Consultation with the public, audiologists, speech-language-pathologists, and interested/affected parties or persons, is an important part of the College's process when developing or revising regulations, by-laws, standards and guidelines. Your feedback is important, so please provide your comments through the survey links below.
September 22, 2023
The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) is seeking your feedback on the proposed fee for the emergency class of registration.
The emergency class of registration would become available if an emergency were declared in Ontario.
There will be a 60-day consultation process that will begin today and end on November 22, 2023.
The emergency class of registration will become available in one of the following two situations:
Why is CASLPO charging a fee for the emergency class of registration?
The proposed fees have been set taking into consideration the following factors:
Consultation with CASLPO registrants, the public, universities, the Office of the Fairness Commissioner, hearing and speech organizations, and other regulatory Colleges is an important part of the College’s regulation development process.
Consultation participants may wish to review the track changes version showing proposed amendments to the Fees By-law and schedule.
Any change that is made to the Fees By-law requires the approval of the CASLPO Board of Directors following a sixty-day consultation period with registrants and other interested parties.
The deadline for survey completion is November 22, 2023.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
If you have questions, please contact Colleen Myrie, Director of Registration Services at [email protected].
September 26, 2023
Your feedback on the draft Standard: Use of Restricted Titles is requested during a 30-day consultation.
Please review the Draft Standard: Use of Restricted Titles and complete the survey.
Closing Date for Review: October 25, 2023
February 14, 2023
The College is seeking your feedback on proposed changes to our Registration Regulation.
Link to Draft Registration Regulation Amendment
Note: The proposed amendments use the word “Council” which CASLPO is now regarding as interchangeable with the word “Board” (below). For legal purposes, the proposed amendments also use the word “member” while CASLPO now generally uses the term “registrant” (below).
Why Is CASLPO Adding Another Class Of Registration?
In April 2022, the provincial Pandemic and Emergency Preparedness Act, 2022, came into force. This legislation is intended to strengthen Ontario’s health workforce and improve health human resources planning in emergency situations.
The legislation requires each Ontario health regulatory college to propose changes to their registration regulation to create an emergency class. Colleges must focus their proposed changes in four areas:
The draft CASLPO emergency class registration category is described in greater detail below.
Key Provisions
The emergency class of registration will become operational in only two circumstances:
i. the Minister of Health declares an emergency, or
ii. the CASLPO Board of Directors determines that an emergency exists.
The CASLPO draft regulation provides for both scenarios. In addition, a guidance document will be created to assist the Board in making a determination.
2. Emergency Class Registration Requirements
The following categories of applicants will be eligible for emergency class registration:
Out-of-province certificate holders, non-practicing registrants, or former registrants of CASLPO who do not meet the currency hours requirement may still be issued an emergency certificate if they undergo a mentorship period.
Emergency class applicants will not be required to write the Canadian Entry to Practice (CETP) Exam to avoid any delays in the emergency registration process.
Currently, applicants applying for a general certificate of registration must pass the CETP Exam before a general certificate may be issued to them. The Emergency Class eliminates the need for experienced clinicians to wait for the next available CETP Exam sitting before registration may be issued.
Non-Core Competency Requirements
Emergency Class applicants must meet the College’s good character requirements which include providing verification of their good standing from all current and previous jurisdictions where they have practised. They must also secure professional liability insurance coverage.
In exceptional circumstances in which an applicant is unable to obtain verification of registration from a country in which they are no longer registered, the Registrar may waive the requirement for verification from such countries.
Safeguards
Holders of an Emergency Class certificate will be required to identify themselves to the public in order to ensure transparency.
A currency requirement of 250 hours per year will be in place for individuals with an emergency certificate.
3. Duration and Renewal
The emergency class certificate will be issued for a period of up to one year and renewable for the same length of time. An emergency class certificate expires six months after the emergency ends.
4. Moving From The Emergency Class To Another Registration Class
Registrants who hold an emergency class certificate would be able to move to the general class of registration if they can demonstrate that they practiced competently and effectively for at least 250 hours each year when they held the emergency class certificate.
How Do I Provide My Feedback?
For the next 60 days, the College’s proposed changes to the registration regulation are being circulated for comment from registrants and stakeholders. Prior to finalizing the proposed changes, the Board of Directors will consider all comments, keeping in mind CASLPO’s mandate to serve and protect the public interest.
Please provide your feedback by April 17, 2023, via a short anonymous survey.
Link to Draft Registration Regulation Amendment
Consultation with CASLPO registrants, the public, universities, the Office of the Fairness Commissioner, hearing and speech organizations, and other regulatory Colleges is an important part of the College’s regulation development process.
The deadline for survey completion is: April 17, 2023.
Thank you in advance for your contribution.
If you have questions, please contact Colleen Myrie, Director of Registration Services at [email protected].
October 17, 2022
Your feedback on the revised Guide for Service Delivery Across Diverse Cultures (to be renamed: Guide for Equitable and Inclusive Service) is requested during a 30-day consultation.
Please first review the revised Draft Guide for Equitable and Inclusive Service.
Then complete the survey.
Closing Date for Review: November 16, 2022
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - September 28, 2022
Feedback requested regarding revised Practice Standards and Guidelines for Dysphagia Intervention by Speech-Language Pathologists
Your feedback on the revised Practice Standards and Guidelines for Dysphagia Intervention by Speech-Language Pathologists is requested during a 30-day consultation.
Please first review the Draft Practice Standards for Dysphagia Intervention.
Then complete the survey.
Closing Date for Review: October 28, 2022
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - September 28, 2022
Feedback requested regarding Draft Advertising Standards
Your feedback on the Draft Advertising Standards is requested during a 30-day consultation.
Please review the Draft Advertising Standards.
Then complete the survey
Closing Date for Review: October 28, 2022.
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - March 16, 2022
Feedback requested regarding changes to the Fee By-law #2
March 18, 2022
The College is seeking your feedback on proposed changes to our Fees By-law #2 during the 60-day consultation.
Please complete the following short survey regarding proposed changes to the Fees By-law #2. CASLPO is not proposing a fee increase with these By-law changes.
CASLPO is proposing several Fees By-law changes to accomplish 2 objectives:
1. Establish a fee for the new subcategory of the General Certificate - Cross Provincial Practice
The College has been working with several other provinces over the past year to establish a method for registrants, who are maintaining a full registration in a participating province, to provide care across provinces without having to pay the full fees normally required by each province. CASLPO’s CPP subcategory of the General Certificate will be an opportunity for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists registered in another province to provide a limited amount of service to patients in Ontario. The Cross Provincial Practice (CPP) certificate would not require an applicant to obtain and pay for a full General Certificate. It will also be an opportunity for registrants in Ontario to offer services to patients in other provinces, without obtaining and paying for full practicing licenses in those provinces.
This new certificate option will be launched in coordination with the participating provinces in the summer 2022. We will share more details at that time.
We are seeking your input on the fees associated with implementing this limited license to practice.
2. Establish fees to reapply to the College following expiration of the Initial Practice Certificate due to unsuccessful CETP Exam attempt.
The College recognizes that is it fair and reasonable to ensure those registrants whose initial practice certificate expires because they were unsuccessful in the Canadian Entry to Practice (CETP) Exam are not paying fees more than once if they reapply within the same registration year.
We are seeking your input on the fees associated with reapplying.
Fees By-law #2 Chart of tracked changes
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - August 4, 2021
Draft Practice Standards for Audiological Assessment Is Requested During a 30-day Consultation.
June 24, 2021
Your feedback on the revised Draft Practice Standards for Audiological Assessment is requested during a 30-day consultation.
Please first review the Draft Practice Standards for Audiological Assessment
Then complete the survey
You may also want to view the current Practice Standards and Guidelines for the Assessment of Adults by Audiologists
and the current Practice Standards and Guidelines for the Assessment of Children by Audiologists
Closing date for review, August 4, 2021.
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - August 15, 2021
Proposed New Code of Ethics
June 16, 2021
Your feedback on the College’s proposed new Draft Code of Ethics is requested during a 60-day consultation.
Please first review the Draft Code of Ethics for the Provision of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Services in Ontario
You may also want to view the current Code of Ethics
Closing date for review, August 15, 2021.
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - July 20, 2020
Proposed New Standards for Virtual Care
(Consultation Feedback Requested By July 20, 2020)
June 19, 2020
Your feedback on the proposed new College standards for Virtual Care in Ontario is requested during a 30 day consultation
Your input is especially important now as many audiologists and speech-language pathologists provide virtual care services to patients during this COVID-19 pandemic.
View Proposed Standards of Virtual Care in Ontario
Take the Survey to have your say regarding the College standards.
Closing date for review, July 20, 2020.
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - January 16, 2019
Proposed Changes to Registration Regulation
(Consultation Feedback Requested by January 16, 2019)
November 15, 2018
The College is seeking your feedback on proposed changes to our Registration Regulation.
In order to facilitate labour mobility across provinces, CASLPO is working with the Canadian Alliance of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Regulators (CAASPR) to harmonize the registration requirements of audiologists and speech-language pathologists across the country. To align CASLPO's registration requirements with the other regulated provinces, it is necessary to amend our current Registration Regulations (i.e. Ontario Regulation 21/12).
CAASPR is developing a competency-based, entry-to-practice registration examination for all applicants.
Consequently, our draft Registration Regulation must include a requirement for the successful completion of a national examination.
CAASPR is developing a centralized application assessment process for audiology and speech-language pathology regulators across Canada.
Our draft Registration Regulation allows for the evaluation of course and practicum requirements by a third party, which would be CAASPR, to accommodate a centralized application assessment process.
The audiology and speech-language pathology regulators across Canada have agreed to harmonize their assessment of programs that are not accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Canadian University Programs in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CACUP).
The harmonized application assessment process includes an Academic Equivalency Framework (AEF) approved by the College and the regulators from other provinces across Canada. The AEF consists of both academic components and clinical practicum components, which closely align with the College's current Regulation. The academic components specify minimum hours of coursework, covering specific content, including normal and disordered hearing, communication and swallowing functions.
Our draft Registration Regulation allows for the course and practicum standards for applicants who graduate from non-accredited Canadian programs and international programs to be set by a third party (i.e. CAASPR). As members of CAASPR, the College will always have input into the AEF. Again, however, the wording allows for the Registration Committee to conduct this analysis should they have reasons to not avail themselves of this.
A "currency requirement" is a requirement for recent experience that demonstrates that a member's skills and patient care or related work experience is up-to-date.
Presently, the currency requirement for applicants applying for a general certificate differs from the currency requirement for general members maintaining their certificate.
Our draft Registration Regulation aligns these requirements so that "providing 750 hours of patient care or related work in audiology or speech-language pathology…" (which is the requirement for our General members) would be required to issue a general certificate of registration to an applicant.
In addition, the requirement for 2 years of professional experience would be reduced to 6 months in order to better align with the requirements of labour mobility applicants.
When looking at the consequences if currency requirements are not met, the Registration Committee made a distinction between the following applicants:
In order to determine what the best "tool" was for addressing those who lacked currency while remaining consistent for new members and current members, the Registration Committee considered what each tool afforded (see below).
Mentorship |
Applicant learns standards (both common and Ontario specific) and have support while they integrated them into practice. It assumes the applicant is a novice to the professional world and emerging competencies. Expires in 6 months but can be extended up to 18 months with the Registrar's approval. There is not a mechanism for remediation or referral to ICRC for noncompliance or incompetence. Can deny a General Certificate. |
Peer Assessment |
Ensures that an applicant is current with clinical knowledge (learning goals) and knows and applies the current standards. It assumes the applicant is a professional with practical experience. Allows for remediation. A process is available for referring uncooperative or incompetent members to ICRC, which provides further opportunity for remediation, or referral to Discipline. |
With these distinctions in mind, the Registration Committee determined that ideally, applicants who have worked in the field for a significant period of time should be directed to a peer assessment and those who are essentially new graduates should be directed into a mentorship.
The regulation amendments do just that. Those applicants who have worked less than 6 months will be granted an initial certificate and undergo a mentorship period. Those with 6 months of work but not 750 hours of patient care will also be granted a general certificate but will be directed to undergo a peer assessment.
Note that those applicants applying through labour mobility, who already have been granted a general certificate by another regulated province pose a different challenge. CASLPO must grant them the same certificate (general). However, if those applicants lack the 750 hours, they will be directed to undergo a peer assessment.
A Teaching certificate of registration is available to any applicant who has been invited to teach or conduct research by one of the institutions specified in the current regulation for no more than one year.
The teaching certificate has rarely been issued by CASLPO. In fact, the last time a teaching certificate was requested and issued was 18 years ago.
The information gathered from other colleges reveals that most colleges do not issue a teaching certificate and the colleges that do issue a similar certificate only issue a small number of certificates annually. In light of this information, the teaching certificate does not appear to be necessary or relevant for professionals in the province of Ontario and consequently, the Registration Committee concluded that it should be discontinued.
These were added to address common scenarios not addressed by the current regulation. They also provide a tool for those situations that are posing a risk to patients, specifically members who are practicing without professional liability insurance and members practicing without a mentor, when their certificate of registration requires a mentor. You will note that the additional suspension powers were intentionally worded to allow for discretion by the Registrar ("may" as opposed to "shall") and are intended to be applied as a last resort.
Also included in the draft Registration Regulation are a number of small changes to provide clarity for the administration of the Regulation.
For the next 60 days, the College's draft Proposed Registration Regulation Amendment is being circulated for feedback from members and stakeholders. Prior to finalizing the proposed changes, the Council will consider all comments, keeping in mind CASLPO's mandate to serve and protect the public interest.
Please take a few minutes to review the 3-column chart that sets out the existing Regulation, the proposed amendments and a rationale for the change and provide your feedback via a short anonymous survey.
Link to Draft Registration Regulation Amendments
Consultation with you the members, the public, the universities, hearing and speech organizations, and other Colleges is an important part of the College's regulation development process.
The deadline for survey completion is: January 16, 2019.
Thank you in advance for your contribution.FEEDBACK DEADLINE - December 3, 2018
Draft Conflict of Interest Standards
(Consultation Feedback Requested by December 3, 2018)
November 1, 2018
You have the opportunity to have your say about the Draft Conflict of Interest Standards ("Standards"). The Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee has developed these Standards to replace the Proposed Conflict of Interest Regulation, 1996 in order to:
The four proposed standards are meant to address and expand upon the areas initially covered by the proposed Regulation, including:
As with all CASLPO documents that are reviewed, you may collect CLACs for the time spent evaluating the Standards and completing the survey.
Please read the Standards and then take the 3 minute survey.
Link to Draft Conflict of Interest Standards
The deadline for survey completion is: December 3, 2018.
Thank you. We value your feedback.
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - September 30, 2018
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) Survey
(Consultation Feedback Requested by – September 30, 2018)
This message is being forwarded to you on behalf of the Canadian Alliance of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Regulators (CAASPR), of which this College is a member.
The Canadian Alliance of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Regulators (CAASPR) is disseminating a survey in both English and French to determine nationally how many speech language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists are involved in the provision of medical assistance in dying, and in what capacity. The survey also asks questions about members' knowledge of the federal legislation, conscientious objection and the MAID process, as well as the type of information and guidance that is needed. The results will help inform CAASPR and the individual colleges about the numbers of SLPs and audiologists involved in this sensitive area of practice and the type of guidance that would be beneficial to help members and protect the public.
Thank you, in advance, for completing the survey.
L'Alliance canadienne des organismes de réglementation en orthophonie et en audiologie (ACOROA) mène un sondage bilingue à l'échelle du pays afin de déterminer combien d'orthophonistes et d'audiologistes participent à l'aide médicale à mourir et dans quel rôle. Le sondage contient également des questions afin d'établir la connaissance des membres concernant les lois fédérales, l'objection de conscience et le processus d'aide médicale à mourir ainsi que le type d'information et de soutien dont ils ont besoin. Les résultats aideront à renseigner l'ACOROA et les organismes de réglementation individuels sur le nombre d'audiologistes et d'orthophonistes qui participent à ce domaine de pratique délicat et la meilleure façon de les guider et de protéger le public.
Merci d'avance de remplir le sondage.
MAID Survey EN, click here.
AMAM Survey FR, click here.
Brian O'Riordan
CASLPO Registrar
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - May 11, 2018
Have Your Say on the Cerumen Management Practice Standards
(Consultation Feedback Requested by May 11, 2018)
This is your opportunity to have your say regarding the College's practice standards.
Council has approved the Practice Standards for Cerumen Management for member response. All feedback will be considered prior to the Council approving the final document.
Link to Draft Practice Standards
Link to Survey:
(Less than 5 minutes to complete after reading the Practice Standards)
As with the review of all CASLPO documents, you may collect CLACs (Continuous Learning Activity Credits) on your Self Assessment Tool (SAT) for evaluating this document and completing the survey.
The deadline for survey completion is May 11th, 2018.
Thank you. We value your feedback.
Samidha Joglekar
Audiology Advisor & Manager of Mentorship
Alex Carling
Director of Professional Practice and Quality Assurance
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - April 30, 2018
Have Your Say About Second Opinions
(Consultation Feedback Requested by April 30, 2018)
This is your opportunity to have your say regarding the College's practice standards.
Council has approved the Guide for the Provision of Second Opinions for member response. All feedback will be considered prior to the Council approving the final document.
Link to Document: Click here
Link to Survey: Click here
(approximately 6 minutes to complete after reading the Guide)
As with the review of all CASLPO documents, you may collect CLACs for evaluating this document and completing the survey.
The deadline for review is April 30th, 2018.
Thank you. We value your feedback.
Alex Carling
Director of Professional Practice and Quality Assurance
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - May 26, 2017
Proposed Changes to CASLPO Fees
(Consultation Feedback Requested by May 26, 2017)
March 28, 2017
The College is seeking your feedback on proposed changes to various fees. These changes will affect the fees paid by Applicants, Initial members, Academic members, General members and Non-Practising members.
Summary
The proposed fee adjustments and changes to fees reflect the rising costs of meeting the College's regulatory mandate and strategic goals while addressing increased pressures from the external environment. The College Council noted the following relevant factors before approving the proposal for circulation:
In summary, the College Council recognizes the challenges associated with increasing members' fees and chose to address specific fees where a large or increasing gap existed between the fee and the actual cost. Where possible, an incremental increase is proposed to reduce the burden on members of a large one-time fee increase.
To view the proposed changes, and to provide any comments via anonymous survey please click here.
Consultation with you the members, the public, hearing and speech organizations and other Colleges is an important part of the College's by-law and regulation development process.
Please ensure your response is received by the College on or before May 26, 2017.
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - November 16, 2016
Proposed CASLPO by-law and Policy Changes Related to Respect in the College Workplace and College Council
(Consultation Feedback requested by November 16, 2016)
In order to help guide the development of by-laws, regulations and other documents, the College requests input from members of the public, members of the professions and other stakeholders. You now have an opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the By-Laws that will enhance respect in the College workplace and the governance of the College Council.
A key value of the College is respect for all individuals. Such respect for behaviour and attitude is also an expectation that the College has for all members of CASLPO. The College strives to demonstrate respect within all of its activities both internally and externally. Maintaining a culture of respect by and within the College requires a periodic review of the College's policies, procedures and by-laws. In addition, recent amendments to the Provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act require all organizations to treat harassment, particularly on a protected human rights ground, not just as unacceptable discrimination, but also as a workplace safety issue. Demonstrating a lack of respect, particularly in an area protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code or in the form of harassment, can cause significant harm to individuals and to the College itself.
While the College has always had policies and by-laws relating to respect, this year the College has done a review of those documents and has prepared an updated, comprehensive package to address the need for respect in all of the College's activities.
The College invites any comments or questions about the proposed changes to the by-Laws in the following areas. A draft of these documents are accessible below for comment by the members of the public, members of the professions and stakeholders:
1. Three policy documents, for CASLPO use for internal purposes concerning:
a. A general statement of College values related to respecting diversity and human rights click here;
b. A workplace respect policy for staff click here; and
c. A corresponding respect policy for Council and Committee members click here.
2. To ensure that serious cases can be addressed formally in those rare instances where informal action is insufficient, by-law amendments are proposed as follows:
a. A "Code of Conduct" for Council and Committee Members summarizing the obligations of Council and Committee members. The Code of Conduct would form a Schedule to the by-laws click here; and
b. Various by-law amendments related to setting out a fair process for dealing with serious governance concerns by Council and Committee members, particularly those involving discrimination, harassment or some other form of disrespect. There is also one housekeeping amendment relating to committee composition should there be procedural delays click here.
Please note that these documents work together as a package and many of the documents refer to other documents within the package. So, the documents should be read together as a unified consistent whole. The documents provide for the following:
Members of the profession may wish to use this consultation as an opportunity to review their own organization's respect, human rights, occupational health and safety and diversity documents.
Feedback can be provided up until November 16, 2016 by the following methods:
Email: [email protected]
Fax: (416) 975-8394
Mail:
College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario
3080 Yonge St. Suite 5060, Box 71, Toronto, ON M4N 3N1
*The College is pleased to respond to questions or comments submitted separately from the electronic survey.
Before these changes are considered for final approval by Council, at its December Council meeting, the College is seeking your feedback within the next 30 days; before November 16, 2016.
The College’s Executive Committee and Council will carefully consider aggregated comments before making any decisions about the proposed changes.
FEEDBACK DEADLINE - September 12, 2015
Proposed CASLPO Bylaw Changes Affecting Member Information to Be Posted Publicly: Enhancing Transparency and Accountability
(Consultation Feedback Requested by September 12, 2015)
In order to help guide the development of by-laws, regulations and other documents, the College requests input from members of the professions, the public and other stakeholders. You now have an opportunity to comment on proposed changes to by-laws that will enhance information on the Public Register.
As a result of a request to all Colleges from the Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long Term Care in a letter October 4, 2014, to enhance transparency, (click here) CASLPO developed a comprehensive plan covering many facets of information that the College would consider making public. (click here)
CASLPO’s approach is focused on facilitating accessibility of information in the public interest.
The following proposed changes are consistent with the goals of improving access to information and public protection.
Registration-related information regarding:
Complaint-related information regarding the following types of College orders:
Discipline-related information:
In order to make this information publically available, CASLPO needs to change its By-Laws. (Click to view the current By-Law 2011-6, Public Register)
Making more information available allows members of the public to make more informed decisions about who provides their care, and gives employers more information about who they are hiring.
These amendments do have the potential to affect CASLPO members by making more information about them available to the public.
You are encouraged to take a few minutes to read the proposed amendments and provide your feedback. Access the proposed changes to the By-Laws
Feedback can be provided up until September 12 2015, by the following methods:
Anonymous, electronic survey* (click here)
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 416-975-8394
Mail:
College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario
3080 Yonge St. Suite 5060, Box 71
Toronto, ON M4N 3N1
*The College is pleased to respond to questions or comments submitted separately from the electronic survey.
Before these changes are considered for final approval by Council, the College is seeking your feedback within the next 60 days; before September 12, 2015.
The College’s Executive Committee and Council will carefully consider aggregated comments before making any decisions about the proposed By-Law changes. The College will consider the extent to which your suggestions or comments represent the expectations of the profession, and are consistent with our public interest mandate. If, after consultation, the proposed By-Law changes are passed by Council, notification and a copy of the finalized By-Law will be posted on the College’s website.
If Council approves, these proposed changes would likely come into effect by January 1, 2016.
The following answers to frequently asked questions is intended to clarify what is meant by transparency and how the College is responding in the interest of public protection. Learn more
Policy: Consultation and Posting of Stakeholder Feedback
Thank You.