2027 How To Become an Audiologist
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
Reviewed by Rhea Paul, PhD
SLP Education & Research Expert
Becoming an audiologist means committing to graduate-level clinical training, not simply studying hearing. If you are choosing a college major, comparing health careers, or preparing to apply to Doctor of Audiology programs, the key decisions are which programs qualify you for licensure, how clinical placements work, and what the full training period will cost. This guide walks through the U.S. path from undergraduate study to independent practice and shows where requirements vary, so you can choose a route that fits your goals and finances.
Key Things You Should Know
- The usual entry-level route is a bachelor's degree followed by a Doctor of Audiology (AuD), typically taking about eight years of full-time study in total.
- Choose an AuD program whose accreditation and clinical training meet the requirements of the state where you intend to practice; graduation alone does not grant a license.
- Budget for tuition, fees, clinical-placement travel, and potentially reduced earnings during an externship - not just the advertised price of the degree.
- What education and degrees are required to become an audiologist? Education Requirements
- How do you complete the Doctor of Audiology degree and clinical training? AuD Training
- What steps are required to earn audiology licensure in the United States? Licensure Steps
- Which undergraduate majors best prepare students for audiology school? Undergraduate Preparation
- What can audiologists specialize in after completing their professional training? Audiology Specialties
What education and degrees are required to become an audiologist?
In the United States, the standard path for a new audiologist is a bachelor's degree, followed by an entry-level Doctor of Audiology (AuD) and a state license. Audiologists evaluate hearing and balance, interpret diagnostic tests, counsel patients, and may select and fit hearing devices. Their work spans hospitals, clinics, private practices, schools, and other care settings.
A bachelor's degree provides the foundation for applying to an AuD program but does not qualify someone to practice independently as an audiologist. A research-focused PhD is also different from a clinical AuD: it can prepare someone for research or academic work, but prospective students should not assume a PhD alone satisfies a particular state's requirements for new licensees. Audiologists licensed under older educational rules may hold different degrees; those historical pathways are not a reliable guide for someone entering the profession now.
Program accreditation is a practical screening criterion. The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) and the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) accredit audiology programs. Check a program's current status and your intended state board's rules before enrolling, particularly if the program is new or holds a status other than full accreditation. Speech-language pathology is a separate profession with its own degree and licensing pathway; advice about verifying accreditation before choosing a fast slp program should not be treated as an AuD accreditation check.
If your main interest is communication therapy rather than hearing and balance care, compare audiology with speech-language pathology before committing to a doctorate. The clinical work, qualifying degrees, and licensing requirements differ.
How do you complete the Doctor of Audiology degree and clinical training?
An entry-level AuD commonly takes four years of full-time study after a bachelor's degree. Programs combine coursework in hearing science, diagnostic assessment, amplification, vestibular care, and professional practice with supervised clinical work. The exact sequence differs by school; many programs devote substantial time near the end to a full-time externship.
This overview shows how the usual stages fit together. Confirm each school's published curriculum rather than assuming its clinical schedule matches another program's.
| Stage | Typical focus | Decision to make |
| Undergraduate study | Degree requirements and AuD prerequisites | Can you complete required sciences and communication-disorders courses? |
| Early AuD study | Foundational coursework and supervised practice | How soon do students work with patients? |
| Advanced AuD study | More complex assessments and broader clinical settings | Do available sites match your interests? |
| Extended externship | Supervised, intensive clinical practice | Who arranges the placement, and what will living or travel costs be? |
Even if some academic coursework is delivered online, patient-facing skills require approved clinical experiences. Ask whether campus visits are mandatory, whether the university finds placements, and whether relocation is possible. If you are comparing accelerated speech pathology degree options with audiology, do not assume an SLP program's shorter timeline can be applied to an entry-level AuD; they qualify graduates for different professions.
What steps are required to earn audiology licensure in the United States?
A state-issued license - not the AuD diploma or a voluntary certification - authorizes independent audiology practice. Requirements depend on the jurisdiction, so start with the licensing board in the state where you expect to work, not just the state where your university is located.
The usual sequence below helps you identify what to verify before paying application or exam fees. Your state board's current instructions control if they differ from a general checklist.
- Confirm that your degree program and supervised clinical training satisfy the intended state's educational standards.
- Complete the required AuD coursework and clinical experiences, retaining documentation of placements and supervision.
