Answers to Hiring - FAQs

March 1, 2023
HIRING AN AUDIOLOGIST OR A SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
1. If an individual is hired as an audiologist or speech-language pathologist, conditional on registration with CASLPO, can they work with supervision until registration is completed?

Yes, the individual can work as a support personnel with supervision.

CASLPO registration is required for anyone working in Ontario as an audiologist or speech-language pathologist. If you hire an individual to work before their CASLPO registration is confirmed, then they can only work as support personnel and may not use the protected titles or any variations or abbreviations of the protected titles or hold themselves out as qualified to practice audiology or speech-language pathology.

It's important for patients or clients to understand that the person providing their services is not an audiologist or a speech-language pathologist. Support personnel must be appropriately supervised by an audiologist or a speech-language pathologist.

As an employer, you need to know the difference between what an audiologist or speech-language pathologist can do and what support personnel can do. This information is in the following College Position Statements:

2. Can a potential employee start their CASLPO mentorship period as an SLP or audiologist before they complete their registration with CASLPO? 

No, according to the Registration Regulation, the potential employee must be registered to practice and have a CASLPO registration number before they can begin their mentorship period.

 

3. Is it possible for an individual to be hired and begin orientation before becoming registered if the new hire does not practice independently or refer to themselves as an audiologist or a speech-language pathologist?

We recommend that employers wait until the new hire’s certificate of registration has been issued by CASLPO before starting their orientation.

If you want your new hire to begin working before finishing CASLPO’s registration process, we recommend that you hire the individual as support personnel until CASLPO has issued their certificate of registration.

4. What is the turnaround time for CASLPO registration for students who have graduated?

The College publishes the following anticipated timelines for reviewing an application for a certificate of registration in audiology or speech-language pathology with CASLPO:

  1. Timeline for graduates of Canadian Accredited Programs
  2. Timeline for graduates of Non-Accredited Canadian Programs and International Programs
  3. Timeline for professionals from other regulated Canadian provinces
  4. Timeline for Cross Provincial Practice Certificates

Please note that these timelines are approximations only, and the review of an application may take longer than indicated.

Applicants must allow time for the College to receive documents from other parties, including universities, credentialing agencies, other regulating bodies, and past employers. Please note that the College is not responsible for any delays in receiving information from other parties.

Delays may also occur when the volume of applications received is heaviest. As an example, the month of September is always extremely busy at the College.

5. Is it possible to expedite registration if the applicant has a job offer?

No, this is not possible. When an application submission is complete (i.e., all the required documentation has been received by the College), the application is placed in a queue. It would not be appropriate for an applicant waiting at the front of the queue to be delayed in the issuance of their registration certificate due to our prioritizing an individual’s application who is at the back of the queue. The College must answer to the Office of the Fairness Commissioner which requires all registration practices to be transparent, impartial, objective, and fair.

For that reason, the College is committed to processing applications as quickly as possible and in the order that they are received.

6. Can the College confirm a new hire’s application status with their employer?

Applications are confidential and the status of an application cannot be shared with an applicant’s employer without the applicant’s written consent.

If you wish to learn more about the application status of a new hire, you can ask them the following probing questions:

  1. Has the applicant received an email from CASLPO confirming that their application submission is complete?

    If the applicant says “yes,” the employer should then ask question #2.

    If the applicant says “no” it is likely that their application submission is incomplete and they have already been notified of this. The College cannot process an application submission if it is incomplete. When an application is incomplete, it is not possible to know how long it will take for an applicant to get registered.
  2. Has the applicant received an email from CASLPO indicating that they have been deemed eligible for registration?

    If the applicant says “yes,” the employer should then ask question #4

    If the applicant says “no,” it is likely that the applicant is an internationally educated applicant or an applicant from a non-accredited Canadian Program. The employer should ask question #3.
  3. Has the applicant received an email from CASLPO indicating that their application contains a deficiency?

    If the applicant says “no,” it is likely that the application is still under review. At the end of the review, the applicant will either be deemed eligible for registration or advised that their application contains a deficiency.

