The Requirements to Become an Audiologist
Audiologists are medical professionals who deal with ear problems, mainly related to hearing and balance. They diagnose and evaluate patients' cases and prescribe solutions, which can be (but aren't always) technical or pharmaceutical. Some hearing problems, for instance, can be reduced by different listening strategies, on which the audiologist can advise.
Audiologists can work in clinics, hospitals or private practice; others are employed by medical-equipment manufacturers, helping to develop new hearing-aid equipment.
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Personal Traits
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As medical professionals, audiologists need to be able to analyze symptoms and correctly diagnose patients. Good communications skills and patience are also important, the former especially so due to the hearing difficulties suffered by many of the people who come to them for treatment.
Education
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Audiologists need to have at least a master's degree in the field, but according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "a first professional, or doctoral, degree is becoming increasingly necessary," with several states now requiring at least a doctorate.
"The professional doctorate in audiology (Au.D.)," the BLS says, "requires approximately 8 years of university training and supervised experience."
There are two accrediting organizations for audiology degrees, the Accreditation Commission of Audiology Education and the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Some states require, for their licensing, graduation from an accredited audiology program. -
State Licensing
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All fifty U.S. states, and the District of Columbia, require audiologists to be licensed. The specific licensing requirements vary from state to state, but all require at least a master's degree.
"In some states," says the BLS, "specific certifications from professional associations satisfy some or all of the requirements for state licensure."
In addition, 20 states (and DC) require a special Hearing Aid Dispenser license in order to prescribe and dispense hearing aids. In the other 30 states, this is covered by the audiology license.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certification
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The ASLHA is one of two audiologist certification boards in the U.S. Their certification requires at least 75 hours of study in a program that will culminate in a doctoral degree; as of 2012, it will require a doctorate. A score of 600 or higher on the Praxis exam in Speech Pathology and Audiology is also required.
The ASHLA's certification is good for three years, after which it must be renewed.
American Board of Audiology Certification
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The ABA is the U.S.'s other audiology certification board. They require at least a doctoral degree in audiology, a Praxis exam score of 600 or higher and, according to their site, "a minimum of 2,000 hours of mentored professional practice in a two-year period. The mentor must be a state licensed or ABA certified audiologist."
Like the ASHLA, the ABA requires certification-holders to renew every three years.
ABA certification is good for three years, after which it must be renewed.
Continuing Education
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Forty-one states require audiologists to demonstrate continuing education in order to renew their licenses. Additionally, both the ABA and the ASLHA have continuing-education requirements.
The ABA certification requires applicants for renewal to prove at least 45 hours of continuing education in the previous three years. The ASHLA's certification requires 30 hours of continuing education.
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