Graduates of International and Non-accredited Canadian Programs

Our registration process for Graduates of International and Non-accredited Canadian Programs involves 4 steps toward achieving full practicing registration.

Step 1: Eligibility Review

1. Completed Application Form
2. Criminal records check
   • Original, notarized, and within 6 months of issue.
   • Upon your request, NBASLPA can provide a letter for you to submit to the police.  Form must be mailed to NBASLPA (PO Box 23113, Moncton, NB  E1A 6S8).  We will make a copy and return the original to you.
   • A digital criminal records check that can be authenticated is also acceptable.
3. Credential Evaluation from World Education Services (WES)
   • (Course-by-Course Report) Report must be sent directly from WES to NBASLPA.
4. Proof of meeting the National Language Proficiency Standards in French and/or English.  You can meet the language proficiency requirements in one of the following ways:
   • Proof of completion of an audiology or speech-language pathology university degree in English and/or French. Proof includes your academic credential assessment report which should include language of didactic and clinical instruction, or an official attestation sent directly from the university to NBASLPA.
   • Required minimum score on a standardized language fluency test in either English or French. All components of the test must be completed using the same test. Testing must be completed within the two years prior to application and sent directly from the testing agency to the NBASLPA. Please refer to the table below for approved test options and minimum test score requirements.
5. Completed Coursework Summary Form
   • Summary of completed undergraduate and Master’s degree academic coursework. Download the form by clicking here.
   • Please note that in Section 3 (Professional Competencies), coursework must be determined by the Registration & Competence Committee to contain coursework equivalent to accredited Canadian graduate programs.
6. Official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate level education/coursework sent directly from the university. 
7. Official Clinical practicum hours form
   • Must be endorsed by practicum coordinator/director of university program.
   • Must be sent directly from University to NBASLPA.
   • It must be clear from which degree the clinical hours were obtained.
8. A copy of or link to a handbook, syllabus, or calendar 
   • You must provide a detailed description of your university program of study, including your clinical practicum hours, for every course listed on the coursework form (requirement #5). 
   • The course syllabi/description must include the following:
     • Course objectives and format
     • Detailed course content
     • Total number of lecture hours
     • Required assignment(s) or report(s)
     • Required text(s)
     • Required reading(s)
     • Type and method of examination(s)
   • The copy or link to the handbook, syllabus, or calendar must be from the semester in which the course was taken, and match the dates found on your official transcripts. If the dates do not align, and there is a question of the validity of the content and/or hours, NBASLPA may request a letter from your program director. 
   • Conversion rates from credits to lecture hours must be included.
9. Verification of Registration 
   • If you have ever been registered as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist in a regulated province in Canada and are no longer registered in that jurisdiction, or if you are currently or have ever been registered in a country other than Canada, you must provide an official Verification of Registration from those jurisdictions or countries.
   • The official Verification of Registration must be sent directly from the regulatory body to NBASLPA.
10. If you are not a new graduate, you must provide letters from current and previous employers listing job title and dates of employment as verification of clinical practice or relevant work in speech-language pathology or audiology during the three years immediately preceding the date on which NBASLPA received your application (sent directly from employer to NBASLPA). 
11. Two (2) character reference letters
    • Reference letters must be from individuals who have known you for at least two years (e.g., SLP, audiologist, colleague, supervisor, professor, recent employer)
    • Letters from family members, classmates, or friends, or anyone who might benefit from you becoming registered with NBASLPA will not be accepted.
    • Letters must be dated within 60 days of application to NBASLPA.
    • The letters, with the original signature and contact information, must be sent directly by the referee either via email to NBASLPA or by mail.
12. Proof of identity
    • Passport or other government-issued photo identification showing current legal name.
13. Certified translation of all documents
    • If received in a language other than English or French. Both translation and original documents must be provided.
    • Please see the list of accepted translators below.
14. A non-refundable application processing fee of $1000.  
    • This fee must accompany your application for registration and is applicable whether your application for registration is accepted, rejected/denied or incomplete. Please send payment by e-transfer to: info@nbaslpa.ca

---

Step 2: Provisional Registration

Upon completing the initial set of requirements outlined below, you'll be granted a provisional registration, which will legally entitle you to practice in your profession while you work toward meeting the requirements outlined in Step 3.

1. Proof of permanent residency in Canada or Canadian Work Permit if Canadian Citizenship not provided by valid passport.
   • A Canadian Work Permit can be submitted after your application and documents have been reviewed, but must be submitted prior to being provided with registration with NBASLPA.
2. Proof of current personal professional liability insurance (PLI) with a minimum amount of $2,000,000. 
   • The PLI certificate must contain the applicant’s name, profession, statement verifying validity in New Brunswick for in-person and/or virtual services, and coverage dates for insurance providers other than those listed on the NBASLPA website, whose compliance with these requirements have been confirmed by the  Registrar. 
   • All PLI must have an extended discovery and reporting period of a minimum of two years.
   • Refer to document: PLI requirements
3. Registration activation fee
   • $300.  This fee is applicable each time a new registration is activated and will only be charged in the event your application for registration is approved by NBASLPA.
4. Annual registration fee
   •  $850 ($425 after August 31). 
   • This fee will only be applied if/when your application for registration is approved.
5. Completed Database
   • This form is required for government purposes and will be provided to you by the NBASLPA office.