    If the applicant says “yes,” the application must be undergoing a more detailed review before the application is considered by a panel of the College’s Registration Committee.
  4. Has the applicant sent in all the registration documents needed to finish the last steps of registering with the College?

    After an applicant has submitted the remaining documents and fees to complete their registration with the College, this step takes approximately 5 business days.
7. How do I verify if an individual is registered with the College?

If an individual is registered with the College, you will find the individual listed on CASLPO’s public register at http://publicregister.caslpo.com.

8. Who is required to take the CETP Exam?

All applicants who wish to be registered to practice audiology or speech-language pathology in Ontario must take the CETP Exam for their profession, except those who are already registered with another Canadian regulator of audiology and speech-language pathology and have practiced within the last three years.

9. If I hire an individual who has previously written the SAC Clinical Certification Exam or the Praxis Exam, do they still have to take the CETP Exam?

Yes.  If you are required to pass the CETP Exam for registration with CASLPO, the College cannot accept the results of the SAC Clinical Certification Exam or the Praxis Exam in place of the CETP Exam.

10. If I hire an applicant who is ASHA certified, do they still have to take the CETP Exam?

Yes.  Applicants who are ASHA certified must take the CETP Exam.  It should be noted that CASLPO does not have a reciprocal agreement with ASHA.

It should also be noted that the Mutual Recognition Agreement between Speech and Audiology Canada (SAC), the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), the Irish Association of Speech Language Therapists (IASLT), the New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA), the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), and Speech Pathology Australia does not apply to the requirements for registration in Ontario, nor does it speed up the application process for members of these national associations.

11. What happens if my employee fails their first attempt at the CETP Exam?

If this occurs, they will receive a notice from the College indicating that they have 30 business days to transfer or discharge their patients before their initial certificate of registration expires.

After your employee’s initial certificate expires, they are no longer permitted to use the titles “audiologist”, “speech-language pathologist” or “speech therapist”, a variation or abbreviation thereof, or an equivalent in another language in Ontario. Additionally, your employee must not represent themselves as a person who is qualified to practice audiology or speech-language pathology in Ontario.

Please keep in mind that your employee will not be able to apply for registration with CASLPO until they have passed the CETP Exam.  Employers may consider keeping the individual on staff as support personnel while the individual attempts to pass the CETP Exam for their profession.

12. Can I hire an individual as support personnel  who is no longer registered with CASLPO after failing the CETP Exam?

Yes.  Employers can hire an individual who has failed the CETP Exam as support personnel while the individual attempts to pass the CETP Exam for their profession.

13. If my employee with 10 years of experience obtains an initial certificate and then passes the CETP Exam before completing their mentorship period, can my employee obtain a general certificate when the College receives proof of their passing the CETP Exam?

No. When one of your employees gets a Certificate of Registration from CASLPO, they must follow the rules in the College’s Registration Regulation about how to change certificates.  College staff do not have any discretion regarding these requirements because a regulation is essentially a law of Ontario.

The Registration Regulation spells out the rules for changing certificates and it states that if your employee has an Initial Practice Certificate, they must meet the following requirements to get a General Certificate:

Issuance of general certificate of registration

10.1 A member who is the holder of an initial certificate of registration shall be issued a general certificate of registration if the member completes the coursework or clinical practicum referred to in paragraph 1 of subsection 8 (2) or the registration examination referred to in paragraph 2 of subsection 8 (2), or both, and the member,

  1. pays any applicable fees required by the by-laws.
  2. is in compliance with any outstanding orders issued by any committee of the College or with any undertakings given to the College; and
  3. successfully completes the mentorship referred to in section 9. O. Reg. 188/21, s. 7.

This means your employee has two choices:

  1. Your employee could apply to the College again as a “new” applicant for a General Certificate now that they have passed the CETP Exam. This would require your employee to resign from the College as an Initial Registrant and then re-apply for registration. This option will likely take time and be costly, as well may involve ceasing practice for a period of time

    Or
     
  2. Your employee can continue their registration as an initial registrant and complete their mentorship.  As an existing registrant, a general certificate would be issued once College staff has verified that your employee has successfully completed their mentorship, which would be a seamless process in terms of continuing their practice.
14. If I hire someone who has experience working outside of Ontario, is that individual required to complete a period of mentored practice?

