Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) is the national professional association representing speech-language pathologists (S-LPs), audiologists, and communication health assistants across Canada. SAC membership is voluntary but offers many benefits, including access to the SAC Certification Program. The SAC Certification Program is a professional membership benefit that recognizes a commitment to excellence and continuing professional development, but it does not grant the right to practice.
The professions of speech-language pathology and audiology are regulated in all Canadian provinces except the territories: Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories.
To practice in a regulated province, you must first register with the applicable provincial regulatory body. This includes virtual practice.
Once you are successfully registered with a Canadian regulatory body, you are eligible for SAC membership under the Member of a Canadian Regulatory Body category. No further assessment of your qualifications is required.
Complete your SAC membership application here.
Benefits of SAC Membership for Internationally Educated Professionals:
SAC members who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for the SAC Certification Program, which enhances professional recognition and may be required by some employers in territories without regulatory bodies.
For more details on certification requirements and benefits, visit the SAC Certification Program page here.
The Agreement for the Mutual Recognition of Professional Association Credentials (2022) (hereafter referred to as the “Mutual Recognition Agreement” or “MRA”) was originally established to acknowledge similarities in professional standards and membership qualifications among select international speech-language pathology associations.
However, SAC is not a regulatory body, and participation in the MRA does not facilitate the recognition of professional credentials for practice in Canada.
Licensing and the right to practice as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist remain under the authority of provincial and territorial regulatory bodies.
The SAC Certification Program is a professional membership benefit that recognizes a commitment to excellence and continuing professional development, but it does not grant the right to practice. Individuals who wish to work in Canada must apply directly to the appropriate regulatory body in their intended province or territory.
While the MRA may still offer guidance on professional equivalency for some international associations, it no longer plays a role in credential recognition in Canada. If you are an internationally educated professional seeking to practice in Canada, please refer to the relevant regulatory authority in your province or territory for licensing requirements.