---

Step 3: Full Practicing Registration

To obtain full practicing registration, two additional steps must be completed:

1.  Complete the required mentorship period.
   • All persons applying for initial registration, excluding Labour Mobility applicants, shall be granted a Provisional registration upon approval, and required to complete a period of mentorship (Mentorship Program) as prescribed by NBASLPA.
   • A mentorship contract must be submitted by the Provisional registrant within 14 days of beginning employment.
   • For information on the Mentorship Program, please visit: Mentorship Program
2. Pass the Canadian Entry to Practice (CETP) Exam.
   • Upon approval of your registration, you will be granted a Provisional registration which will legally entitle you to practice as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist until you pass the CETP exam on one of three consecutive attempts. Once your registration with NBASLPA has been approved, you must register for the next available exam sitting. Once you pass the CETP and complete the prescribed period of mentorship, you will be granted a practising registration. If you do not obtain a passing grade on one of your 3 consecutive attempts, your registration will be revoked and you will no longer be entitled to practice or hold yourself out as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist in New Brunswick. You will be required to wait 12 months before reapplying for registration with NBASLPA.
   • For information on the CETP exam, please visit: CETP Exam Policy

---

TRANSLATION

NBASLPA accepts document translations from:

1. The consulate, high commission, or embassy (in Canada) of the country that issued the document.
2. A Canadian consulate, high commission, or embassy in the country from which you emigrated.
3. A translator who is certified by a member organization of the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC)

Go to http://www.cttic.org/about-us for a list of member organizations that provide names of translators who are certified. Confirm that the translator is a certified member of their organization and certified to translate into English or French from the language of your document(s).

1. A translator accredited by a federal, provincial, or municipal government in Canada.

All translations must be original and accompanied by the translator's statement confirming:

1. That the translation is accurate and authentic.
2. That the translator belongs to one of the categories listed above (identification number and/or seal, name, address, and telephone number of the translator are required).
3. The full, printed name and signature of the translator.

 

LANGUAGE TESTS WE ACCEPT

You can take any of these approved language tests:

		English		English		French
Language Test		TOEFL internet based test (iBT) http://www.toefl.org		IELTS (AC or GT) https://www.ieltscanada.ca/ http://www.ielts.org/		Test d’évaluation du français (TEF) or TEF Canada https://www.lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr/tests-diplomes/test-evaluation-francais-tef/tef-canada/
Required Minimum Score		Speaking: 26 Listening: 26 Reading: 22 Writing: 24		Speaking: 7.5 Listening: 8 Reading: 7.5 Writing: 7.5		Expression orale (speaking): 371 Compréhension orale (listening): 298 Compréhension écrite (reading): 248 Expression écrite (writing): 371

 

Updated June 2024

 

Do I have to wait until I have all my documents before filling out an application form?

No.

1. Please fill out an application form immediately, so that we can open a folder for you.
2. For the most efficient processing of your documents, we kindly request that you send each document separately as soon as it is ready. By sending each document as it becomes available, you can help expedite the overall process and ensure that your submission is handled in a timely manner. When sending the documents to info@nbaslpa.ca, please clearly label each email or document with the appropriate identifiers or instructions, such as your name and the specific document being submitted. This will help us easily associate the documents with your application or inquiry.

 

What happens in case of missing/ incomplete documents? Will my application be denied?

• After review of an application from an international program, should there be any coursework/equivalents that are missing, we may still provide a license to practice with restriction or limitations in certain areas of scope or populations until the applicant can obtain the required coursework or practicum hours, and/or we may require the applicant to practice under supervision until the missing coursework has been obtained.

 

I do not have a Canadian work permit – will my application be denied?

No.

1. Although we require proof of an applicant’s eligibility to work in Canada, we do not ask for proof to be submitted until after the applicant has been deemed eligible for registration.
2. We will assess whether an international applicant is eligible for registration before the applicant has immigrated to Canada. The applicant must provide a copy of the work permit or proof of permanent residency or citizenship, however, before we will issue a license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology in New Brunswick.
3. We can write a letter in support of an applicant who has been deemed eligible for registration if they are actively looking for a job prior to having obtained a Canadian work permit. This letter can be provided to potential employers to assure them that the applicant is eligible for a license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology in New Brunswick once proof of eligibility to work in Canada has been provided.

 

I would like to move to New Brunswick and work as an Audiologist or Speech-Language Pathologist.  What are the steps involved in applying for registration and a visa?