It depends on whether the individual qualifies for a general certificate of registration with CASLPO.  Registrants who hold a general certificate with CASLPO are not required to complete a period of mentored practice unless the College’s Registration Committee requires it by placing terms, conditions, and limitation on their general certificate when the certificate is issued.

An applicant can apply for a general certificate of registration when they:

  • have met the academic requirements for a certificate of registration,
  • have provided proof of their ability to work in Canada,
  • have passed the CETP Exam for their profession,
  • have completed a total of 750 hours of patient care or related work in their profession in another jurisdiction in the last three years.
15. When is the best time to check the register to confirm that an audiologist or a speech-language pathologist has renewed their college registration?

The best time to check the public register to confirm this information is in early December. If a CASLPO registrant has not renewed by December 1st in the year, the individual’s registration will be suspended.

CASLPO’s renewal deadline is October 1st. Registrants can renew their registration between August 1 – October 1. After October 1st, a 20% late fee is added to the registrant’s renewal fee.

 
MENTORSHIP
1. Why does CASLPO require a mentorship period?

The Registration Regulation requires a 6-month period of mentorship for all registrants who hold an initial certificate of registration.  A period of mentorship may also be required for a registrant who holds a general certificate of registration when this is a term or condition placed on their certificate by the Registration Committee.   

Mentorship helps the College confirm the competency of registered audiologists and speech-language pathologists who are beginning, or resuming, their professional practice.  The program is structured around the standards of practice for the professions in Ontario.  The process helps verify that a mentee is meeting these minimum expected standards.  Mentors serve as experienced guides and supports for a mentee, as well as assess and confirm that a mentee meets standards through progress reports submitted to the College.

2. Is mentorship the same as supervised practice?  

No, the College does not consider a mentor to be acting as a supervisor. Supervisors assume accountability for the clinical services provided by the person they supervise.  In mentorship, the mentee is accountable for their clinical practice as a registered and self-regulated audiologist or speech-language pathologist.

Mentors are not supervising; nor are they required to continuously observe a mentee’s practice.  However, an employer may decide that observation, or even supervision, at the start of employment is needed for a mentee who lacks experience in an area of clinical practice. This would allow a mentee to build skills in the practice area and meet workplace expectations before they are fully independent.  This would be an employer’s decision as opposed to a CASLPO requirement.    

3. What do mentors and mentees need to do during mentorship? 

Mentees must do the following:

  • provide at least 500 hours of direct patient care
  • complete all steps in the online Mentorship Self-Assessment Tool (MSAT)
  • Reflect on their practice and demonstrate to a mentor, with evidence, that they meet the minimum standards of practice for their profession.

Mentors must do the following:

  • provide at least 48 hours of guidance.  The College recommends that a mentor spend 2 hours per week with a mentee providing practice guidance, reviewing practice standards and discussing clinical reasoning.
  • directly observe the mentee in practice. The time required for direct observation is at a mentor or employer’s discretion but is recommended to be based on the mentee’s experience level, competence level and the patient risk associated with the practice area.
  • Jointly complete the Mentorship Self-Assessment Tool (MSAT) with a mentee to track a mentee’s progress to meet practice standards over the 6-month period.
  • submit reports of the mentee’s progress to meet standards to the College.
4. How can employers facilitate a mentorship? 

There are a few ways that employers can assist with this process.  Ultimately, mentorship is useful for employers too because it ensures quality practice of your employee.

Arrange a mentor

It is helpful when an employer can help to arrange a mentor.  Employers can support experienced staff to be mentors for new staff who need to complete mentorship.  This could mean allowing experienced staff time in their schedules for their mentoring duties.    

Allow an external mentor

If it’s not possible to arrange a mentor within the workplace, then it helps when an employer allows an external mentor.  This would be a speech-language pathologist or audiologist external to your organization who will mentor your employee following CASLPO’s program guidelines.

