Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)

The MRA for speech-language pathologists (S-LPs) allows for mutual recognition of the substantial equivalence of certification or full membership of the following associations.

  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
  • Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT)
  • New Zealand Speech-language Therapists Association (NZSTA) 
  • Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) 
  • Speech Pathology Australia
  • Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) 
To obtain mutual recognition, S-LPs must have undertaken their professional education in a country that is signatory to the MRA AND fall within one of the following categories:
ASHA

Certificate of Clinical Competence – Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP)

IASLT

Full Member

SAC

SAC Certified Speech-Language Pathologist (S-LP(C))

RCSLT

Certified Member (Cert MRCSLT)

Speech Pathology Australia

Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist (CPSP) 

NZSTA

Full Member (with the exception of those who graduated before 1993)

The MRA Signatory Associations recognize that national, state or provincial/territorial licensing or registration may be required to practice in a particular jurisdiction whether or not the S-LP is certified or holds full membership with one of the associations. 

The MRA agreement does not apply to national, state or provincial/territorial licensing or registration that may be required to practice in a particular jurisdiction.

Information for SAC Certified S-LPs

The MRA allows SAC certified S-LPs access to expedited application processes for certification or full membership of the national professional speech-language pathology associations of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

For information about the MRA application process, please contact the relevant professional national association:

Information for Certified/Full Members of ASHA, IASLT, NZSTA, Speech Pathology Australia and RCSLT

Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) is the national professional association that represents S-LPs, audiologists and communication health assistants in Canada. SAC membership is voluntary and has many benefits.

The MRA allows certified or full members of the national professional speech-language pathology associations of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States access to expedited application processes for SAC membership and certification. To obtain mutual recognition, S-LPs must have undertaken their professional education in a country that is signatory to the MRA.

The profession of speech-language pathology is regulated in all Canadian provinces except for Prince Edward Island, and the Northern Territories. To work in a province where S-LPs are regulated, an S-LP must register with the regulatory body in order to practice. Employers in the province and territories without regulatory bodies may require SAC membership and certification.

Please contact the applicable regulatory body for information about registration processes in addition to completing the SAC MRA application.

 

 

Please submit:

    1. SAC MRA Application (Online Form) and MRA application fee.
    2. Letter of Good Standing: Ask ASHA to send a letter (on letterhead) directly to SAC attesting to current certification.

After your MRA application is approved, you can create an SAC member account and submit your membership fee. It is crucial to complete these steps before your letter of good standing expires; otherwise, you will have to go through the MRA application process again.

Please submit:

  1. The SAC MRA Application (Online Form) and MRA application fee.
  2. Letter of Good Standing: Ask IASLT to send a letter (on letterhead) directly to SAC attesting to current full membership.

After your MRA application is approved, you can create an SAC member account and submit your membership fee. It is crucial to complete these steps before your letter of good standing expires; otherwise, you will have to go through the MRA application process again.

Please submit:

  1. The SAC MRA Application (Online Form) and MRA application fee.
  2. Letter of Good Standing: Ask NZSTA to send a letter (on letterhead) directly to SAC attesting to full membership.

After your MRA application is approved, you can create an SAC member account and submit your membership fee. It is crucial to complete these steps before your letter of good standing expires; otherwise, you will have to go through the MRA application process again.

Please submit:

    1. SAC MRA Application (Online Form) and MRA application fee.
    2. Demonstrated competency in dysphagia assessment, diagnosis and management either through evidence of specific courses passed or prior experience. Acceptable evidence would include completion of Dysphagia Training and Competency Framework at a Level C signed by a RCSLT member. For members who graduated prior to 2015, the Dysphagia Training and Competency Framework is not sufficient on its own and will need to be supplemented with other evidence to demonstrate that the individual meets the requirements described in Unit 12: Dysphagia of Assessing and Certifying Clinical Competency Foundations of Clinical Practice for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. For members who graduated after 2015, the Dysphagia Training and Competency Framework at Level C signed by an RCSLT member is sufficient.
    3. Letter of Good Standing: Ask RCSLT to send a letter (on letterhead) directly to SAC attesting to current certified membership.

After your MRA application is approved, you can create an SAC member account and submit your membership fee. It is crucial to complete these steps before your letter of good standing expires; otherwise, you will have to go through the MRA application process again.

Please submit:

  1. The SAC MRA Application (Online Form) and MRA application fee
  2. Letter of Good Standing: Ask SPA to send a letter (on letterhead) directly to SAC attesting to current CPSP membership.

After your MRA application is approved, you can create an SAC member account and submit your membership fee. It is crucial to complete these steps before your letter of good standing expires; otherwise, you will have to go through the MRA application process again.