Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Regulations

made under Sections 4, 13 and 14 of the

Regulated Health Professions Act

S.N.S. 2023, c. 15

O.I.C. 2025-225 (effective September 15, 2025), N.S. Reg. 148/2025

Table of Contents

Please note: this table of contents is provided for convenience of reference and does not form part of the regulations.
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Nova Scotia College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists continued

Bylaw authorization

Public representatives on Board

Composition of registration and licensing panel

Scope of Practice

Scope of practice of audiology

Scope of practice of speech-language pathology

Scope of practice of designations and licensing categories

Registration and Licensing

Practising licence categories

Conditional licence categories

Application and criteria for registration in practising register

Criteria for practising licence

Criteria for registration in conditional register

Criteria for conditional licence

Practice and Title Use Restrictions, Services Not Prohibited and Publication Restrictions

Restriction on practice of audiology

Restriction on practice of speech-language pathology

Restriction on use of “audiologist” title, description or designation

Restriction on use of “speech-language pathologist” title, description or designation

Restriction on use of bylaw licensing category title, description or designation

Services not prohibited by Act, regulations or bylaws

Restriction on use of title or designation in advertisement or publication

Fines

Professional conduct fine maximum

Interpretation

Citation

1 These regulations may be cited as the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Regulations.

Definitions

2 In these regulations,

“Act” means the Regulated Health Professions Act;

“Board” is further defined to mean the board of the Regulator;

“competency framework” means a framework approved by the Board establishing the competencies that registrants are required to possess to practise safely and ethically within the scope of practice of their designation or licensing category;

“former Act” is further defined to mean Chapter 3 of the Acts of 2015, the Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists Act;

“General Regulations” means the Regulated Health Professions General Regulations made under the Act;

“hearing test” means

(i) the examination of a client to screen or assess their hearing in order to quantify hearing loss, and

(ii) to use speech recognition testing for the purpose of fitting a hearing aid to a client;

“Nova Scotia College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists” means the college continued as the Nova Scotia College of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology under Section 3 of the former Act;

“registration and licensing decision maker” means the registrar, the registration and licensing committee or the registration and licensing review committee, as applicable;

“Regulator” means the Nova Scotia Regulator of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology;

“title protection” means the restriction on the use of a title associated with a particular designation or category of licence to persons who are authorized to practise within the scope of that designation or registered and licensed in that category of licence.

Regulator

Nova Scotia College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists continued

3 The Nova Scotia College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists is continued as a regulatory body under the name Nova Scotia Regulator of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology with the purpose of regulating the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology in accordance with the objects set out in Section 6 of the Act.

Bylaw authorization

4 The Regulator is authorized to make bylaws under clauses 12(2)(i), (k), (l) and (m) of the Act, in accordance with the Act and these regulations.

Public representatives on Board

5 In addition to the requirement of subsection 7(2) of the Act, the number of public representatives on the Board must be no fewer than 3 and no more than 4.

Composition of registration and licensing panel

6 In addition to the requirements of subsection 31(1) of the Act, a registration and licensing committee panel or a registration and licensing review committee panel appointed to review a matter must include at least 1 registrant of the profession that the matter relates to.

Scope of Practice

Scope of practice of audiology

7 (1) The scope of practice of audiology is the application of specialized and evidence-based audiology knowledge, skills and judgment that have been taught in an approved education program or are set out in 1 or more of the following approved by the Board:

(a) competency frameworks;

(b) standards of practice;

(2) The scope of practice of audiology as described in subsection (1) includes the performance of any or all of the following activities:

(a) assessing, identifying, treating and managing hearing loss and audiological disorders and conditions;

(b) screening for speech-language disorders;

(d) performing any other services, roles, functions and activities included in the scope of practice of the designations and licensing categories set out in the bylaws.

(3) The scope of practice of audiology also includes health promotion, research, education, inter-professional collaboration, consultation, management, administration, advocacy, regulation or system development that is related to the activities and application of specialized and evidence-based audiology knowledge, skills and judgment described in subsections (1) and (2).

