04/06/2024
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Master of Speech Therapy Programme): extend to Nov 2024
The Education University of Hong Kong (Master of Science in Educational Speech-Language Pathology Learning Disability): extend to Nov 2024
11/03/2024
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology): Oct 2023 – Sept 2028
07/03/2024
Since April 2018, HKIST has been fully accredited under the Government’s Pilot Accredited Registers Scheme for Healthcare Professions and is responsible for managing the register of speech therapists. Individuals listed in the Register of Speech Therapists have been entitled to use the title of “Member of Register of Speech Therapists accredited by Department of Health”. As the government has updated the registrant titles of all accredited healthcare professional organizations, HKIST members should use the following title with immediate effect:
24/03/2023
The 2022 Policy Address announced that the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme (HCVS) would be extended to include primary healthcare services provided by speech therapists under the Accredited Registers Scheme for Healthcare Professions of the Government (AR Scheme). Subsequent to the discussions with the Department of Health, we are pleased to inform you that speech therapists who have already registered with Hong Kong Institute of Speech Therapists (HKIST) can now enrol to HCVS.
For enquiry, please contact us at info@hkist.org.hk.
21/12/2022
The University of Hong Kong (Bachelor of Sciences in Speech and Hearing Sciences Programme): Jun 2019 – May 2024
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Master of Speech Therapy Programme): Aug 2018 – July 2023 (postpone 1 year to Aug 2024 due to COVID)
The Education University of Hong Kong (Master of Science in Educational Speech-Language Pathology Learning Disability): Aug 2018 – July 2023 (postpone 1 year to Aug 2024 due to COVID)
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, provisional endorsement): Jun 2020 – May 2023 (Remarks: Provisional endorsement is the highest endorsement level awarded for new speech therapy programmes)
18/11/2022
Dear members, you may now renew the membership 2023 via our website. Please follow the steps below to complete the renewal procedure.
Please note that if you have not renewed your membership 2022, you must submit your renewal application from 01 January 2023. Otherwise, you can only renew the membership 2022 which will expire on 31 December 2022.
Thank you very much for all your support to HKIST. If you have any enquiry, please contact us info@hkist.org.hk.
15/09/2022
For the guidelines for speech therapy service in residential care homes for the elderly and infection control under COVID-19 pandemic, you may refer to Guidelines and Policies for Speech Therapy Service in Hong Kong under Information to Registrants or the below quick links.
Guideline for Speech Therapy Service in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly
Infection Control Guideline under COVID-19 Pandemic
16/08/2022
We are happy to announce that our website upgrade has been competed. New speech therapists can now apply for the membership through our website.
For enquiry, please contact info@hkist.org.hk.
14/06/2022
Dear Speech Therapists,
Our website is undergoing maintenance, the registration application and member log-in functions are temporarily unavailable. If you would like to apply to be the Member of Register of Speech Therapists accredited by Department of Health, you can refer to the below Application Guide for details and instruction. The declaration form of no criminal conviction record form can be downloaded here. For speech therapists who have completed the professional training oversea, please contact us for further details for application.
For enquiry, please contact info@hkist.org.hk.
Thank you very much.
Declaration of No Criminal Conviction Record
31/05/2022
Speech therapists (STs) are a group of professionals who practice in the areas of communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan. STs are responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and prevention of communication and swallowing disorders resulting from dysfunctions of the oral, laryngeal, resonatory, respiratory, esophageal, or neurological mechanism.
At present, STs are not among the healthcare professionals that are subject to statutory registration of the HKSAR Government. Since April 2018, the Government has launched the Pilot Accredited Registers Scheme for Healthcare Professions and granted full accreditation status to the HKIST. STs who voluntarily register with HKIST are to meet stipulated educational standards and to be governed by the Code of Ethics for Speech Therapy in Hong Kong and the Continuing Professional Development Framework. HKAST, on the other hand, strives to promote and strengthen the professionalism among the speech therapists in Hong Kong since early 1980s.
HKAST and HKIST jointly reinforce the principles embodied in our Code of Ethics. Ethical speech therapy practice is a cornerstone of our standing as a profession to serve the public. All STs have shared responsibility in ensuring that the Code of Ethics are followed.
