MRA

Agreement for the Mutual Recognition of Professional Association Credentials (2008)

Eligibility under the Mutual Recognition of Professional Association Credentials:

In order to apply to obtain mutual recognition, an individual must fall within the specified categories below of the Home Association and be in ‘good standing’, as defined by each Home Association, at the time of application to a New Association.

The specified categories are:

For qualifications to be assessed under the Mutual Recognition Agreement to work in Australia, please download the application form and applicants guide or contact the Association for further information

If you are an Australian trained speech pathologist wishing to work in the UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or USA, you will need to contact the relevant Association for their requirements. Click here for further information. 

In addition to assessment by Speech Pathology Australia, speech pathologists wishing to work in the Australian State of Queensland must apply separately to the Speech Pathologists Board for registration. This is a legal requirement under The Speech Pathologists Registration Act 2001 (Queensland Government). Registration is not required in other States at present. The Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland recognises Speech Pathology Australia as the assessing authority for speech pathology qualifications, and will refer you to Speech Pathology Australia for assessment of your overseas qualifications prior to consideration of registration. For further information please contact: Speech Pathologists Board.

If you are intending to migrate to Australia as a speech pathologist, you should be aware that only speech pathologists who can show that they hold or are eligible for current, Practising membership of Speech Pathology Australia will meet the skills level for migration purposes.

For more details contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship at www.immi.gov.au

Definitions of specified member categories:

Certificates of ASHA Clinical Competence (CCC)
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA’s) Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) is a voluntary credential and designates the holder as an individual who has met the established standards necessary to provide independent clinical services and to supervise the clinical practice of student trainees, clinicians who do not hold certification, and support personnel. The certificate can be obtained by an individual who meets specific requirements in each of the following areas: graduate degree, academic course work, clinical practicum, and supervised postgraduate clinical experience. Holders must also pass the ASHA approved national examination in speechlanguage pathology. Holders of the CCC-SLP must abide by ASHA's Code of Ethics, which incorporates the highest standards of integrity and ethical principles, pay an annual fee, and meet the professional development requirements (30 contact hours or 3 CEUs over a three- (3-) year period) to maintain their certification. Certificate holders may or may not choose to bemembers of ASHA.

Certified Member of CASLPA, S-LP(C)
This is the trademark used by speech-language pathologists who are clinically certified by the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA). Clinically certified professionals must be full members of CASLPA, meet clinical certification practicum requirements, and pass the CASLPA clinical certification examination. Clinical certification with CASLPA is a voluntary process and is not a license to practice. Internationally trained professionals, other than ASHA certificate holders, must go through the certification process to be eligible to be a member of CASLPA and can then request to also hold clinical certification. To maintain clinical certification status, members must pay annual membership dues and report a minimum of 45 hours of continuing education equivalents (CEEs) over a three- (3-) year cycle. Members of the association must abide by the Code of Ethics, by-laws and policies of CASLPA and pay annual dues.

Full Member of IASLT
A speech-language pathologist who meets recency of practice requirements (i.e.1000 hours of clinical practice within the previous five (5) years) and who provides evidence of continuing professional development according to the standards and procedures of the IASLT, and has signed up to and agreed to be bound by the Code of Ethics of the IASLT. Newly qualified speech-language pathologists may apply for New Graduate Membership of IASLT and may progress to Full Membership following (a) at least 12 months of clinical practice, that is, one full IASLT membership year (on average 1,550 hours) of which a minimum of 800 hours are closely supervised, and (b) a signed declaration by the service SLT manager confirming the required hours and indicating that the required competencies have been achieved.

Full Member of NZSTA
An individual who is engaged in the activities of speech-language therapy as a practitioner, administrator, educator, researcher or any combination thereof, for which they will receive payment during any part of the year. A Full Member has demonstrated competency in communication and swallowing disorders; has met the New-Entrant, Overseas Applicant and Return to Practice requirements; demonstrates a commitment to ongoing professional development by meeting the continuing professional development criteria and is bound by the NZSTA Code of Ethics. For the specific purposes of MRA Full Members of the NZSTA who graduated prior to 1993 will be excluded from the agreement.

Certified Member of RCSLT (Cert MRCSLT)
A designation that may be used by a speech and language therapist who has been granted certification by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). Certified members will have met the requirements for newly qualified practitioners and practitioners that are returning to practice, they will have maintained currency of practice, and will have demonstrated a commitment to maintaining competence and expertise through continuing education and a personal programme of continuing professional development.

Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP)
A designation that may be used by a speech pathologist, who is a member of the Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited. (Speech Pathology Australia), who practises full- or part-time and who has met the requirements of the Professional Self Regulation (PSR) program of continuing professional development or education. To be qualified to use the title of Certified Practising Speech Pathologist and the post-nominal initials of CPSP, the speech pathologist must have participated in and met the requirements of the program for at least one (1) year. Consistent with the mutual recognition of credentials under the MRA, successful applicants to Speech Pathology Australia will be eligible for immediate certified status and use of the post-nominals CPSP, and will be conferred this status upon joining the Association and making payment of the Practising Membership fee. Continuing eligibility to use the post-nominals of CPSP is dependent upon members demonstrating that they have successfully met the requirements of the PSR program throughout the year when they renew their membership annually.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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