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Audiologist: Education and Job Training Requirements for Becoming an Audiologist

Published Aug 31, 2009

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Education and job training requirements for becoming an Audiologist include a master's or doctoral degree in Audiology and professional clinical fellowship under the supervision of a licensed Audiologist. Audiology graduates must generally have state-specific licensure to practice and may apply for voluntary certification from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

Audiologist Career Summary

Audiologists work independently, performing hearing screenings, assessments and rehabilitation on all age groups, from newborns to the elderly. They identify auditory impairments and fit individuals for hearing aids, when needed. In addition to hearing impairments, Audiologists deal with balance and neural disorders. Audiologists can be found working in settings that include the armed forces, medical facilities, schools, speech centers and state agencies.

Education Required to Become an Audiologist

Currently, the minimum professional Audiology degree is the master's degree. Specific graduate degrees include Master of Arts in Speech Pathology and Audiology, Master of Arts in Audiology or Master of Science in Audiology. The American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), www.asha.org notes that as of January 2012, all Audiologists seeking certification must hold a doctorate degree from an institution accredited by ASHA's Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (CAA); consequently, more individuals are choosing to earn a Doctorate in Audiology (AuD). Course studies include hearing aids, pediatric Audiology, Audiology theory and research principles of communication disorders.

Job Training and Certification Requirements for Becoming an Audiologist

According to the American Academy of Audiology, www.aaa.org, licensure is state-specific, and a license is required to practice in most states. Typically, in order to become a licensed Audiologist, an individual must have graduated from a regionally accredited school, have taken part in mentored field experience and passed the national Praxis Examinations in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Generally a score of 600 is considered passing.

Audiology master's and doctoral graduates who would like to earn a voluntary ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology must graduate from a CAA-accredited university, complete a full year of clinical fellowship supervised by a certified professional and pass the Praxis exam with a score of 600. Once certified, Audiologists maintain their ASHA certification through continuing education courses.

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