The signatory associations agreed that there are many advantages for the international community to lay the groundwork for mutual recognition of the qualifications of language pathologists certified by the six signatory associations. They acknowledged that increased trade and mobility between Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States had increased the need and desire for a mechanism for holders of association certificates to be recognized and certified by other associations. NZSTA members who wish to apply for mutual recognition of their titles from another association of signatories must apply to the national office of the association with which they wish to obtain certification or membership. The agreement allows members of signatory associations to apply for mutual recognition of their qualifications from another association of signatories. The condition of substantial equivalence is the basis of the agreement, i.e. that, under certain conditions, a person`s deposit information is considered essentially equivalent (MRA updated in 2017). This is not equality or reciprocity, as each of the signatory associations has specific requirements for applicants. You can access the MRA if you are a certified rcslt member, have completed your language and language degree in the UK and have completed the RCSLT NQP framework. More information.
The MRA agreement does not apply to national, government, provincial or territorial authorizations or registrations that may be required to practice in a particular jurisdiction. The revised MRA was signed and came into effect on November 10, 2017. Certified persons applying for certification from one of the other signatory associations after this date of the validity review can do so through this agreement. The MRA provides SAC-certified S-LPs with access to expedited application procedures for certification or full membership in national professional language pathology organizations in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. As a member of the MRA, there are many benefits for RCSLT members – employers in MRA countries know that you have completed language and language courses with a standard similar to that of their own LTS, and you know that the country has a practical scope similar to that of the United Kingdom. In addition, it facilitates the exchange of information and practices between SLT colleagues at the international level. The MRA provides certified or full-fledged members of national professional language pathology organizations in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America to have access to expedited application procedures for CSA membership and certification. To obtain mutual recognition, S-LPs must have completed their vocational training in a country that is signed to the MRA.
In short, the MRA notes that while full membership or certification in linguistic pathology has been awarded by a professional organization, all other professional organizations linked to the MRA recognize that the certified person is qualified to work in his or her country. The MRA for Language Pathologists (S-LP) allows mutual recognition of the substantial equivalence of certification or full membership in the following associations: The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) [PDF] is an agreement between the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (USA), speech-Languageology Audiology Canada (SAC), the Royal College of Speech and Language , Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (Ireland) and New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists` Association (Incorporated) recognize the essential equivalence of language pathology certification programs, which they carry out respectively; on the other. To achieve mutual recognition, S-LPs must have completed their vocational training in a country that has signed the MRA and one of the following categories: however, it has also been agreed that improvements can be made to make the MRA more useful in the future.