Mutual Recognition of Credentials (MRA)
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.
Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Application Form 
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Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Guide for Applicants .
View a copy of the Mutual Recognition Agreement .
Educational requirements
To be eligible to apply you must hold certification from or have membership of one of the signatory MRA Associations. You must also have completed your professional education to become a speech pathologist in a country that is signatory to the MRA Agreement as below:
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) -Certificate of Clinical Competence -Speech Language Pathology
- Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) – Certified Speech-Language Pathologist (S-LP))
- Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) Certified Member (Cert MRCSLT)
- Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT) – Full Member
- New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists’ Association (NZSTA) – Full Member (with the exception of those who graduated before 1993, who are not eligible to apply under this agreement).
Skills requirements
Speech pathologists in Australia need to work with English as the vehicle of communication and as the focus of assessment and treatment.
Applicants under the Mutual Recognition Agreement, who hold an entry level Speech Pathology qualification conducted in English from a university in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, United States of America or the Republic of Ireland, are not required to provide evidence of English language competence.
All other applicants are required to provide evidence of successfully completing the Occupational English Test (OET) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Assessment exemptions
Applicants are exempt from providing evidence of English Language Testing if they have an entry level Speech Pathology qualification conducted in English from a university in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, United States of America or the Republic of Ireland.
Fees
Fee for migration skills assessment: The application fee of $700 (Australian dollars) must accompany the application form.
Fee for withdrawing application: If the withdrawal is requested prior to the assessment commencing, a full refund will be considered, less an administration fee of $100 (Australian dollars).
Fee for review/appeal: The fee for lodging an appeal again Speech Pathology Australia’s decision is 25% of the initial application fee or $175 (Australian dollars) which must be paid at the time of submitting the written appeal.
Fee for replacement assessment advice: N/A
Payment options: The full application fee must be paid at the time of lodging a written application for migration skills assessment.
Refund policy: This fee is non re-fundable
Application process
Please submit by email all completed forms and supporting documentation.
High quality, full colour scans of your supporting documents will be accepted at 300dpi or greater. You must take a photo of all official photograph identity documents, such as passport and driver’s licence. If there are any issues with the quality of the scanned photo identity documents, you may be asked to re-submit them.
Electronic submissions of your completed application, including supporting documentation and identity evidence, must be emailed to Speech Pathology Australia.
Guide for applicants
The guides for applicants provide detailed information for applicants including:
- What to include in your application
- How to present your evidence
- The assessment process
- The appeal process.
Please read the guide carefully prior to completing and submitting your application.
Please note you are advised to refer to the web version of the Mutual Recognition (MRA) Guide for Applicants. Printing a hard copy is not recommended. You must submit your application based on the criteria that is on the web at the time of submission. Any major changes to requirements will be communicated to all applicants as appropriate.
Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Guide for Applicants .
Forms
Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Application Form .
Assessment process
Your application will be assessed by the Professional Recognition Panel.
The panel will provide written feedback on your submission of evidence within 10 weeks of receiving evidence of competency. Please note this is from the time you have provided all required documentation, NOT from the date you commenced your submission.
The processing of your assessment and submissions or additional evidence must be concluded within two years of your original application.
Please refer to the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Guide for Applicants for further details of the assessment process.
Policy on fraudulent documents
All the documents and evidence in your portfolio will be checked for fraudulent representation. Any evidence of this will result in refusal to process the documents and your application will no proceed further.
Review/appeal process
Speech Pathology Australia will only consider an appeal of an outcome of unsuccessful applications under the following circumstances.
- The assessment procedures and processes as approved by Speech Pathology Australia have not been implemented or adhered to in the established manner or format.
- There is proven prejudice or bias exhibited by the Professional Recognition Panel or an individual Professional Recognition Assessor in the undertaking of the assessment.
- Significant new information or documentation becomes available after the assessment process which would add to or change the applicant’s claims and capacities to demonstrate competence in the practice of the profession.
The appeal process is not to be used by applicants as an alternative to the established assessment process. A review cannot reverse or change the decision of the Professional Recognition Panel, nor will it exempt an applicant from any component of the assessment process. The review can only request that the assessment process be repeated or that it not proceed.
An appeal will not be considered on the basis of:
- Disputing or questioning the standards set
- Disputing or questioning the assessment process as established by Speech Pathology Australia
- Contesting the nature and extent of the information and advice provided to the applicant.
The three examples provided for the rejection of an appeal are a non-exhaustive list of circumstances where the threshold requirement for an appeal is not met.
An appeal against Speech Pathology Australia’s decision must be made within 28 days of the date of receiving the letter stating that your application was unsuccessful.
You must lodge your appeal in writing and direct to the Chief Executive Officer of Speech Pathology Australia. The reason for the appeal must be clearly stated.
Please refer to the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Guide for Applicants for further information.