Ends/
31 May 2022
Hong Kong time 7:00 pm
言語治療師是專責預防、處理及研究溝通和吞嚥障礙的專業人士，其工作貫穿人生各個階段。言語治療師的職責包括評估、診斷、復康和預防由口腔、喉部、共鳴、呼吸、食道或神經機能引起的溝通和吞嚥障礙。
現時，言語治療師並不是政府要求須法定註冊的醫療專業人員。自2018年4月起，政府推展「認可醫療專業註冊先導計劃」，並頒發正式認證予香港言語治療師公會。自願向香港言語治療師公會註冊之言語治療師須達到訂明的教育標準，並受《香港言語治療倫理守則》及《持續專業發展框架》規管。另一方面，香港言語治療師協會自1980年代初以來，一直致力提升和加強香港言語治療師的專業水平。
香港言語治療師協會及香港言語治療師公會共同重申《香港言語治療倫理守則》所體現的原則。言語治療專業操守乃我們作為一個服務公眾的專業之基石。所有言語治療師皆有責任確保倫理守則得以遵守。
完/
2022年5月31日
香港時間下午7時
08/03/2021
The Hong Kong Institute of Speech Therapists (HKIST) is aware of the recent publication of a picture book titled “The Twelve Warriors in Sheep Village” by the General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists (GUHKST). The picture book has aroused great public concerns. Members of the Legislative Council also expressed their concerns about the picture book in the Subcommittee to Study the Development of Textbooks and Teaching Materials for Kindergartens, Primary and Secondary Schools of the Legislative Council on 12 January. They pointed out that the content included strong political propaganda and requested the Education Bureau to follow up the issue. The Under Secretary for Education, Dr. Choi Yuk-lin, pointed out at the meeting that the picture book was not suitable for use as teaching materials and urged schools and parents not to use them. She further stated that if schools or speech therapists were found to use the concerned picture book as training materials, the Education Bureau would stop such use immediately and take follow-up actions seriously.
In view of this, HKIST urges speech therapists practicing in Hong Kong to refrain from using training materials with political overtones to avoid any possible legal consequences.
HKIST is established to ensure that the public could obtain professional speech therapy service from qualified speech therapists. HKIST understands and absolutely respects the diverse views and positions held by individuals on social incidents. However, HKIST reiterates that the main professional responsibility of speech therapists is to provide speech therapy service and support the communication and swallowing needs of clients. During the provision of speech therapy service, speech therapists must observe the Code of Ethics, and provide only professional information within the scope of practice of speech therapy, to prevent any potential public misconceptions about the professional image of speech therapists.
09/01/2021
We have received a large amount of membership and renewal applications for the year 2021. Our secretariat is currently making great effort in checking the documents received, and please understand that it may require an extra period of time for the procedures. Upon review by the Registration Committee, the updated list of the registered members of the HKIST would be uploaded to this website (under “Information to Public”), and a certificate of registration would be sent to the successful applicants. Please stay tuned for our news.
08/12/2020
Please refer to the following excerpt from the HKIST application guide, and note that the “grandfathering” criteria would lose effect after 31 December 2020 for new applications. New applicants may submit an online application form, provide the necessary documents and submit a pro rata membership fee of HKD 300. For details, please refer to our Quick Application Guide at https://hkist.org.hk/page/message-registrants.
2.3 Grandfathering
2.3.1 A person is eligible to apply to be Member of Register of Speech Therapists if he/ she: –
(i) holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences awarded by The University of Hong Kong on or before 31 December 2020;
(ii) once has been a Full Member of the Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapists on or before 31 July 2018; or
(iii) on the date on which HKIST first awarded the Certificate of Accreditation by the Director of Health to manage the Register of Speech Therapists (i.e. 19 April 2018), has carried a title of “Speech Therapist” and worked locally as a speech therapist for at least ten years.
2.3.2 A person who has fulfilled the criteria listed in 2.3.1 is eligible to apply to be Member of Register of Speech Therapists on or before 31 December 2020.
Dear Members,
We will be performing a website upgrade from 00:00am on 31 March 2022. Members will temporarily unable to login the website until further notice.
For enquiry, please contact info@hkist.org.hk.