1. Apply for eligibility for registration with the New Brunswick Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (NBALSPA). Registration requirements can be found below.
2. Once your application and documents have been reviewed by the Registrar and the Registration and Competence Committee, and you are deemed eligible for registration and have paid all fees, you will then apply to immigration for your work visa. See (Provincial Immigration Programs (welcomenb.ca) and (Credentials Recognized (welcomenb.ca).
3. Once you have obtained your work visa and provided proof of your work visa to NBASLPA, you will be issued a registration number which will legally entitle you to practice speech-language pathology or audiology in the Province of New Brunswick.
4. Apply for a job - once you have obtained a position and have relocated to Canada, you will be required to provide proof of personal professional liability insurance as per NBASLPA requirements prior to starting work.

 

I do not have a Master’s degree - Will my application be denied?

Not necessarily.

NBASLPA will review and consider for registration internationally educated speech-language pathologists and audiologists with coursework and clinical practice hours that are deemed to be substantially equivalent to accredited Canadian graduate programs.

Applicants for registration with NBASLPA must have either:

• a professional graduate degree in audiology or speech-language pathology from a Canadian university program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Canadian University Programs in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology;

 or

• a degree in audiology or speech-language pathology from a program that is determined by the Registration and Competence Committee to contain coursework and clinical practice hours equivalent to accredited Canadian graduate programs.

NBASLPA recognizes that many international programs are offered at the Bachelor's degree level only, but may contain coursework and clinical practice hours that are substantially equivalent to the accredited Canadian graduate programs, and as such we will review and consider internationally educated speech-language pathologists and audiologists with a Bachelor's degree. There is some coursework, however, that is required at the graduate level, but these can often be obtained through approved online courses in addition to the Bachelor's degree, provided the Bachelor's degree is determined to be substantially equivalent.  You can review the Coursework Summary Form to see where you might have gaps in equivalency and obtain the required areas of coursework. This will not, however, guarantee that you will be deemed eligible for registration.

After review of an application from an international program, should there be any coursework/equivalents that are missing, we may still provide a license to practice with restriction or limitations in certain areas of scope or populations until the applicant can obtain the required coursework or practicum hours, and/or we may require the applicant to practice under supervision until the missing coursework has been obtained.

In addition, all applicants must write and pass the Canadian Entry-to-Practice Exam through Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) as a registration requirement. You would apply to NBASLPA first and after we have determined that you are eligible for registration, we would submit your name to SAC for you to register for the exam. All applicants have 3 consecutive attempts to pass the exam. If the applicant does not achieve a passing score on the first attempt, they are then required to practice under supervision until they pass the exam on one of the next 2 attempts. If the applicant does not obtain a passing score on the third attempt, their license is revoked, and they can no longer practice in New Brunswick. They will be permitted to reapply after 12 months.

Please review the Coursework summary form. Completion of this form will allow you to see which coursework equivalencies you may be missing. This coursework summary form would also be submitted for review by the Registration and Competence Committee and does not guarantee eligibility for registration with NBASLPA.

 

Do I need to pass the Canadian Entry-To-Practice (CETP) exam before being able to practice in New Brunswick?

No.

1. You will not be able to start working in NB until you are registered and have been approved and provided with a registration number. If approved, you will be granted a provisional registration while you are waiting to write and pass the CETP exam. You will be legally permitted to practice in New Brunswick with a Provisional Registration.
2. You will be required to complete a period of mentorship (Mentorship Program) and write the exam on the first available sitting. You will have 3 consecutive attempts to pass the exam. As you will be a new graduate, your university will send Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) your name so that you can register for the exam.  If you pass your first attempt and complete the prescribed period of mentorship, your registration will be changed to a practising registration. If you fail all 3 attempts your license to practice in New Brunswick will be revoked.
3. In addition, If you do not yet have your official transcripts when you apply, we will accept a letter from the Director of your Program stating that you have met all requirements for graduation. Your Provisional Registration would not be changed to a Practising Registration until you have passed the exam and have submitted your official transcripts.

 

I was told that I cannot qualify for Personal Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) until I arrive in Canada.  Will my application be denied?

1. You can apply for PLI after you arrive in Canada, but before you start working.  You would need this before being licensed to practice as an audiologist or speech-language pathologist in New Brunswick.
2. We can write a letter in support of an applicant who has been deemed eligible for registration if they are actively looking for a job prior to having obtained a Canadian work permit or PLI.

 

Criminal Record Check (CRC) should be from which country?

• CRC for the country of current residency is sufficient.

 

Click here to start the application process

 

For instructions on how to create an account as a new user, please refer to:

User Guide: How to set up an account in Alinity

1. The New Brunswick government currently has a workforce planning initiative underway and may be able to integrate you into a pilot project and assist with your transition and employment. Please send a message to Jake/Doaa iehp-psfe@gnb.ca for information and instructions.
2. Connect with the New Brunswick IEHP Service: English Form
3. Resources for Internationally Trained Health Professionals: Allied Health
4. Stats on the profession in NB: Speech-Language Pathologist/ Audiologist
5. Resources for before you move: Living in NB