Audiologist
Diagnose and treat hearing loss and balance disorders through testing, hearing aid fitting, and patient rehabilitation.
| Median Salary | $92,120 per year |
| Job Growth (10yr) | +9%Very Good |
| Education | Doctoral Degree |
| Time to Start | 7-8 years |
Work Settings
- •Private audiology practices
- •Hospitals and medical centers
- •Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities
- •ENT (Otolaryngology) clinics
- •Schools and educational settings
- •Retail and big-box hearing centers
- •University clinics and academic settings
- •Cochlear implant centers
- •Vestibular and balance laboratories
- •Hearing aid and medical device manufacturers
Primary Duties
- •Conduct comprehensive hearing evaluations using audiometry, tympanometry, and otoacoustic emissions testing
- •Perform newborn hearing screenings and follow-up diagnostic assessments for infants and children
- •Select, fit, program, and verify hearing aids and assistive listening devices for patients
- •Program and map cochlear implants for recipients and provide ongoing device management
- •Conduct vestibular testing to diagnose balance and dizziness disorders
- •Provide patient and family counseling on hearing loss, communication strategies, and device use
- •Perform auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing and other electrophysiological assessments
- •Develop and implement tinnitus management and sound therapy programs
How to Become Audiologist
Complete Bachelor's Degree
Earn bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders or related field, completing prerequisite courses in biological sciences, physics, chemistry, statistics, and psychology. Maintain competitive GPA (3.0+) and gain clinical observation hours.
Duration: 48 months
Apply to AuD Programs
Research CAA-accredited programs, prepare application materials, take GRE if required by target programs, and submit applications. Most programs use centralized application systems.
Duration: 12 months
Complete AuD Program - Academic Phase
Complete intensive coursework in audiology sciences, diagnostics, and intervention while accumulating supervised clinical practicum hours in on-campus clinics and external rotations.
Duration: 36 months
Complete Full-Time Clinical Externship
Final year of AuD program dedicated to full-time supervised clinical externship in hospital, clinic, or other approved setting. Accumulate remaining clinical hours toward 2,000-hour requirement.
Duration: 12 months
Pass National Examination and Apply for Licensure
Take and pass Praxis examination in Audiology. Submit state licensure application with transcripts, clinical hour verification, exam scores, and background check. Processing time varies by state.
Duration: 4 months
Begin Professional Practice
Start working as licensed audiologist. Many graduates secure positions during externship year. Consider pursuing voluntary certifications like ASHA CCC-A or ABA certification for enhanced credentials.
Duration: 24 months
Continuing Education
All audiologists must complete continuing education to maintain state licensure, with requirements varying by state but typically ranging from 20-40 hours every two years. If you hold the ASHA CCC-A credential, you must earn 30 professional development hours every three years. ABA certification requires 20 hours of continuing education annually, including at least 5 hours at Tier 1 level and 1 hour in professional ethics. Specialty certifications like PASC or CISC require 15 Tier 1 hours annually in the specialty area.
Certifications & Licenses
- •State Audiology License (required in all states)
- •ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) - voluntary but widely recognized
- •American Board of Audiology (ABA) Certification - voluntary
- •Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification (PASC) - ABA specialty credential
- •Cochlear Implant Specialty Certification (CISC) - ABA specialty credential
- •Certification in Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring (CNIM) - for surgical monitoring roles