Scope of practice of speech-language pathology

8 (1) The scope of practice of speech-language pathology is the application of specialized and evidence-based speech-language pathology knowledge, skills and judgment that have been taught in an approved education program or are set out in 1 or more of the following approved by the Board:

(a) competency frameworks;

(b) standards of practice;

(2) The scope of practice of speech-language pathology as described in subsection (1) includes the performance of any or all of the following activities:

(a) assessing, identifying, treating and managing communication and swallowing disorders;

(b) conducting hearing tests to identify hearing loss;

(d) performing any other services, roles, functions and activities included in the scope of practice of the designations and licensing categories set out in the bylaws.

(3) The scope of practice of speech-language pathology also includes health promotion, research, education, inter-professional collaboration, consultation, management, administration, advocacy, regulation or system development that is related to the activities and application of specialized and evidence-based speech-language pathology knowledge, skills and judgment described in subsections (1) and (2).

Scope of practice of designations and licensing categories

9 Under clauses 12(2)(k) and (l) of the Act, the Regulator may make bylaws setting out all of the following:

(a) the scope of practice of each designation and licensing category established

(i) in these regulations, and

(ii) in the bylaws;

(b) the title protection authorized for each designation and licensing category established in the bylaws.

Registration and Licensing

Practising licence categories

10 The following are the practising licence categories for audiology and speech-language pathology:

(a) audiologist practising licence;

(b) speech-language pathologist practising licence;

Conditional licence categories

11 The following are the conditional licence categories for audiology and speech-language pathology:

(a) audiologist conditional licence;

(b) speech-language pathologist conditional licence;

Application and criteria for registration in practising register

12 (1) An application required by Section 34 of the Act must be completed in the form required by the registrar.

(2) In addition to the completed application, an applicant for registration in a practising register must submit all of the following to the registrar:

(a) proof satisfactory to the registration and licensing decision maker that the applicant meets all of the following criteria, except if any or all of the criteria are waived under Section 59 of the Act:

(i) they are a graduate of 1 of the following:

(A) an education program approved for registration in the practising register in which they seek to be registered,

(B) an education program that, in the opinion of the registration and licensing decision maker, is equivalent to an education program approved for registration in the practising register in which they seek to be registered,

(C) an education program that, together with the applicant’s additional education and experience and in the opinion of the registration and licensing decision maker, provides the applicant with the competencies to practise in the scope of practice of registrants in the practising register in which they seek to be registered,

(ii) they have successfully completed any examinations required by the Board for registration in the practising register in which they seek to be registered,

(iii) they have completed a competence assessment, if directed to do so by the registration and licensing decision maker,

(iv) they have successfully completed any bridging education required for registration that was determined to be necessary by a competence assessment,

(v) they have demonstrated proficiency in the English language, in the manner prescribed by the registrar,

(vi) they are a Canadian citizen or legally entitled to live and work in Canada,

(vii) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and ethically engage in the practice of the profession in which they seek to be registered without conditions or restrictions,

(viii) they have no outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions, agreements or restrictions originating from the Regulator or any other registration or licensing authority that would preclude registration in a register other than a conditional register,

(ix) they are the person named in the documentation submitted in support of the application,

(x) under the requirements of the Act, these regulations and the bylaws, they are eligible for a practising licence that corresponds with the practising register in which they seek to be registered,

(xi) they meet any additional criteria for registration in a practising register set out in the bylaws;

(b) the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.

(3) The processing under Section 36 of the Act of an application and its associated information, documents and fee described in subsections (1) and (2) must be completed by the registrar as soon as practicable.

(4) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an application must be completed by the registration and licensing committee as soon as practicable.

Criteria for practising licence

13 (1) In addition to the completed application in a form approved by the registrar required by Section 35 of the Act, an applicant for a practising licence must submit all of the following to the registrar:

(i) they meet the registration criteria in subclauses 12(2)(a)(iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (ix),

(ii) they are registered in the practising register that corresponds with the licensing category for which they are seeking a practising licence,

(iii) they have professional liability insurance or another form of malpractice coverage or liability protection in the form and amount set by the Board,

(iv) they meet the requirements of the continuing competence program for the licensing category for which they are seeking a practising licence,

(v) they meet the currency of practice requirements for the licensing category for which they are seeking a practising licence,

(vi) they have no outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions, agreements or restrictions originating from the Regulator or any other registration or licensing authority that limit their ability to practise,

(vii) they have completed any assessments or education required by the Board for the licensing category for which they are seeking a practising licence,

(viii) they meet any additional criteria for issuing a practising licence set out in the bylaws;

(b) the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.

