Application information for new graduates

New graduate applications are now open!

If you have just finished your speech pathology course and are applying for Certified Practising membership (CPSP) for the first time, you can apply for a 12 month new graduate membership now. If you have any questions, please contact our membership team.

Applications are processed in the order they are received. To be fair to all applicants, we are unable to fast track applications. To ensure a smooth process please ensure that all required documentation has been uploaded to your application.

Have you recently completed your course?

Joining the Association as a new graduate opens the door to exclusive benefits, including professional recognition as a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist (CPSP). With membership, you’ll gain access to valuable resources, professional development opportunities, and mentorship programs that will strengthen your skills and knowledge as you embark on your career. You’ll also receive invitations to networking events that foster industry connections, along with discounts on insurance and financial services, essential for a successful start in speech pathology.

Speech Pathology Australia’s membership year runs from 1 July to 30 June, with renewal payments due annually. If you are applying for membership between 1 June and 30 November you will join for one year, and if you are applying between 1 December and 31 May your membership will run for 18 months to bring you in line with the membership year.

Membership fees are set for the full period and are not prorated, so the earlier you apply the better value you’ll get.

How much will my new graduate membership cost?

New graduates applying now will receive an 12-month membership, running from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. Membership fees are set for the full membership period and are not prorated. Members applying partway through the year will be charged the full 12-month fee.

Current student members may receive a discount on their new graduate membership if ALL of the following criteria are met:

If any of the eligibility requirements are not met, no discount will apply.

If applying for new graduate membership after 1 July, you must have renewed your student membership and have paid in full for the year to be eligible to receive the discount.

The discount will be automatically applied for eligible student members. Members who receive a discount will only be shown the reduced price; the discount level will not display.

If you select to pay in monthly or quarterly instalments, a $25 administration fee will apply which will be added to the annual fee listed above, with the total balance then split into equal invoices. The first payment will be made when you apply and will be applied to that month or quarter. The number of instalments will change depending on how many payments are remaining in the membership period, but the total amount due remains the same. There may be a slight variance in the total amount paid due to the way payments are split. Please see the table below for an indication of how many payments will be made.

This table is a guide only and is subject to change. Members paying in instalments will have any changes to their payments communicated in advance in accordance with the Recurring Payment Service Agreement.

Quarterly payments are due in July, October, January, and April.

No monthly payment is taken in the last month of the membership period. The final monthly payment will be taken in May.

How to apply

You don’t have to wait for graduation, you can apply as soon as you receive your course completion documents!

When you apply, you’ll need to provide evidence of your degree. This can be done in one of two ways:

• You can provide a link to your documents through the My eQuals portal (if you set a PIN, please make sure you provide this with your application)
• You can upload a pdf of your testamur or official transcript. This must be either a digital file secured by your university or a certified copy of the original document.

If you have completed your course but don’t have access to the documents listed above, please contact our membership team to discuss your options.

For further information, see What evidence of course completion is acceptable?

If you’re a current student member, you may be entitled to a discount on your new graduate membership. To make sure you receive the maximum possible discount, please ensure that you are logged into your existing account, and if your student membership is paid in instalments, you will need to email [email protected] to request an invoice for the remaining balance of your student fees prior to beginning the form or the discount will not apply.

When will my membership be approved?

Membership applications are processed in the order they are received and are typically reviewed by our team within 10 business days. If we don’t receive sufficient evidence with your application, you will be contacted by phone or email and significant delays may occur. 

Applications will not be processed during this period so please apply early to avoid further delays.

What does CPSP mean?

The Certification Program ensures that speech pathologists provide safe, culturally responsive, effective, and evidence-based services. New graduates join the Association as CPSP with provisional status. This is a transitional status prior to progressing to Full Certification. CPSP status allows speech pathologists to provide services under funding schemes like Medicare, private health funds, the Commonwealth Home Support Program, and in certain NDIS contexts (e.g., when working for a registered NDIS provider). 

Each year, you will need to renew your membership and declare your hours of learning for the previous membership period. All CPSPs must engage in a minimum of 20 hours of learning each year that includes the following learning activities:

1. a minimum of 2 hours receipt of professional support
2. a minimum of 2 hours of cultural learning i.e., learning that supports cultural responsiveness and culturally safe practice with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities.

You can read more about your ongoing certification requirements here. You will need to meet these requirements each year, regardless of whether you are transitioning to full CPSP or renewing with provisional status.

What are the provisional requirements?

Provisional status must be held for a minimum of 12 months. To transition to Full Certification, speech pathologists with Provisional Certification must complete the following: 

• minimum of 12 hours of supervision or mentoring from a more experienced speech pathologist. At least 6 of the 12 supervision or mentoring hours must be earned in 1:1 interactions (i.e., not group supervision or mentoring) 
• completion of the ethics education requirements specified by the Association
•  completion of the evidence-based practice education requirements specified by the Association
•  accrual of a minimum of 200 speech pathology practice hours.

The requirements to transition to Full Certification must be completed within 3 years of speech pathology degree completion, or by the next membership renewal period. 

If you have met the requirements, have held provisional status for at least 12 months and are moving overseas prior to your next renewal, please contact [email protected] for assistance. Otherwise, once you have met the requirements, when you renew to move to full certification.

View How to transition to Full CPSP

Where can I go for support?

Our Early career support page contains resources which will help as you get started in your new career. 

If you have any questions about your membership or need help with your application, please contact our membership team on 1300 368 835 or by emailing [email protected] and we will be happy to assist.