Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for Speech-Language Pathologists

Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for Speech-Language Pathologists

Information for SAC Certified S-LPs

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

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

NZSTA 

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

SAC   

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

RCSLT           

Certified Member (Cert MRCSLT)

Speech Pathology Australia                                                           

Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist (CPSP) 

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.
 

ASHA CCC-SLP holder

Full member of IASLT

Full member of NZSTA

Certified Member of RCSLT

Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist of Speech Pathology Australia
 

Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Competency Certificate holders of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

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

Full Members of Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT)

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

Full Members of New Zealand Speech-language Therapists’ Association (NZSTA)

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

Certified Members of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)

  1. Please submit
    :
    1. SAC MRA Application (Online Form) and MRA application fee.
    2. SAC Membership application and the appropriate fee.
    3. 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. 
       
  2. Letter of Good Standing: Ask RCSLT to send a letter (on letterhead) directly to SAC attesting to current certified membership.

Certified Practicing Speech Pathologists (CPSP) from Speech Pathology Australia (SPA)

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