Audiology Training
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment growth among audiologists is expected to be above average through 2018. Despite this relatively positive outlook, potential students of audiology should be aware of the fact that relatively few jobs overall exist in this particular medical field. For this reason, persons contemplating the field as a career choice need to obtain the highest level of education available.
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Undergraduate Education
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Some schools offer undergraduate degrees in audiology. These bachelor's degree programs are usually offered in conjunction with studies in speech-language pathology. For instance, the University of Akron offers a Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. The degree program is designed to prepare students to work in a variety of settings including hospitals, schools, universities and private practices. A majority of students who complete only an undergraduate degree in this field work in the public school system. For this reason, it is generally recommended that students pursue education certification as part of their undergraduate training.
Doctoral Education
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In order to be licensed as an audiologist (as opposed to a speech-language pathologist), students must obtain a master's degree. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes, however, the increasing necessity of obtaining a doctorate in the field. As of 2009, 18 states required a Doctor of Audiology (Aud.D.) degree in order to be licensed in the field. Some schools like A.T. Still University provide four-year direct-entry programs that allow students with a baccalaureate degree in any field to enter the doctoral program as long as the students have met the necessary prerequisites.
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Curriculum Requirements
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Required curriculum varies among institutions. Bachelor's degree programs generally require about 45 credit hours in the field as part of the undergraduate major. Students take introductory courses in audiology, clinical phonetics, anatomy and physiology and language disorders. Master degrees require 30 or more credit hours typically and require additional coursework in conjunction with clinical training. At the doctoral level, students generally complete 120 or more credit hours of advanced studies over a four-year span. Much like the master's program, students take advance courses in all aspects of audiology including history of audiology courses and various courses in theory. Extensive clinical training is a part of the doctoral education.
Certifications and Licensing
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Licensing varies by state; information can be obtained from the state's board of medicine. In most cases, audiologists must be certified by obtaining the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology. This certification is offered through the American Board of Audiology and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Continuing Education
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Opportunities for advancement exist within the audiology field, but they are relatively limited. Audiologists working in a clinical setting may choose to open their own practice or assume positions of leadership in their current place of employment. Advancement may come contingent upon continuing education and personal advancement in the field. Schools like the University of Florida offer continuing education seminars to keep audiologists abreast of current trends in the field and provide them with knowledge needed to advance in the field.
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References
- Photo Credit ear image by Connfetti from Fotolia.com
