The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Manitoba (CASLPM)’s mission is to protect and serve the public by regulating and ensuring competent, safe and ethical practice of audiologists and speech-language pathologists in Manitoba.
Passing qualifying exams is a typical requirement to enter many professions including physiotherapy, dentistry, medicine, law, etc. This helps ensure consistent competency and standards for those practicing in Canada – regardless of the educational institution attended – and is in the best interests of the public.
For these reasons, CASLPM has been working with the Canadian Alliance of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Regulators (CAASPR) for many years to develop and implement a mandatory, national standardized competency exam for both Canadian and international applicants.
In November 2020, an inaugural CETP exam was administered to recently graduated practitioners with Provisional Registration in Manitoba. CASLPM established that passing is a requirement to receive Full Registration.
Due to exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which included exam date delays, CASLPM felt it unfair to postpone graduates from obtaining work in their field and so all registrants were granted provisional registration prior to passing the CETP exam.
CASLPM had every expectation that most, if not all, registrants would pass the exam — presuming competence of graduates of approved university programs, and given that the exam was primarily based on the former Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) certification exam, which had been successfully administered for decades. Unfortunately, there were a few Manitoba exam writers who did not pass the exam. Consequently, CASLPM cancelled their certificates of practice.
After their certificates of practice were cancelled, issues arose at the national level between CAASPR (the exam administrator) and SAC (the exam vendor) and their members. As such, CASLPM decided to offer provisional registration to registrants who did not pass the exam, allowing them to return to work under the guidance of mentors. Provisional registration was also granted to new graduates who had yet to write the exam.
The June 2021 sitting of the CETP examination was not required for Provisional Registrants. This was to provide the Council the opportunity to review practices across Canada following the recent changes in the national regulatory landscape.
After considerable deliberation and consultation, the Council has decided to amend its General Regulation to The Regulated Health Professions Act to require the passage of the CETP exam as a condition of Provisional Registration. However, there are several steps that must be taken before the General Regulation can be amended.
As of September 2021, current Provisional Registrants will not be required to write and pass the CETP Exam as a condition of their registration. However, CASLPM strongly encourages all Provisional Registrants to write the exam. The exam is the ideal method for a Provisional Registrant to determine areas of competency and areas for improvement as they begin their career. Individuals who wish to write the CETP exam should contact CASLPM for information on how to apply to write the exam.
CASLPM Council believes strongly in the value and integrity of the CETP exam as part of an assessment process for our professions. The exam is responsive to the College’s mandate of public protection and provides the opportunity to evaluate the ethical and professional understanding, content and knowledge and/or learning and practice of a candidate. It is neutral, valid and focused. The CETP exam was designed using the Blueprint developed by all Canadian regulators which was based on the National Competency Profiles for the Practices for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. To view the National Competency Profiles and the CETP Exam Blueprints please click here.
The CASLPM Council continues to develop plans for continued use of the CETP Exam in the future.
Please contact the Acting Registrar at caslpmregistrar@caslpm.ca, if you have any questions or concerns about this or any other CASLPM matter.
