New Zealand Speech Language Therapists’ Association



New Zealand Speech Language Therapists’ Association

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QUALIFICATIONS APPROVAL GUIDELINES

July 2007

INTRODUCTION

The NZSTA has created a clear and specific Qualifications Approval procedure. The procedure guides the Executive Officer and the Qualifications Approval Committee when reviewing Full Membership applications. It also serves to demonstrate to applicants and to related professional bodies that the NZSTA has a robust procedure in place for assessing qualifications. This document is supported by the NZSTA Qualifications Approval Checklist and the NZSTA Guidelines for Provisional Membership.

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES

The Qualifications Approval Procedure is used when assessing applications for Full Membership. If the criteria for Full Membership are not met then an individual may be granted Provisional Membership.

A. Full Membership

The following persons are eligible to be or to become full members of the NZSTA:-

i. Every therapist trained in New Zealand with a Teachers’ Certificate endorsed with qualifications in Speech-Language Therapy, or with a Diploma in Speech-Language Therapy awarded prior to 1993. Dysphagia competency must be demonstrated.

ii. Every New Zealand trained Speech-Language Therapist holding the Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy awarded by the University of Canterbury prior to January 2004.

iii. Every New Zealand trained Speech-Language Therapist holding a Bachelor of Speech-Language Therapy or an equivalent Masters degree from an NZSTA accredited programme.

iv. Every speech-language therapist of recognised training whose qualifications are approved by the NZSTA Qualifications Approval Committee.

Full Members in any of the above categories must meet the Full Membership Criteria (outlined below).

B. Provisional Membership

The following persons are eligible to be or to become provisional members of the NZSTA:-

i. Graduates of an NZSTA accredited programme in their first year of practice.

ii. Individuals who have not practiced in speech-language therapy for five years or more.

iii. Individuals who do not meet the criteria for Full Membership but are in the process of completing the requirements for Full Membership.

QUALIFICATIONS APPROVAL COMMITTEE

The Professional Standards Portfolio Leader and the President sit on the Qualifications Approval Committee (QAC). The Executive Officer assists the QAC in processing membership applications.

FULL MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA

i. A minimum of 2 years clinical Speech-Language Therapy experience, the most recent of which must be less than 5 years ago, i.e. at least one of the two years of clinical experience must be within the last five years.

ii. Demonstrated competency in communication disorders and dysphagia.

iii. Evidence of Continuing Professional Development Record.

iv. Meet English Language Requirements; if the Speech-Language Therapy qualification was completed in a language other than English or if English is a second language, i.e. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)Academic option, score of 8 or above in all four modules and a minimum of 8.5 in the spoken module,

Exceptions

i. Graduates of NZSTA accredited programmes who complete a year of Provisional Membership (as per the NZSTA Guidelines) as entry-level therapists may be granted Full Membership after 1 year of clinical practice. One year is defined as no less than 36 weeks of professional fulltime employment, with 30 hrs/week constituting fulltime employment.

Note: Graduates of NZSTA accredited programmes who do not complete an entry-level year as a Provisional Member will be required to meet the Full Membership Criteria.

PROCESSING APPLICATIONS

i. Applications are processed by the Executive Officer within 5 working days of receipt of application.

ii. The Executive Officer completes the Qualifications Approval Checklist and requests more information from the applicant if necessary.

iii. If an applicant does not meet the minimum IELTS score of 8 their application will not be processed further until they meet the minimum requirement.

iv. The checklist and supporting documentation are forwarded to the QAC.

v. The QAC reviews the application. The following outcomes are possible:-

a. The application is approved and Full Membership is granted.

b. Provisional Membership is granted if the criteria for Full Membership have not been met.

c. Additional information is sought from the applicant prior to approving or declining the application.

d. The application is reviewed by a senior academic from an NZSTA accredited programme if the QAC has concerns regarding educational standards of the applicant. A decision is then made by the QAC based on the recommendations.

e. The application is denied.

vi. If the applicant has less than 2 years clinical experience they must provide evidence in the form of a signed Clinical Hours Log from the University programme attended. This log must show:-

a. A minimum of 300 hours clinical experience, only 25 hours may be observation.

b. Experience across a range of disorders, both communication and swallowing.

c. Experience with a range of client groups from childhood through adulthood.

vii. Applicants are advised in writing of the outcome of their application.

viii. Where Provisional Membership is granted the following conditions apply:-

a. An individual with less than 2 years clinical experience must complete 12 months as a Provisional Member, in adherence to the NZSTA Provisional Membership Guidelines.

b. An individual with less than 300 hours clinical experience as a Speech-Language Therapy student must complete the required supervised hours within 3 months.

c. An individual who meets the minimum IELTS score of 8 must complete 12 months as a Provisional Member, in adherence to the NZSTA Provisional Membership Guidelines.

d. An individual who does not meet the “Five-Year Rule” must complete 12 months as a Provisional Member, in adherence to the NZSTA Provisional Membership Guidelines.

APPEALS

The decision of the Qualifications Approval Committee is final. Applicants may not appeal the decision.

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