External mentor considerations

An external mentor will be in regular contact with your employee to discuss their practice.  Mentors also need to discuss patient care and review patient records.  Employers should consider these factors in considering if external mentorship is possible.  For example, an employer may choose to have an external mentor sign a confidentiality agreement since the mentor will review and discuss patient-related information.

5. Who can be a mentor? 

Mentors must be audiologists or speech-language pathologists who are registered to practice with CASLPO in the General registration category and in good standing with the College. The College has criteria for mentors, which are verified by staff before a mentorship contract is approved.

 

6. Are mentors expected to be compensated for their time? 

Employers may choose to compensate staff for their time spent mentoring.  This is at the discretion of an employer.  The College does not permit a mentee to pay their mentor, as this places the mentor in a potential conflict of interest.

 

7. Are multiple mentors permitted? 

No, CASLPO permits only one designated mentor.  The designated mentor takes the responsibility of providing regular guidance, assessing the mentee using the online Mentorship Self-Assessment Tool (MSAT) and submitting progress reports.  Mentors can have collaborators who they work with to jointly provide guidance to a mentee.  Collaborators must share their observations of a mentee’s practice with the designated mentor so that the mentor can appropriately assess the mentee.  

8. Can mentorship be shorter or longer than 6 months?

The mentorship period cannot be shorter than 6-months as stipulated by the Registration Regulation.  The College can grant a mentorship extension when more time is needed to fulfill the requirements or to confirm a mentee’s competency to meet practice standards. Extensions must be requested in writing and are granted in up to 3-month increments.   

9. Can mentorship occur remotely, or must the mentor and mentee be in the same physical location?

Yes, mentorship can occur remotely.  Mentors and mentees can communicate over video conferencing, phone, e-mail, text message or using the comments section of the Mentorship Self-Assessment Tool (MSAT). 
Mentors and mentees are not required to be in the same physical practice location, as mentees are not required to be continually observed unless there is a clear lack of experience or competence with an aspect of practice or with a clinical activity that is high-risk. 

Remote mentorship considerations
In-person guidance and observation from a mentor is very useful for professional development and is encouraged, even if minimal.  If the mentorship will be fully remote, then observation of the mentee’s practice and patient record reviews must take place electronically in a secure manner.  This can be achieved by having a mentor observe the mentee using real-time video during an appointment or by viewing recorded appointments in a secure and private manner.  Patient consent must be obtained and documented for any recording and viewing of appointments.  

10. What happens if a mentorship cannot be completed? 

There are a few situations where this may occur, and such situations are considered on a case-by-case basis.   

Mentorship transfer

A mentorship may need to be transferred if for various reasons either the mentor or the mentee cannot continue with a mentorship period that has begun.  It is the responsibility of the mentee to inform the College of any chance to their mentorship, secure another mentor and make arrangements to complete their mentorship period.  Mentors and employers can also assist with this if possible.

Reaching the 2-year time limit

The Registration Regulation allows for the mentorship period to be extended for up to two years from the date of a registrant’s initial registration.  If mentorship cannot be completed within this 2-year time frame, then the mentee is required to re-apply to the College and continue with, or possibly repeat, mentorship.

Concerns with competency

If there is concern related to a mentee’s competency to practice that becomes apparent during the mentorship period, mentors and employers should inform the College.  You can contact the Manager of Mentorship or the Director of Registration Services with a mentorship concern of this nature.

Employers must report to the College if they terminate an employee during mentorship for reasons of incompetence or incapacity as required by the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (“RHPA”).  See Mandatory Reporting for Employers and Facilities.

 

More detailed information about mentorship is available on the Mentorship webpage.

 


© 2024 CASLPO

© 2024 CASLPO

This website is intended to provide information to the public and registrants. Should there be difference in documentation previously distributed to CASLPO registrants, it is up to the registrant to source the latest version posted on the CASLPO website. Note: the term "member" and "registrant" are used interchangeably throughout CASLPO's website and documents. Both terms are synonymous with "member" as defined in the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Act, 1991, and the Regulations under those Acts.