- Take any examination the state requires and arrange for official scores to be sent as instructed.
- Submit the license application, transcripts, training records, fees, and any other required materials to the board.
- Wait for authorization before practicing independently, and track renewal and continuing-education requirements after licensure.
A common mistake is accepting a job or arranging a move before checking whether a license, temporary permit, or other authorization is needed to begin work. Ask the employer and state board what you may do while an application is pending.
Which undergraduate majors best prepare students for audiology school?
Communication sciences and disorders, speech and hearing science, or a closely related major offers direct exposure to hearing, language, and clinical concepts. Biology, psychology, neuroscience, and other majors can also be sound choices when they leave room for a prospective AuD program's prerequisites. There is no single undergraduate major that automatically qualifies an applicant for every school.
Choose the major that lets you perform well academically while completing required courses. Compare prospective AuD programs' prerequisite lists early: a strong student from an unrelated major may need additional anatomy, physics, statistics, or communication-science coursework, depending on the school. Ask whether prerequisites must be finished before applying or only before enrollment.
Do not confuse audiology preparation with slp leveling courses before graduate admission. Some subjects overlap, but an SLP bridge or leveling sequence is not automatically a substitute for an AuD program's published prerequisites.
What admission requirements do Doctor of Audiology programs typically have?
AuD programs commonly review college transcripts, prerequisite completion, recommendations, a statement of purpose, and evidence that an applicant understands the profession. Some also use interviews. GPA expectations, required observation or volunteer experience, standardized-test policies, and application systems vary by institution and can change between admission cycles.
Make a school-by-school checklist using each program's current admissions page. Look beyond whether you meet a stated minimum: ask how the program evaluates repeated courses, whether missing prerequisites are permitted at application, and when clinical or employment experience must be documented. If you are changing careers, explain how your previous work connects to patient care, technical problem-solving, or communication rather than assuming a different major is a disadvantage.
Advice about slp graduate program selectivity may help you think about applying to a balanced group of schools, but SLP admissions figures and requirements do not describe AuD admissions. Check AuD policies directly and avoid treating an advertised minimum GPA as an admission guarantee.
How do audiology students complete supervised clinical experiences and externships?
Students develop clinical skills under qualified supervision in university clinics and approved outside settings. Depending on the program and available sites, experiences may involve diagnostic testing, hearing technology, pediatric care, adult rehabilitation, or vestibular assessment. An extended externship gives students a more intensive opportunity to apply those skills before graduation.
Placement logistics deserve the same scrutiny as the curriculum. Before enrolling, ask who secures outside sites, whether students can propose a site, how supervisors are approved, and what happens if a placement falls through. Also ask whether an externship can be completed near home, whether compensation is typical for the placements available to that program, and whether the school charges tuition during the externship period. Do not assume a remote class format means local clinical placements are guaranteed.
Keep records of supervisors, settings, dates, and completed experiences according to your program's instructions. Those records can help when you apply for licensure or optional certification. If a school cannot explain its placement support and contingency process, treat that uncertainty as a meaningful enrollment risk.
What exams and certifications can audiologists pursue after graduation?
The Praxis Audiology examination is used in audiology credentialing, but whether it is required for a license, what score applies, and when an applicant may take it depend on the relevant licensing or certification rules. Check current requirements with your intended state board and the credentialing organization rather than relying on another student's timeline.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association offers the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A). The American Board of Audiology also offers audiology credentials. These are professional certifications, not substitutes for a state license. An employer may value or require a particular credential even where the state does not, so review job postings in your preferred setting before paying for an optional certification.
Certification can be worth considering if it supports a job requirement, professional goal, or mobility plan. First compare eligibility rules, application and renewal obligations, and continuing-education expectations with the jobs you actually want.
How much does it cost to become an audiologist, and how long does training take?
The typical full-time route is approximately four years for a bachelor's degree and four more for an entry-level AuD. Prerequisite coursework, enrollment pace, and placement timing can extend that schedule. There is no useful single national price for becoming an audiologist: undergraduate tuition, graduate residency rates, fees, aid, and externship arrangements differ substantially.