(2) The processing under Section 36 of the Act of an application and associated information, documents and fee described in subsection (1) must be completed by the registrar as soon as practicable.

(3) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an application must be completed by the registration and licensing committee as soon as practicable.

Criteria for registration in conditional register

14 (1) The registrar must enter the name of a person who meets all of the following in a conditional register:

(a) for an existing registrant in a practising register, they have

(i) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise, or

(ii) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process;

(b) for an applicant for registration in a register, they meet all of the following requirements:

(i) all of the criteria for registration in a practising register, other than the criteria in subclauses 12(2)(a)(vii), (viii), (x) and (xi), and except as provided in subsection (4),

(ii) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and ethically engage in the practice of the profession in which they seek to be registered with conditions or restrictions,

(iii) they have either

(A) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise, or

(B) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process,

(iv) under the requirements of the Act, these regulations and the bylaws, they are eligible for a conditional licence that corresponds with the conditional register in which they seek to be registered,

(v) any other requirements for registration in a conditional register set out in the bylaws,

(vi) they have paid the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.

(2) The processing of an application under Section 36 of the Act for an applicant described in clause (1)(b) must be completed by the registrar as soon as practicable.

(3) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an application made by an applicant described in clause (1)(b) must be completed by the registration and licensing committee as soon as practicable.

(4) An applicant who has not passed the examinations required for registration, but who otherwise meets the requirements of subsection 15(1), may be granted conditional registration by the registration and licensing decision maker pending the passing of the registration examinations.

Criteria for conditional licence

15 (1) The requirements to be met for issuing a conditional licence under Section 43 of the Act are as follows:

(a) for a person who is an existing registrant holding a practising licence, they have

(i) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise, or

(ii) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process;

(b) for an applicant for a licence, they meet all of the following requirements:

(i) all of the criteria for registration in a practising register, other than the criteria in subclauses 12(2)(a)(vii), (viii), (x) and (xi), and except as provided in subsection (4),

(ii) they are registered in a conditional register that corresponds with the licensing category for which they are seeking a conditional licence,

(iii) the requirements for a practising licence in subclauses 13(1)(a)(iii) and (vii),

(iv) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and ethically engage in the practice of the profession in which they seek to be licensed with conditions or restrictions,

(v) any additional criteria for issuing a conditional licence set out in the bylaws,

(vi) they have either

(A) agreed to the registration and licensing decision maker’s imposition of conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise, or

(B) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise imposed by the registration and licensing decision maker or a statutory committee;

(c) for all applicants, they have paid the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.

(2) The processing of an application under Section 36 of the Act for an applicant described in clause (1)(b) must be completed by the registrar as soon as practicable.

(4) An applicant who has not passed the examinations required for registration, but who otherwise meets the requirements of subsection (1), may be issued a conditional licence by the registration and licensing decision maker pending the passing of the registration examinations.

Practice and Title Use Restrictions, Services Not Prohibited and Publication Restrictions

Restriction on practice of audiology

16 No person may engage or offer to engage in the practice of audiology or describe their activities as “audiology” unless they are 1 of the following:

(a) a registrant holding an audiologist practising licence or an audiologist conditional licence;

(b) otherwise authorized to practise audiology, in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws;

Restriction on practice of speech-language pathology

17 No person may engage or offer to engage in the practice of speech-language pathology or describe their activities as “speech-language pathology” unless they are 1 of the following:

(a) a registrant holding a speech-language pathologist practising licence or a speech-language pathologist conditional licence;

(b) otherwise authorized to practise speech-language pathology, in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws;

Restriction on use of “audiologist” title, description or designation

18 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of “audiologist” or any derivation or abbreviation of them either alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the following:

(a) a registrant holding 1 of the following under these regulations or the bylaws:

(i) an audiologist practising licence, as permitted by clause 40(a) of the Act,

(ii) an audiologist conditional licence;

(b) otherwise authorized to practise as an audiologist or to use the relevant title, description or designation in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws.

Restriction on use of “speech-language pathologist” title, description or designation

19 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of “speech-language pathologist”, “speech and language clinician” or “speech and language therapist” or any derivation or abbreviation of them either alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the following:

(a) a registrant holding 1 of the following under these regulations or the bylaws:

(i) a speech-language pathologist practising licence, as permitted by clause 40(a) of the Act,

(ii) a speech-language pathologist conditional licence;

(b) otherwise authorized to practise as a speech-language pathologist or to use the relevant title, description or designation in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws.

Restriction on use of bylaw licensing category title, description or designation

20 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of a licensing category established in the bylaws under clause 12(2)(l) of the Act, unless the person is 1 of the following:

(a) a registrant holding a licence in the category that authorizes the use of that title, description or designation;

(b) otherwise authorized to practise within the scope of the designation or to use the title, description or designation of that licensing category, in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws.

Services not prohibited by Act, regulations or bylaws

21 (1) In addition to the services set out in Section 164 of the Act, nothing in the Act, these regulations or the bylaws prohibits a person authorized to fit or sell hearing aids under the Direct Sellers’ Regulation Act from providing any of the following services to clients who are 18 years of age or older:

(a) conducting hearing tests and selecting, dispensing, fitting and verifying hearing aids, other than hearing aids that are surgically implanted under the skin, to address any of the following types of hearing loss that present with or without tinnitus:

(i) sensory hearing loss,

(ii) conductive hearing loss, if the client’s use of a hearing aid has been cleared by a medical practitioner,

(iii) retrocochlear hearing loss, if the client is concurrently managed by an audiologist or an otolaryngologist;

(b) providing cerumen management, if the person has completed a cerumen management training program that meets the requirements approved by the Board;

(d) engaging in hearing loss prevention, education and advocacy.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1)

(a) prohibits or restricts audiologists from engaging in any of the services described in subsection (1);

(b) prohibits or restricts speech-language pathologists from conducting hearing tests to identify hearing loss; or

(c) permits persons authorized to fit or sell hearing aids under the Direct Sellers’ Regulation Act to otherwise engage in the practice of audiology or describe their activities as “audiology”.

Restriction on use of title or designation in advertisement or publication

22 In any advertisement or publication, including business cards, websites and signage, that refers to activities that fall within the scope of practice of audiology or speech-language pathology, the following restrictions apply:

(a) only a person who is authorized to do so by these regulations may use the following alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions:

(i) the title of “audiologist” or “speech-language pathologist” or any other title or designation protected by these regulations or the bylaws,

(ii) any derivation or abbreviation of the titles or designations described in subclause (i);

(b) only a person who is authorized to do so under Section 18 may describe their activities as “audiology”;

(c) only a person who is authorized to do so under Section 19 may describe their activities as “speech-language pathology”.

Fines

Professional conduct fine maximum

23 A fine imposed by the professional conduct committee under clause 110(1)(m) of the Act must not exceed a maximum amount of $50 000.

The current consolidation of the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Regulations made under the Regulated Health Professions Act includes all of the following regulations:

The following regulations are not yet in force and are not included in the current consolidation:

*See subsection 3(6) of the Regulations Act for rules about in force dates of regulations.

Note: Only regulations that are specifically repealed and replaced appear in this table. It may not reflect the entire history of regulations on this subject matter.

N.S. Regulation	In force date*	How in force	Royal Gazette Part II Issue
148/2025	Sep 15, 2025	date specified	Aug 8, 2025

N.S. Regulation	In force date*	How in force	Royal Gazette Part II Issue

ad. = added am. = amended	fc. = fee change ra. = reassigned		rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected		How affected
..........................................................

N.S. Regulation	Title	In force date	Repealed date

Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Regulations	N.S. Reg. 148/2025
Regulated Health Professions Act
Note: The information in these tables does not form part of the regulations and is compiled by the Office of the Registrar of Regulations for reference only.

	Note	Effective date