Mutual Recognition Applications for SPA members

The Mutual Recognition of Professional Association Credentials Agreement was formed on the 20 November 2008 and has been updated since this date. The signatories to the agreement include:

The Agreement:

  • is NOT one of reciprocity or reciprocal recognition of qualifications;
  • permits under some conditions for certified or full members of one association to become recognised by the other associations;
  • does NOT ensure migration to any of the other countries; as all conditions for migration have to be met, and
  • does NOT ensure employment in the country which the speech pathologist may wish to visit.

If you are a current certified practising or full member of ASHA (USA), IASLT (Ireland), NZSTA (New Zealand), RCSLT (UK), SAC (Canada) or Speech Pathology Australia, you should refer to additional information about the Mutual Recognition of Professional Association Credentials between ASHA, NZSLT, IASLT, RCSLT, and SAC on their respective websites.

Australian Trained Speech Pathologists

All Certified Practising Speech Pathology Australia Members wishing to apply under the agreement must satisfy the additional specific requirements for each Association.

To be eligible to apply under the MRA Australian trained speech pathologists must be Certified Practising Speech Pathologists, meet the requirements to receive a Letter of Good Standing and satisfy the specific requirements for each Association. View further information on the Letter of Good Standing.

For the specific requirements for each Association refer to the information below and/or visit the relevant Association’s website.

American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA)

MRA applicants from the Associations specified below to provide the following:

  1. Applicable members of IASLT, NZSTA, RCSLT, and Speech Pathology Australia: Evidence of passing the ASHA-approved national certification examination.
  2. Applicable members of SAC who have less than one year of postgraduate professional clinical experience: Completion of a Clinical Fellowship (CF) or documented evidence of a minimum of 1,260 post-graduate hours of clinical experience (the equivalent of 36 weeks of professional employment as a speech-language pathologist at 35 hours per week) supervised by an individual who is ASHA-certified or who is a SAC 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.

Visit the website of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC)

MRA applicants from the Associations specified below to provide the following:

  1. For applicable members of IASLT, NZSTA, RCSLT and Speech Pathology Australia: Evidence of passing the SAC clinical certification examination.

Visit the website of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC).

Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT)

MRA applicants from the Associations specified below to provide the following:

  1. Applicable members of SAC: 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.
  2. Applicable members of ASHA and SAC: Evidence of recency of practice – 1000 hours of clinical practice, and/or conducting clinical research or college/university teaching within the previous five years.

Visit the website of the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT).

New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists’ Association (NZSTA)

MRA applicants from the Associations specified below to provide the:

  1. Applicable members of SAC and Speech Pathology Australia documented evidence of having completed a 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.
  2. Applicable members of ASHA and SAC: 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.
  3. Applicable members of IASLT and RCSLT, ASHA certificate holders who graduated with a master’s degree in speech-language pathology prior to 1998, and certified members of SAC who have been clinically certified prior to 1999: Demonstrated competency in dysphagia assessment, diagnosis and management, either through evidence of specific courses passed or prior experience.

Visit the website of the New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists’ Association (NZSTA).

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)

MRA applicants from the Associations specified below to provide the following:

  1. Applicable members of SAC and Speech Pathology Australia: 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.
  2. Applicable members of ASHA and SAC: 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.
  3. Applicable members of ASHA, SAC, NZSTA and Speech Pathology Australia: Evidence of satisfactory completion of the initial year of monitored practice in the UK is required for on-going certification.

Visit the website of the The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).