Overall description / Legal basis

In Estonia SLT is a public service, provided by either the local authorities or by the regional authorities.

The obligation to provide the service is regulated by :

1. Health Services Organisation Act (Tervishoiuteenuse korraldamise seadus) In Estonian https://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=782582. From January 2005 health insurance fund reimburses SLT services only if service is organised by health institution.

2.  The Act on Preschool Institutions (Koolieelse lasteasutuse seadus) states that all children shall receive preschool education in local preschool institution. Responsibility on enforcing this law lies on local authorities.  

In Estonian https://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=754369

3. The Act on Primary and Secondary Education (Põhikooli – ja gümnaasiumiseadus) puts local authorities in charge of ensuring that every child receives education and special treatment according to his needs. In Estonian https://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=784125  

Organization of SLT in the country

Private practice – health care centres, hospitals, clinics. The patient visits the SLT only via doctor. Health Insurance Fund recognizes SLT as separate entity and has registered 4 service codes for SLT services. If the private practice is provided by Health Care Institution the financing is supported by Health Insurance Fund. Adults and children both are served by private practice. The SLT has independent responsibility for all patients/clients in need of assessment and/ or therapy.

Local authorities – educational institutions (kindergartens, day care centres, schools). The system is going towards that all children are consulted by SLT before school. This means they are screened between 3-6 years. Children who were diagnosed the developmental risk factor are consulted during the infant time (1 year) – at hospital.

Over the last years few SLTs have established private practices. For the patient SLT service is mostly free. It is paid by local authority, health insurance fund or by rehabilitation fund.

Education / training

SLT has been trained in Estonia since 1968. Training has been always 5 years course of university studies, at the University of Tartu. Training has been governed by the state.

Tartu University, Faculty of Education, Department of Special Education.

78 Tiigi Street, Tartu 50410. Fax: +37 27 375956

http://www.ht.ut.ee/ep

Authorisation / license / recognition of diploma

Estonian SLTs are considered authorized by the diploma, which is granted by the governmental authority, i.e. the university. Professions act (Kutseseadus) establishes the Estonian professional standard for SLT.

Professions act in English: http://www.kutsekoda.ee/en/page_seadus.html. Estonian SLT professional standard sets the base of qualification of Estonian SLT: http://193.40.56.202/kete/html/standard/Logopeed_III_IV_V.htm)

Estonian SLT professional standard in Russian : http://www.elu.ee/kutsekvalifikatsioon.php

There is no formal need for license to work as an SLT. Employers are responsible for the qualification of workers. Local authorities control qualification of SLT according to standards set by  Education and Research Ministry

There are no regulated requirements for continuing professional education. It is considered the responsibility of the employers by the demand and choice of SLT.

Recognition of professional qualifications obtained abroad

SLT education gaining from other countries according to Bologna contract. Estonian ENIC/NARIC Centre (EENC) belongs to the Council of Europe and UNESCO network ENIC (European Network of National Information Centres on Academic Recognition and Mobility) and is a member of the European Union network NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centres). EENC has the mission to evaluate foreign higher education qualifications in purpose of recognition of the qualifications.

EENC http://www.socrates.ee/et/enicnaric.html

Linguistic competence is established in Estonian professional standard for SLT – it has to be on the highest level of Estonian and on the highest level of therapy language.

Formal language testing is organised by National Examination and Qualification Centre (Riiklik Eksami – ja Kutsekvalifikatsioonikeskus). Web page in Estonian: http://www.ekk.edu.ee/

Status of the profession and the professional + income/salary

Status is similar to that of the teacher, physiotherapist and psychologist.  Ministry of Social Affairs is preparing new conception of health care institution specialists (psychologists, physiotherapists and SLTs). Annual income varies between 3600 and 5400 EURO (before paying taxes).

Professional association

Estonian Logopedists Union

Further information / Useful links

www.elu.ee  Estonian Logopedists Union

http://www.ht.ut.ee/ep Tartu University

Author / reference

Veronika Raudsalu

President of Estonian Logopedists Union

Estonian representative to CPLOL