Information for foreign-trained audiologists and speech-language pathologists
(3141) Verified: 2010 08 16
Information on requirements to practise
The academic and clinical training and scope of practice for the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology are distinctly different in Canada. The speech-language and audiology health professions (audiologists and speech-language pathologists) are regulated in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan, where it is illegal to practise without being registered as a full member in the appropriate provincial regulatory body.
The provincial regulatory bodies are responsible for setting the standards for entry into the professions in the regulated provinces, and requirements may vary from one province to another; but once licensed, there should not be barriers to licensing in another regulated province. Therefore, you should contact the appropriate regulatory body (see list below) for more information, once you know where you want to settle and work in Canada. If you do not know where you want to live, you should contact the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA) for more information. CASLPA usually performs the assessment of foreign-trained audiologists and speech-language pathologists.
Some employers may require CASLPA certification and membership in a provincial/territorial association. You can obtain more information about the CASLPA certification procedures from the association:
- Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA)
- 1 Nicholas Street, Suite 1000
- Ottawa ON K1N 7B7 Canada
- Phone : 613-567-9968
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-259-8519
- Fax : 613-567-2859
- Email : caslpa@caslpa.ca
- http://www.caslpa.ca/
Information on assessment of qualifications
CASLPA and the regulatory bodies of audiologists and speech-language pathologists will provide information regarding procedures for assessing foreign credentials.
You should note that if you are already licensed to practise your occupation in a province or territory of Canada, and later wish to work in a non-regulated occupation, employers may request that you provide them with a formal assessment of your academic credentials.
If that is the case, or if you wish to have your credentials assessed for a purpose other than practising a regulated occupation in Canada, you may consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada" and contact an academic credential evaluation service. Although evaluation services offer expert advice on how qualifications obtained abroad compare with academic credentials obtained in Canada, their evaluations are advisory only and do not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment or certification purposes in Canada. Please note that evaluation services charge a fee for their assessments.
Information on assessment for immigration purposes, under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is an immigration program administered by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the department responsible for immigration to Canada.
CIC has listed this profession (NOC 3141) as an eligible occupation under the FSWP. To apply for immigration to Canada under this program, one of the requirements* is to obtain an “Educational Credential Assessment” (ECA) for immigration purposes from a CIC-designated organization. We invite you to communicate directly with one of the designated organizations to begin this process from outside Canada.
*It is important to note that this requirement is for immigration purposes only. It is separate from the process to obtain a license to practice from the relevant regulatory body listed below. Obtaining a license to practice is not required to apply for immigration.
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada regarding:
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
List of regulatory bodies
Alberta
- Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (ACSLPA)
- #209-3132 Parsons Road
- Edmonton AB T6N 1L6 Canada
- Phone : 780-944-1609
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-537-0589
- Fax : 780-408-3925
- Email : registrar@acslpa.ab.ca
- http://www.acslpa.ab.ca/
British Columbia
- College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia (CSHHPBC)
- 410 – 999 West Broadway
- Vancouver BC V5Z 1K5 Canada
- Phone : 604-568-1568
- Fax : 604-568-1566
- Email : info@cshhpbc.org
- http://www.cshhpbc.org/
Manitoba
- Manitoba Speech and Hearing Association (MSHA)
- #2-333 Vaughan Street
- Winnipeg MB R3B 3J9 Canada
- Phone : 204-453-4539
- Fax : 204-477-1881
- Email : office@msha.ca
- http://www.msha.ca/
New Brunswick
- New Brunswick Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (NBASLPA)
- 147 Ellerdale Avenue
- Moncton NB E1A 3M8 Canada
- Phone : 506-858-1788
- Phone (alternate): 1-877-751-5511
- Fax : 506-854-0343
- Email : nbaslpa@nb.aibn.com
- http://www.communicationnb.ca
Ontario
- College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO)
- 3080 Yonge Street, Suite 5060
- Toronto ON M4N 3N1 Canada
- Phone : 416-975-5347
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-993-9459
- Fax : 416-975-8394
- Email : caslpo@caslpo.com
- http://www.caslpo.com
Quebec
- Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec (OOAQ)
- 235, René Lévesque est
Suite 601- Montréal QC H2X 1N8 Canada
- Phone : 514-282-9123
- Phone (alternate): 1 888-232-9123
- Fax : 514-282-9541
- Email : info@ooaq.qc.ca
- http://www.ooaq.qc.ca/
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (SASLPA)
- 11 - 2010 7th Ave.
- Regina SK S4R 1C2 Canada
- Phone : 306-757-3990
- Phone (alternate): 1-866-757-3990
- Fax : 306-757-3986
- Email : saslpa@sasktel.net
- http://www.saslpa.ca/