Licensing guide · British Columbia

How to Become a Speech-language Pathologist in British Columbia

Last checked 4 sources checkedNOC 31112

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC to work as a speech-language pathologist in British Columbia or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
Speech-Language Pathologist, SLP
Show the source
“To practise as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in British Columbia, you must hold a licence with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC).”

From chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology, checked October 11, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $1,000

  1. After the master's degree has been conferred, the applicant arranges for official master's program transcripts showing Awarded or Conferred to be sent directly from the university to CHCPBC.

    Source
    “After your master’s degree has been conferred (i.e., awarded), arrange to have your official master’s program transcripts sent directly from the university to CHCPBC, either by email to [email protected] or by mail to CHCPBC.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

  2. The applicant completes a criminal record check, with payment accepted by credit card in the Licensee Portal.

    Source
    “2. Criminal record check Payment is accepted by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) in the Licensee Portal.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

  3. The applicant creates an account on the CHCPBC Licensee Portal and submits the application with the required documents.

    Source
    “may apply for licensure as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) by having the documents listed below ready and creating an account on the CHCPBC Licensee Portal to submit your application.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

  4. Staff conduct an initial review of the application and, if satisfactory, submit it to the Registrar for final approval.

    Source
    “After you have submitted your application, staff will conduct an initial review of the application. The sooner all of your required documentation is received by CHCPBC, the sooner the College can process your application. If satisfactory, your application will be submitted to the Registrar for final approval.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CHCPBC

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $1,000 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $1,000

  1. The applicant has the required documents ready and creates an account on the CHCPBC Licensee Portal to submit the application.

    Source
    “To apply, have the documents listed below ready and create an account on the CHCPBC Licensee Portal to submit your application.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/audiology

  2. Staff conduct an initial review of the application and, if satisfactory, submit it to the Registrar for final approval.

    Source
    “After you have submitted your application, staff will conduct an initial review of the application. The sooner all of your required documentation is received by CHCPBC, the sooner the College can process your application. If satisfactory, your application will be submitted to the Registrar for final approval.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CHCPBC

2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $1,000 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 3 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $1,000
  • Listed time: 1.4 to 1.8 months (only 1 of 3 steps state a time)

  1. Once the assessment fee and required supporting documentation have been received, the applicant's education, clinical training, and/or professional practice experience is reviewed by the Licence Committee.

    Time: 6 to 8 weeks
    Time source
    “Estimated timeline: Approximately 6–8 weeks after all required documentation and fees have been received.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology
    Source
    “Once the assessment fee and required supporting documentation have been received, your education, clinical training, and/or professional practice experience will be reviewed by the Licence Committee.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

  2. If the Licence Committee determines substantial equivalency, the applicant may be eligible to apply for licensure as an SLP with CHCPBC and will be invited to do so.

    Source
    “If your equivalency assessment is complete and the Licence Committee determines that you have demonstrated substantial equivalency to the entry-to-practice requirements in British Columbia, you may be eligible to apply for licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist with CHCPBC and will be invited to:”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

  3. Once all licensure requirements have been met, the applicant is invited to pay the applicable licence fee through the CHCPBC Portal.

    Source
    “Once all licensure requirements have been met, you will be invited to pay the applicable licence fee outlined in the CHCPBC Fee Schedule through the CHCPBC Portal.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/audiology

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CHCPBC

3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $1,000 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • Internationally educated applicants must have completed a post-secondary speech-language pathology program and education and clinical training that meets or exceeds the requirements in Schedule 8 of the CHCPBC Bylaws.

    Source
    “You may be eligible to apply for licensure as an SLP under the CHCPBC Bylaws, effective April 1, 2026, if you: - completed a post-secondary speech-language pathology program; and - completed education and clinical training that meets or exceeds the requirements set out in Schedule 8 of the CHCPBC Bylaws.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

Police check

  • Canadian-educated applicants must complete a criminal record check as part of the application.

    Source
    “2. Criminal record check Payment is accepted by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) in the Licensee Portal.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

Other

  • Applicants for labour mobility must be in good standing with the relevant regulatory body in their current jurisdiction.

    Source
    “Full licensure to practise in BC to speech-language pathologists (SLPs) with an equivalent licensure status in another Canadian jurisdiction, who are in good standing with the relevant regulatory body in that jurisdiction and who meet the licensure requirements set out below; and”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

  • Applicants for Full licensure must successfully complete the required entry-to-practice examination.

    Source
    “Passing an approved CHCPBC entry-to-practice examination is a mandatory requirement under the CHCPBC Bylaws for Full licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP).”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

The College grants Full licensure to practise in BC to speech-language pathologists with an equivalent licensure status in another Canadian jurisdiction who are in good standing with that jurisdiction's regulatory body and meet the licensure requirements.

Source
“Full licensure to practise in BC to speech-language pathologists (SLPs) with an equivalent licensure status in another Canadian jurisdiction, who are in good standing with the relevant regulatory body in that jurisdiction and who meet the licensure requirements set out below; and”
chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Exams

  • CETP Exam

    Source
    “Passing an approved CHCPBC entry-to-practice examination is a mandatory requirement under the CHCPBC Bylaws for Full licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). The following examinations are currently approved by CHCPBC for this requirement: CETP Exam Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) administers the CETP Examination.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Supervised practice

Required

Once a Provisional Licence has been issued, the licensee must practise under the supervision of a College-approved supervisor.

Source
“Once your Provisional Licence has been issued, you must practise under the supervision of a College-approved supervisor.”
chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 31112, Audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in British Columbia and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
British Columbia $38.46 $47.00 $75.00 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $33.33 $46.15 $59.52 —

Wages by region and job outlook in British Columbia

Wages in every province and territory

Speech-language pathologists in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 6 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare speech-language pathologist licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 11, 2026.

  1. Speech-Language Pathology | CHCPBC chcpbc.org/applicants/speech-language-pathology · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Audiology | CHCPBC chcpbc.org/applicants/audiology · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Questions and answers about the CHCPBC Fee Restructuring Project | CHCPBC chcpbc.org/2025/10/23/questions-and-answers-about-the-chcpbc-fee-re... · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Certified Practices | CHCPBC chcpbc.org/licensees/certified-practices · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a speech-language pathologist in British Columbia?

Yes. Registration with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC is required to practise in British Columbia, and to use the title Speech-Language Pathologist or SLP.

Which exams are required?

CETP Exam.

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