From 1 July 2022 a new Certification Program came into effect to replace the Professional Self-Regulation (PSR) program. The Certification program still includes recency of practice (RoP) and continuing professional development (CPD) requirements.
From June 2023, to renew as a Certified Practising member, speech pathologists will submit a minimum of 20 hours of learning which includes at least 2 hours of cultural learning and 2 hours of professional support, to maintain certification.
The requirements regarding the minimum number of practice hours per specified period have not changed. However, the definition of speech pathology practice and scope of practice have been updated which may impact the number of hours some speech pathologists can report. The definition of practice is outlined on the Certification Program page and in the Scope of Practice.
Make sure you have met the CPD requirements when you renew your membership i.e., a minimum of 20 hours of learning that must include at least 2 hours of professional support and 2 hours of cultural learning.
CPD points earned between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2022 can be submitted as CPD hours of learning when you renew your membership in 2023. For example, 10 CPD points earned between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2022 can be recorded as 10 CPD hours of learning.
Make sure you have met the CPD requirements by the time you renew your membership at the end of your extension period. i.e., you must have earned a minimum of 20 hours of learning that includes at least 2 hours of professional support and 2 hours of cultural learning.
You can claim CPD hours of learning for providing professional support or student supervision if you have learnt something new, or your current skills or knowledge have been strengthened or enhanced through these interactions. CPD hours of learning for provision of professional support or student supervision can be recorded under the ‘Other learning’ category (Code O).
The Association is not prescriptive about what your CPD plan or goals look like. The Association recognises that people plan in different ways and that not all CPD is planned.
No, professional support can be provided by an experienced speech pathologist or another professional with expertise in the clinical or professional area in which support is needed.
The Association's Professional Support position statement provides more details about different forms of professional support.
Within three years of degree completion (or by the following membership renewal period), Provisional Certified Practising speech pathologists must accrue a minimum of 200 practice hours, receive at least 12 hours of supervision or mentoring from an experienced speech pathologist and complete the specified Ethics and Evidence-Based Practice education modules. At least six of the minimum 12 hours of supervision or mentoring must be in a 1:1 setting.
No, a practice hour extension is not available. It is strongly recommended that members who are planning extended leave from the profession and would like to maintain CPSP status be aware of their recency of practice and CPD obligations. Please contact Speech Pathology Australia if you have questions.
If your practice hours have been affected by extenuating circumstances and you will not be able to meet the recency of practice requirement, you can apply for special consideration. Please refer to the Association's Policy No 2.17 for information on how to apply.
If you cannot access a membership certificate it is likely that your membership status is Non-Certified. A membership certificate is not issued to Non-Certified members. The membership status of members who submit fewer than 20 CPD hours of learning without an extension is automatically updated to Non-Certified.
Yes, documentary evidence can now be uploaded to the My CPD Log. One document up to 10MB can be uploaded per entry.
The changes were introduced in response to member feedback and to align the Certification Program with the Professional Standards (2020), the Code of Ethics (2020) and to support the aspirations of the profession as outlined in Speech Pathology 2030: making futures happen (2016).
Yes, the CPD requirements apply to all Certified Practising speech pathologists, including those with Provisional certification.
Certified Practising speech pathologists must retain their CPD records and evidence for two membership years in case they are selected for an audit.
You can claim CPD hours of learning for preparing or delivering a presentation or workshop if you have learnt something new, or your current skills or knowledge have been strengthened or enhanced through these activities. Speech pathologists are encouraged to refer to the Association's definition of CPD when discerning if an activity can be claimed as CPD.
You can claim CPD hours of learning for active participation in Association business if you have learnt something new, or your current skills or knowledge have been strengthened or enhanced through these activities. Speech pathologists are encouraged to refer to the Association's definition of CPD when discerning if an activity can be claimed as CPD.
No, ‘cultural learning’ refers specifically to learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and ways of knowing, being and doing.
Learning about other cultures can be recorded under other learning (Code O).
If you submit less than 20 hours of learning at renewal, without an extension in place, your membership status will be updated to Non-Certified. Non-Certified membership is time limited.
If you cannot declare that you have met the applicable recency of practice requirement, you cannot renew as a Certified Practising member. You have the option of renewing as a Non-Certified member (if you have previously been eligible for full CPSP) or applying for Re-entry membership.
The Association's Policy No 10.06 outlines the criteria for a CPD extension. Extensions may be granted to members:
An extension allows members an additional 1 membership year to meet the minimum CPD requirement. When the extension period has lapsed, members must have submitted at least 20 CPD hours of learning including at least 2 hours of cultural learning and 2 hours of professional support over the two membership years to maintain CPSP status.
It is not permitted to have an extension two membership years in a row.
If you are eligible for an extension, mark the relevant box on the Certification Program declaration form when you renew.
No, you do not need to submit a CPD log or evidence when you renew your membership. However, if you are selected for an audit you will be required to submit evidence. Speech Pathology Australia audits 5% of Certified Practising members annually. This is a requirement of the National Alliance of Self-Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP).