Health Professional Regulation
The primary reason for a professional group to become licensed is to ensure the public is adequately protected. Specifically, licensure helps ensure the safety and effectiveness of services by setting appropriate standards of conduct and competence.
Such standards include providing the public with an affordable and accessible avenue to report concerns and complaints about the care they have received, and a reasonable expectation that such issues will be effectively addressed. Greater public confidence in the professions can also lead to an enhanced willingness to seek help. In addition, audiologists and speech-language pathologists in Nova Scotia benefit from enhanced portability, professional recognition and opportunities for collaboration. The College participates in the Nova Scotia Regulated Health Professions Network (NSRHPN).
Under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) provincial jurisdictions recognize the licensed status of professionals operating in another licensed jurisdiction.
Requirements for new applicants to NSCASLP
Education
There are different procedures for graduates of approved education programs and those who graduated from another program.
Graduates of Canadian accredited programs, which are all master's level science degrees in speech-language pathology or audiology, will be eligible for registration if they have graduated in the last 5 years.
Individuals who graduate from a program that is not a Canadian accredited program will need to show that they graduated from a master’s or doctoral program which is equivalent to the approved program. Their credentials will be assessed and their application will be reviewed by the Registration Committee.
All applicants must pass the Canadian Entry to Practice Exam for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CETP).
Canadian Entrance to Practice Exam
Provincial regulatory organizations have a duty to the public to assess and ensure the competence of practicing Canadian audiologists and speech-language pathologists.
The CETP examination was developed by the provincial audiology and speech-language regulators' association. The CETP exam is a registration/licensure requirement in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Examination candidates should familiarize themselves with the examination policies and procedures found on the SAC website:
https://www.sac-oac.ca/cetp-exams
Cerumen Management Certification
Audiologist applicants must complete a cerumen management declaration and, if they intend to practice cerumen management, must provide verification of completion of an approved program.
Criminal Record Check
All applicants are required to provide an original copy of a criminal record check and vulnerable sector check dated within 6 months. A digital criminal records check that can be authenticated is also acceptable.
Professional Liability Insurance
All applicants will be required to provide proof of professional liability insurance (PLI). The College Board sets the minimum amount of PLI a member must carry; currently it is set at $2 million. If you are a salaried employee your employer may carry the necessary insurance for the work you provide in that work setting, and have a process in place to obtain this documentation. All questions related to your insurance coverage should be directed to your employer (and/or your insurance carrier if you are self-employed). Both SAC and the Canadian Academy of Audiology (CAA) offer reasonably priced professional insurance packages.
NSCASLP Licence Categories
There are four licence types each for audiologists and speech-language pathologists:
Practising Licence
Criteria
As outlined in section 15 of the Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists Regulations:
(a) subject to subsection (2), they are a graduate of 1 of the following:
(i) an approved education program,
(ii) an education program that qualified them to be an audiologist or speech-language pathologist in the jurisdiction where the education program was held that, in the opinion of the Registration Committee, is equivalent to an approved education program,
(iii) an education program that, in the opinion of the Registration Committee, when taken together with their relevant experience, provides them with comparable competencies to those of a person who graduated from an approved education program;
(b) they have successfully completed any examinations approved by the Board in the profession for which they seek a licence;
(c) if they have practised in another jurisdiction since being issued a previous licence, a certificate of standing from each jurisdiction where they practised, disclosing whether there are any outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions or restrictions against them in that jurisdiction;
(d) they have demonstrated proficiency in the English language in the manner prescribed by the Registrar;
(e) they are a Canadian citizen or legally entitled to live and work in Canada;
(f) they have liability protection, malpractice insurance or another form of indemnity in the manner and amount required by the Registrar;
(g) except for the restricted practising category and the temporary restricted practising category, they are not prohibited or restricted from practising through the decision of any adjudicating body or through voluntary agreement or otherwise;
(h) they have the current capacity, competence and character to safely and ethically practise;
(i) they are eligible for the licence category for which they have applied.
(2) In addition to the criteria in subsection (1 ), a graduate of a program other than an approved education program must complete any competence assessment required by the Registration Committee and any bridging education required as a result of the competence assessment as selected by the Registration Committee.
Permitted Activities
As outlined in section 17 of the Regulations:
(a) use a protected title corresponding to the profession for which they are licensed in the practising roster;
(b) practise audiology or speech-language pathology within the member's individual scope of practice;
(c) if elected, hold office on the Board;
(d) serve as an appointed member on any committee of the College;
(e) receive all official College publications;
(f) attend, participate and vote at meetings of the College.
Restricted Practising Licence
Per Section 22 of the Regulations:
Temporary Licence and Restricted Temporary Licence
Criteria
As outlined in Section 28 of the Regulations
(a) a temporary licence;
(b) if conditions or restrictions are imposed, a restricted temporary licence.
(2) The Registrar must notify an applicant of a decision under subsection (1).
(3) The Registrar must enter the name of an applicant who is issued a licence under this Section into a
(a) for an applicant issued a temporary licence, into the temporary roster;
(b) for an applicant issued a restricted temporary licence, into the restricted temporary roster.
(4) On denying an applicant a temporary licence or a restricted temporary licence, the Registration Committee must provide the applicant with a written decision with reasons, and must inform the applicant of their right to appeal the decision to the Registration Appeal Committee.
Information and Policies Related to Applying for Licensure
Privacy Statement
Alternative Documentation Accepted by the College
Accommodation Practices for Applicants with Physical or Mental Disabilities
Access to Records Request Policy
Appeal Policy
2024 Fee Schedule
Licence Renewal
To maintain a licence registrants must:
- Meet the continuing competence program requirements set by the Board. Credits must be earned in 3 or more categories, with a minimum of 5 hours earned in at least 3 categories. The total credits required are 30 over a reporting cycle (typically two years).
- Practice at least 1000 hours in a 5 year period. Registrants must keep a record of the hours worked in practice that covers at least the immediately preceding 5 years and the College may at any time conduct an audit of this record.
- Every 5 years, must provide an original copy of a criminal record check and vulnerable sector check dated within 6 months. A digital criminal records check that can be authenticated is also acceptable.
- Maintain professional liability insurance (currently, a minimum level of $2 million). Salaried employees may be covered as part of their employment and they must find out from their employer what type of coverage is available within their employment setting.
- Comply with all other requirements of sections 16 and 20 of the Regulations
Protected Titles
Licensed registrants can use the post-nominal Aud-Reg (audiologists) or SLP-Reg (speech-language pathologists). For members who are also certified by SAC, your provincial designation should be listed first, followed by SAC certification.
For Audiology, the Act states:
For Speech-Language Pathology the Act states: