Academic Certificate

CASLPO’s Academic Certificate allows audiologists or speech-language pathologists who may not engage in direct patient care, to maintain their registration while contributing to the profession through education and research. However, the academic registrant may only practise in settings related to their academic appointment.

An academic certificate is an option for individuals with a teaching or research position at a post-secondary institution, but it is not the only option. If you have a teaching or research position at a post-secondary institution and if you are providing at least 750 hours of patient care or related work every three years, you may maintain your registration with CASLPO as a general registrant. However, if you provide fewer than 750 hours of patient care or related work within three years and you have a teaching or research position at a post-secondary institution, you may consider applying for an academic certificate.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants with a professional master’s degree in audiology or speech-language pathology can apply for an academic certificate if they have:

1. Passed the Canadian Entry to Practice (CETP) Exam, AND 
2. An appointment to an academic staff of a post-secondary institution to teach or conduct research in audiology or speech-language pathology or both.
   OR
3. Are currently registered and in good standing in another regulated Canadian province with a certificate equivalent to CASLPO’s academic certificate.

Registration Requirements

1. Education – You must have a professional master’s degree in audiology or speech-language pathology which satisfies the requirements outlined in the Academic Equivalency Framework (AEF) for audiology and speech-language pathology. For more information about the AEF, click here.
2. Eligibility to Work in Canada – You must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) to engage in practice of audiology or speech-language pathology in Ontario.
3. Registration Examination – You must successfully complete the Canadian Entry to Practice (CETP) Exam. For more information about the CETP Exam requirement, click here.
4. Proficiency in English or French – You must demonstrate your proficiency in English or French if you did not complete your professional master’s degree in either English or French. For more information about CASLPO’s Language Proficiency Standards, click here.
5. Past Offences and Findings – You must declare if you have ever been denied registration by a health regulatory body, found guilty of any offences or professional misconduct, or are currently involved in a proceeding related to your practise as an audiologist or speech-language pathologist.
6. Health and Conduct – You must declare if you suffer from any physical or mental condition or disorder that could affect your ability to practise audiology or speech-language pathology in a safe manner.  The College must also be satisfied that you will practise with decency, honesty, and integrity, and in accordance with the law.

Maintaining Your Academic Certificate

1. You must renew your academic certificate every year by October 1. The online renewal system opens on August 1. For more information about renewal, click here.
2. You must only practise in a setting related to your academic appointment.
3. You must participate in CASLPO’s Quality Assurance Program (QAP), which includes the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT), Continuous Learning Activity Credits (CLACs), and Peer Assessment/Evidence Review.  More information about the QAP, click here.
4. If you are engaged in providing or deciding   to provide, clinical services, you must maintain professional liability insurance with coverage of at least two million dollars per claim. For more information of about CASLPO’s Professional Liability Insurance requirements, click here.

Returning to General Practise

Registration Requirements

Before a general certificate may be issued to you, you must meet the following requirements:

1. You must have 750 hours of patient care or related work during the last three years, 
2. You must have paid any applicable fees required by the by-laws, and
3. You must be in compliance with any outstanding orders issued by any committee or with any undertakings given to the College.

Change to a General Certificate During Renewal

When renewing your certificate and requesting a General Certificate, please note the following:

• Your status change will take effect on either September 1 if your request is submitted by August 31 or October 1 if your request is submitted by October 1. 
• If you do not meet the requirements for a General Certificate, the issuance of your general certificate will be delayed until after a decision has been made regarding your request by a panel of the College’s Registration Committee.

If you want your status change to take effect in the month of September:

• You must complete your renewal by September 15.
• An additional fee will apply if you wish to start practising in September.

If you want your status change to take effect on October 1:

• You must complete your renewal by October 1.
• If you renew after October 1, your status change will take effect once reviewed by the College, which may take approximately 15 days to process.

Change to a General Certificate Between November 1 and August 31

1. Submit an application form to Change your status from Academic to General Certificate before August 1 in the year.
2. Pay the application fee of $150.
3. Confirm that you have professional liability insurance coverage.
4. Confirm that you have provided 750 hours of patient care or related work in the last three-year period.

Change of Status Timeline:

If you meet the requirements for a general certificate – 15 days
If you do not meet the requirements for a general certificate – 3-6 months

Please take the above-mentioned timeline into consideration before making any commitments to begin work if you do not meet the requirements for a general certificate.

NOTE

If you apply for a general certificate and have NOT provided 750 hours of patient care or related work in their profession in the last three years, your request to change to a general certificate must be reviewed by a panel of the Registration Committee and:

• If it has been less than five years since you practised your profession in Ontario or another jurisdiction outside of Ontario, you must complete a 6-month term of mentored practise when your general certificate is reinstated.
• If it has been five years or more since you practised your profession in Ontario or another jurisdiction outside of Ontario, you must:
  • Pass the Canadian Entry to Practice (CETP) Exam before your general certificate is reinstated; and
  • Successfully complete a 6-month term of mentored practise when your general certificate is reinstated.