
(5) years. Speech-language therapy practice is defined as:
being engaged in the activities of speech-language therapy
as a practitioner, administrator, educator, researcher or
any combination of these and receiving remuneration for those
activities.
- For certified members of CASLPA who have been clinically
certified prior to 1999: Certified evidence of competency
in dysphagia assessment, diagnosis and management, either
through evidence of specific courses passed or prior experience.
RCSLT requires CASLPA certification holders to provide the
following:
- Letter of good standing from CASLPA attesting to current
certification.
- Competition of the applicable application form.
- Documented evidence of having completed a year of clinical
practice as a speech and language therapist in the country
of certification. A year of clinical practice is defined as
a calendar year of continuous employment as a speech and language
therapist in the country of certification with a minimum of
18 hours per week. Employment as an administrator, researcher
or educator will not satisfy this requirement.
- Evidence of recency of practice - 1000 hours of speech
and language therapy practice within the previous five (5)
years. Speech and language therapy practice is defined as
being engaged in the activities of speech and language therapy
as a practitioner, speech and language therapy or allied health
administrator, educator, researcher or any combination of
these and receiving remuneration for those activities.
- Evidence of satisfactory completion of the initial year
of monitored practice in the UK is required for on-going certification
Speech Pathology Australia requires CASLPA certification
holders to provide the following:
- Letter of good standing from CASLPA attesting to current
certification
- Completion of the applicable application form.
- Documented proof of having completed a year of speech pathology
practice since graduation in the country of certification.
A year of clinical practice is defined as a minimum of 1000
hours of speech pathology practice over a period of no less
than 12 months. Speech pathology practice is defined as being
engaged in the activities of speech pathology as a practitioner,
administrator, educator, researcher or any combination of
these and receiving remuneration for those activities.
- Evidence of recency of practice - 1000 hours of speech
pathology practice within the previous five (5) years
- For CASLPA certified members who were certified prior to
1999: Demonstrated competency in dysphagia assessment, diagnosis
and management, either through evidence of specific courses
passed or prior experience.
Further information and application forms can be obtained
from the national associations:
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association:
Contact: Executive Director and Director of Certification
Address: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland 20850-3289
United States of America
Tel: + 1 301 296 5782
Fax: + 1 301 296 8570
Email: certification@asha.org
Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists
Contact: Chairperson
Address: Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists
Block 4, Harcourt Centre, Harcourt Road, Dublin 2, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)85 7068707
Email: info@iaslt.com
New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists' Association:
Contact: President
Address: New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists' Association
N369, Private Bag 92 185, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142,
New Zealand
Tel: + 64 3 383 1518
Email: nzsta@speechtherapy.org.nz
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists:
Contact: Chief Executive Officer
Address: Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
2 White Hart Yard, London, SE1 1NX, United Kingdom
Tel: + 44 20 7378 1200
Fax: + 44 20 7403 7254
Email: postmaster@rcslt.org
Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited:
Contact: Chief Executive Officer
Address: Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited
Level 2 /11-19 Bank Place, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Fax: + 61 39 642 4922
Email: office@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au
