How to Become an Audiologist

By: Andrew Colucci, MD

Last Updated: December 13, 2018

An audiologist is a clinical professional who helps patients to preserve and enhance one of the most fragile and valuable of human senses: hearing. By detecting ear pathology and treating hearing-related disorders, audiologists help patients to succeed in school and work, as well as to get the most out of their daily interactions with others. Thanks to the intervention of audiologists, many patients living with various degrees of hearing loss are able to continue their much-loved activities, from playing music to conversing with grandchildren.

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Audiologists are clinical experts in the anatomical structures of the middle and inner ear. These spaces contain numerous essential components, including the cochlea (critical for hearing) and the vestibular system (which aids in balance and spatial orientation). Illness, injury or repeated acoustic stress due to loud noise can damage these delicate organs. When audiologic pathology is suspected, audiologists can perform a variety of diagnostic tests to discover the nature and extent of the damage, in addition to pinpointing the underlying cause. Depending on the problem, they can subsequently conduct a variety of interventions, including (but not limited to):

• Professional cleaning of the external ear canal
• Fitting a hearing aid and/or cochlear implant
• Instructing patients in compensatory strategies such as lip reading or American Sign Language
• Prescribing physical, occupational or speech therapy
• Referring patients to physicians or other providers

In addition to diagnosing and treating disorders of the inner and middle ear, audiologists serve an important public health function by conducting hearing screenings at schools, workplaces and community agencies. Audiologists also work to educate teachers, employers and the public on strategies to prevent and detect hearing loss.

Workplace Details

Most audiologists work in health care facilities such as hospitals, physician offices, or independent audiology clinics. Government agencies and corporations may also employ these professionals to oversee activities related to workplace safety and hearing loss prevention. Because ear disorders impact many areas of a patient’s life, audiologists often work alongside other health care professionals (including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) as part of an interdisciplinary diagnostic and treatment team.

Hover over any state to explore local income and job growth data.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for audiologists is $75,980 (or approximately $36.53/hour).

However, earnings vary with both education level and practice setting. One self-reported survey found that the median annual salary for audiologists holding AuD degrees was $70,000 while those with PhDs reported median earnings of approximately $96,097. The highest salaries went to those employed in private industry and hospitals, while those working for schools reported below-average pay. The top 10% of wage earners have a median salary of $113,540.

Between 2014 and 2024, employment of audiologists is expected to grow by 29%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is much faster than the overall average for all occupations. However, because the field is quite small, this increase will amount to only 3,800 new positions spread throughout the United States.

For those interested in pursuing the field of audiology, the first step is to obtain a bachelor’s degree. While no specific undergraduate major is required, essentially all audiology doctoral programs require undergraduate courses in physics, math, anatomy and physiology. Some colleges offer undergraduate “communication science” programs that specifically prepare students for careers in audiology or speech-language pathology.

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Prior to the year 2012, audiologists possessing a master’s degree were able to practice independently. However, beginning in 2012, audiologists must now earn a doctoral degree (PhD or AuD) in order to be eligible for national certification.

Formal audiology training begins at the graduate level. When enrolling in a doctoral program, it is important to choose one that is currently accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), as this will ultimately affect licensing and career opportunities. Completion of a doctoral degree in audiology generally requires at least four years of full-time study beyond the bachelor’s level. Given that audiologic PhD programs require a research component, these may last as long as 5-6 years.

To become certified by ASHA, audiology candidates must complete a minimum of 1,820 hours of supervised clinical practice during their graduate education. The training provided by accredited doctoral programs generally fulfills this requirement, although additional training beyond the program may be required in some cases.

In the United States, all audiologists must be licensed to practice independently. This will require passing a national exam as well as meeting the required amount of clinical experience.

Over time, as with many healthcare related fields, licensed audiologists can expect salary increases and other enhancements to their benefits. They have the option of leaving clinical practice to conduct clinical and translational research. Opportunities for consulting with the audiology device industry serve to diversify the career options available to audiologists even further.

Your journey to becoming an audiologist starts with earning a bachelor’s degree. No specific major is required, but you’ll need to take certain courses to become certified as an audiologist by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). These include classes in biology, math, physical science, and behavioral science. See ASHA’s “Planning Your Education” page for course recommendations.

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One easy way to ensure you get the needed coursework is to major in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). ASHA maintains a list of schools with CSD bachelor’s programs on its website. Some CSD programs have an audiology concentration.

Typical CSD courses include:

After completing your bachelor’s, you’ll next need to earn a doctorate in order to practice. For this step, you have three options:

• AuD (3–4 years) focuses on clinical practice
• PhD (9–10 years) has a research and teaching emphasis, useful if you’re interested in becoming a professor of audiology
• Dual degree program (about 10 years) earns you both degrees

Audiology doctoral programs are offered by university graduate schools, medical schools, and specialized schools of health sciences. When choosing your program, verify that the institution is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. ASHA’s Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) also accredits audiology doctoral programs.

As a doctoral student in audiology, you’ll take courses like:

Audiology students also undergo extensive supervised clinical training that typically culminates in a yearlong externship. These experiences take place in hospitals, private clinics, neonatal intensive care units, Veteran Affairs medical centers, and schools.

Certification of audiologists is voluntary but preferred by many employers. Certified audiologists may have an easier time getting relicensed if they later relocate to a new state.

Two major organizations offer certification in audiology:

• The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• The American Board of Audiology (ABA)

ASHA offers a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) as its entry-level credential. Candidates must graduate from an ASHA-accredited program, meet education and experience requirements, and pass the Praxis Examination in Audiology.

ASHA also offers specialty certification in intraoperative monitoring (BCS-IOM) for CCC-As who work as part of a head-and-neck surgical team.

ABA offers primary and specialty certification in audiology. To become board certified in audiology, candidates must graduate from an audiology doctoral program at a regionally accredited institution, hold a state license, meet experience and supervision requirements, and pass an exam.

ABA also offers several specialty certifications in audiology:

• Certificate holder – audiology preceptor
• Pediatric audiology specialty certification
• Cochlear implant specialty certification