In Australia, those who are interested in becoming speech pathologists must finish a term of supervised clinical practice, get a recognized degree, and pass a national certification exam. Once licensed, speech pathologists can operate in a range of settings, such as clinics, hospitals, schools, and research facilities. It is crucial to remember that in Australia, depending on the state or territory, different criteria may apply to become a speech pathologist. In addition, certification maintenance and keeping up with industry changes need ongoing professional development and education.
Mutual Recognition of Credentials (MRA)
The Mutual Recognition of Professional Association Credentials Agreement was formed on 20 November 2008 and has been updated since this date. The signatories to the agreement include:
- Speech Pathology Australia (SPA)
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
- Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC)
- The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
- Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT)
- New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists’ Association (NZSTA).
Educational requirements
To be eligible to apply you must hold certification from or have membership in one of the signatory MRA Associations. You must also have completed your professional education to become a speech pathologist in a country that is a 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).
Required Skills
English must be the main language of assessment, therapy, and communication for Australian speech therapists.
For 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, the United States of America, or the Republic of Ireland, no proof of English language proficiency is required.
All other applicants must have successfully passed either the Occupational English Test (OET) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). (IELTS).
Evaluation Exception
If an applicant has an entry-level Speech Pathology certification completed in English from a university in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America, or the Republic of Ireland, they are excused from showing proof of English language testing.