Compare schools using the total amount you expect to finance, not a per-credit figure in isolation. These cost categories explain why two programs with similar advertised tuition can create different financial burdens.
| Cost category | What to compare across AuD programs |
| Tuition and required fees | Total required credits, annual rate changes, and charges during externship terms |
| Clinical expenses | Travel, equipment, background checks, and possible relocation |
| Living costs | Housing and transportation at both the campus and externship location |
| Financing | Grants, assistantships, borrowing needs, interest, and repayment obligations |
| Time away from paid work | Whether the program and clinical schedule allow sustainable employment |
Request each school's current tuition schedule and estimated cost of attendance, then ask which expenses are excluded. Calculate what you would need to borrow under a realistic placement scenario, not only a best-case one. Guidance on budgeting for online slp graduate school can suggest questions about fees and living costs, but an SLP master's budget is not an AuD cost estimate.
For return on investment, compare likely debt payments with audiologist pay in the locations and settings where you could reasonably work. Use current audiologist-specific Bureau of Labor Statistics wage and employment projections as context, then check local job listings; a national median is neither an entry-level offer nor a guaranteed outcome. A lower-priced program may be the better financial choice if it meets your licensing needs and provides dependable clinical training, but low tuition does not offset an unworkable placement model.
How do state licensure rules differ for audiologists across the United States?
States set their own audiology licensing standards. Differences can affect which degrees or accredited programs are accepted, how clinical training is documented, examination rules, background checks, temporary practice, hearing-aid-related authority, and continuing education. Moving after graduation may require another application; holding a license in one state does not automatically authorize practice everywhere.
Before selecting an AuD program, identify the state or states where you may practice and compare their board requirements with the program's written licensure disclosures. If you plan to study online or complete an externship in another state, ask whether enrollment or clinical placement creates additional state-specific restrictions. Repeat the check shortly before applying for a license because board rules and forms can change.
One red flag is a broad claim that a degree "qualifies you to practice nationwide" without a state-by-state explanation. Ask the program to identify the specific educational and clinical requirements it addresses, and get any unresolved eligibility question answered by the licensing board.
What can audiologists specialize in after completing their professional training?
Audiologists can develop deeper expertise in pediatric audiology, cochlear implants, vestibular assessment, hearing aids, tinnitus care, or hearing conservation. The best focus depends on the patients you want to serve and the employers in your region. Clinical rotations are a low-risk way to test that fit before pursuing specialized positions or additional credentials.
Technology is central to much of the work: audiologists use diagnostic equipment and increasingly sophisticated hearing devices, while consumer access to hearing technology changes how some patients seek care. That makes diagnostic judgment, counseling, and follow-up important skills to examine when comparing jobs; interest in devices alone may not mean you will enjoy patient-facing practice.
If you prefer treating speech, language, or swallowing conditions, consider speech-language pathology instead. Even where the professions collaborate, their scopes of practice and credentials differ. Likewise, information about per diem slp pay should not be used to estimate audiologist compensation. To explore advancement, look at audiologist job descriptions in your preferred specialty and ask clinical supervisors what experience those employers expect.
References:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Speech-Language Pathologists https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm
- ASHA EdFind - Accredited Speech-Language Pathology Programs https://find.asha.org/ed/
- ETS Praxis - Speech-Language Pathology (5331) https://praxis.ets.org/test/speech-language-pathology-5331.html
- Auburn University, Montgomery - Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology https://www.aum.edu/degree/ms-speech-language-pathology/
- Emerson College - Master of Science (M.S.) in Communication Disorders (Speech@Emerson, online) https://speech.emerson.edu/
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire - Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (Online) https://www.uwec.edu/speech-language-and-hearing-sciences-department/graduate-program/speech-language-pathology-online
- Baylor University - Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (Online) https://csd.robbins.baylor.edu/graduate/online-csd-graduate-program
- New England Institute of Technology - Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology https://www.neit.edu/academics/graduate-degrees/speech-language-pathology-ms
Other Things You Should Know About Speech Pathology
Yes. AuD programs may admit applicants from other majors if they meet the school's prerequisites and other admissions requirements. Compare prerequisite lists before choosing electives or applying.
Do not assume so. A program may offer online coursework, but entry-level audiology preparation also requires supervised clinical experiences. Confirm campus attendance, placement arrangements, and state eligibility with the school.
Not on the basis of an AuD or audiology license alone. Speech-language pathology has separate graduate education, clinical, and state licensing requirements, although the two professions often work together.
Observe audiologists in more than one setting and ask about testing, counseling, documentation, and schedules. Compare that work with speech-language pathology or another health career before committing to the time and cost of an AuD.
