Entry-to-Practice Exams for Audiology & SLP Applicants

Educational Testing Service (ETS), is an experienced global leader in developing, administering, and scoring high-stakes entry-to-practice examinations, including the Praxis Exams for audiology and speech-language pathology that are written by thousands of applicants worldwide each year.

No, this is not an issue for Alberta applicants. ACSLPA has conducted extensive due diligence to ensure suitability and fairness of the Praxis Exams. The process included assessing suitability with support from a psychometrician, cross referencing competency profiles that ACSLPA has accepted as core standards of practice with standards the Praxis Exams are based on, conducting score setting exercises with subject matter experts from each profession to determine appropriate Praxis passing scores for Canadian candidates, and other elements.

During the course of the exam you will encounter a small number of questions that touch on specific pieces of American legislation and/or professional practice concepts that are not relevant in the Canadian practice context (for example, questions might mention “Medicaid” or “Medicare”, or specific health insurance billing codes). While you are encouraged to do your best on all questions, the passing score for the exam has been adjusted by a panel of Canadian subject matter experts to ensure that you are not penalized for wrong answers on the questions that do not reflect Canadian legislation and/or professional practice concepts. Your knowledge of Alberta legislation and professional practice concepts will be demonstrated separately when you complete the jurisprudence component of your application process.

Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) is the national association supporting and representing speech-language pathologists, audiologists and communication health assistants in Canada.  They are the administrator of the Canadian Entry-to-Practice (CETP) examinations in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

A maximum of three attempts at the exam will be allowed, after which a cooling off period of 6 months will be imposed during which the application will be placed on hold. You can make up to 3 attempts at the approved exams regardless of the exam or combination of exams you choose to attempt. For example, you attempt Exam A and fail on the first attempt. You have two remaining exam attempts. You can then attempt Exam B. Should you fail you now have one remaining exam attempt at either Exam A or Exam B.

The next examination result that will be considered for application must take place a minimum of 6 months from the date of the third consecutive failure. A 6 month cooling off period will be imposed for every subsequent failure to a maximum of two years from the date of the initial application, at which time the registration application will be denied.

Authorization of a fourth attempt at the entry exam without a cooling off period will be considered based on extenuating circumstances including illness, illness of an immediate family member, or sudden or unexpected changes to one’s personal circumstances. ACSLPA reserves the right to request verification in the form of a medical certificate or other supportive documentation as required.

Should it come to light that an applicant who passed the exam did so without following the prescribed attempt limits and cooling off periods, an additional period of supervised practice may be imposed by the Registration Committee for the purpose of confirming competence. This will be evaluated and documented on a case-by-case basis.

Writing either a Praxis Exam or the CEPT Exam should not affect your future ability to work in other provinces. While some provinces require the CETP Exam currently, all provinces and territories are signatories to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) which allows for inter-provincial labour mobility. The CFTA requires that workers registered in a regulated occupation in one jurisdiction be able to work anywhere in Canada without significant additional training, experience, examinations, or assessment.

At this time, Alberta continues to await amendments to the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Profession Regulation (SLPAPR), which are required prior to the implementation of an entry-to-practice exam for all applicants (including Canadian trained individuals). Until further notice, successful completion of the CETP Exam or the Praxis Exam is NOT an ACSLPA requirement for applicants who have graduated from Canadian accredited university programs.

As per inter-provincial mobility agreements, applicants to Alberta who are currently registered in good standing with another provincial SLP/Audiology regulatory body in Canada (BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NB, NL, NS) will NOT be required to write the CETP or the Praxis Exams.

Individuals were typically allowed up to three attempts at the SAC Exam and were given a two-year timeframe in which to complete their registration. As the Praxis and the CETP are new exams, if you submit a new application and the Registration Committee approves it, you can make three regular attempts at the approved exams, regardless of the exam or combination of exams you choose to attempt. For example, you attempt Exam A and fail on the first attempt. You have two remaining exam attempts. You can then attempt Exam B. Should you fail you now have one remaining exam attempt at either Exam A or Exam B. All exam attempts must be completed within the original timeframe.