In Ontario, anyone who calls themselves a speech-language pathologist, speech therapist or SLP must be registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). Registration is public, free to check and takes about two minutes. This guide walks through it.

Why the title is protected

The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Act, 1991 makes “speech-language pathologist”, “speech therapist” and “audiologist” restricted titles. That covers variations, abbreviations such as SLP or S-LP, and equivalents in other languages such as orthophoniste. It is also an offence for an unregistered person to hold themselves out as qualified to practise, with fines of up to $25,000 for a first offence.

Protection exists because registration is the public’s guarantee that the person:

  • holds a master’s degree or equivalent in speech-language pathology,
  • passed the Canadian Entry-to-Practice exam or an equivalent assessment,
  • carries professional liability insurance,
  • completes continuing education and quality assurance each year, and
  • can be investigated and disciplined if something goes wrong.

Students completing a speech-language pathology degree, new graduates waiting for registration, and communicative disorders assistants are not registrants. They may work under supervision, but they cannot use the titles or offer services on their own.

Step by step: checking the register

  1. Open the CASLPO Public Register.
  2. Type the person’s last name. If you only know a first name or a clinic name, try the clinic’s name in the practice location field.
  3. Open the matching profile. Confirm the profession says speech-language pathologist (not audiologist), and the status says the certificate is current.
  4. Look for any terms, conditions or limitations on the certificate, and any notations about discipline, suspensions or a history of findings. A clean profile shows none.
  5. Note the registration number. Clinics and insurers often ask for it, and it is a quick way to confirm you have the right person when two registrants share a name.

If a clinician works at a clinic, every speech-language pathologist at that clinic should appear individually. The clinic itself is not what is registered.

What the profile tells you

The register shows the registrant’s name, registration number, certificate class (general, academic or initial), registration date, practice locations, languages of service, and whether there are any conditions or discipline history. It does not show areas of focus, years of experience or client feedback. CASLPO’s Advertising Standards prohibit registrants from using testimonials and reviews, so the register and a conversation with the clinician are your main sources of information.

Red flags worth noticing

  • A website or directory listing that uses the words “speech therapy” or “SLP” but names no individual clinician.
  • Someone who describes themselves as a “speech coach”, “communication consultant” or “speech specialist” while offering assessment or treatment of speech or language disorders. Those are not protected titles, which is exactly why they sometimes get used to avoid registration.
  • Reluctance to share a registration number.
  • Claims to be an “expert”, “the best” or to promise results. Registrants are not permitted to advertise that way.

What to do if someone is not registered

Ask for their registration number and check again, in case of a name variation. If they are offering speech-language pathology services in Ontario without registration, CASLPO asks that you contact [email protected]. CASLPO also publishes a list of individuals it has identified as unregistered.

If you are looking for a registered clinician

The same register has a “Find a registered professional” search that lets you filter by city, language and area of practice. Ontario families with children who have not yet started school can also self-refer to a free, publicly funded Preschool Speech and Language Program. Our guide to getting speech therapy in Ontario covers both routes.

Sources

How this guide was written

Written by the Speechie team. Every clinical claim is tied to a published source listed above. Guides are reviewed when the underlying guidance changes and the date shown above reflects the last substantive update. This is general information, not individual advice, and not a substitute for assessment by a registered speech-language pathologist. In Ontario, families can self-refer to their local Preschool Speech and Language Program at no cost.