The RCSLT participated in a november 2019 meeting with the other federations in Orlando, Florida, to recalibrate the agreement in light of recent regulatory changes in some MRA countries. There has been a general consensus that this is a positive initiative that benefits members of all associations, and we all recognize that international language therapy staff is becoming more mobile. To obtain mutual recognition, S-LPs must complete their professional training in a country that has signed the MRA AND fall into one of the following categories: applicants for whom English is not their mother tongue must also provide documents or proof of knowledge of English necessary for competent clinical practice in the country of the new association. The MRA does not apply to national, national, provincial or territorial licences or registrations that may be necessary for the exercise of a particular jurisdiction. NZSTA members who wish to apply for mutual recognition of their certificates from another signatory association should contact the national office of the association from which they wish to obtain certification or membership. However, it was also agreed that improvements could be made to make MRI more durable in the future. Each MRA federation has set a work plan for the future. Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited (Speech Pathology Australia) www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au Participation in the MRA has many benefits for RCSLT members – employers in MRA countries know that you have completed language and language training with a similar level to their own SLTs, and you know that the country has a similar field of activity to the UK. It also facilitates the exchange of information and practices between SLT colleagues at the international level.
The Mutual Recognition of Credentials Agreement (MRA) was established in 2004 by the American Speech Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC), the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and the Speech Pathology Association of Australia (SPA). In 2008, the New Zealand Speech-language Therapists` Association (NZSTA) and the Irish Language Therapists Association (IASLT) were included in this agreement. You can access the MRA if you are a RCSLT certified member, if you have obtained your university degree in language and language therapy in the UK and if you have completed the RCSLT NQP framework. For more information. The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, is considered a founding document of Aotearoa/New Zealand and is an agreement between Māori Hapū (sub-tribes of the Māori people) and the New Zealand government. Māori is the original tribal population of New Zealand and currently accounts for about 16% of the total population. New Zealand Speech-language Therapists Association (NZSTA) The MRA allows SAC-certified S-LPs to access expedited certification or full membership procedures in the national associations of linguistic pathology in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. If you plan to practice in Aotearoa New Zealand, it is highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with the contract. Most employers require candidates to understand the effects of the contract, the principles of biculturalism, and the impact on clinical practice as speech-language pathologists in New Zealand. Knowledge of the contract will also help you better understand the social dynamics in Aotearoa New Zealand and create a framework to ensure that you implement the principles of participation, partnership and protection of Tangata Whaiora (clients) and Whānau (family), which are professionally supported by speech-language pathologists….