The 2007 audiology standards were written to take effect in two phases. The first phase—addressing the change to acquisition of knowledge and skills, increased post-baccalaureate course work and graduate level clinical practicum, and the cessation of the Clinical Fellowship requirement—went into effect January 1, 2008, for all individuals submitting applications on or after that date. The second phase of the new standards will take effect on January 1, 2012, and will require that all individuals applying for initial or reinstatement of certification as of that date have an earned doctoral degree.

I received my degree a number of years ago. Can I still apply under the 1993 standards?

No. If you wish to pursue initial certification in audiology you must apply under the 2007 standards and meet the knowledge and skill requirements outlined in the standards.

Why is the effective date 2008 if the standards are dated 2007?

The Council For Clinical Certification (CFCC), the certifying body of ASHA, wanted to be sure that individuals who might have been educated under previous standards would have the opportunity to apply without needing to upgrade to the 2007 standards. The CFCC allowed a one year grace period, from January 1, 2007, until December 31, 2007, for individuals to submit applications under the 1993 standards.

If I graduated several years ago but didn't submit my complete application prior to January 1, 2008, what will be required for certification?

All individuals applying for certification are now required to be assessed under the January 1, 2007 standards. Individuals who apply more than three years after receipt of the graduate degree will be required to submit pages 1 and 2 of the application for certification and the "Verification by Program Director" page which indicates that they have achieved the very specific knowledge and skills in the 2007 standards during their educational program. Along with these three pages, individuals applying more than three years after receipt of the graduate degree must submit both undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

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Degree/Accreditation Requirement

What is the degree requirement for ASHA certification in audiology?

Individuals applying for certification in audiology prior to January 1, 2012, must have been awarded a graduate degree (master's, doctoral, or other recognized graduate degree). Effective January 1, 2012, all applicants for audiology certification will be required to have an earned doctoral degree.

Will the AuD be the only degree that will be accepted by ASHA for the CCC-A after 2012?

No. Although most accredited clinical doctoral programs in audiology offer the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree, the CFCC's requirement for an earned doctoral degree does not exclude any specific designator (PhD, EdD, or ScD) to meet this standard.

In order for me to be certified, does my program need to be accredited, and by whom?

As was required under earlier standards, all graduate level academic course work and clinical practicum for ASHA certification must have been initiated and completed in a program that holds accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). You can find a list of accredited programs in your area using EdFind, ASHA's academic search engine.

Does my graduate degree have to have been awarded in audiology?

No. Your graduate degree may be in any area as long as you have completed a minimum of 75 semester credit hours of post-baccalaureate study addressing the knowledge and skills pertinent to the field of audiology.

What verification is required to prove that I have been awarded a graduate degree?

Applicants must submit either an official transcript showing the date the degree was awarded, or a letter from the registrar or program director indicating that the degree requirements have been completed, the degree designation, and the date the degree was or will be awarded.

If I submit a letter from the registrar or program director verifying that I will be receiving the degree, will I then need to submit an official transcript once the degree is awarded and posted to the transcript?

No. The letter will be sufficient evidence of your completion of degree requirements and verification that the degree will be awarded.

If I already have the CCC-A, will I have to get a doctoral degree by 2012 to maintain my certification?

No. Only individuals applying for initial certification, or those who were certified but allowed their certification to lapse and are reinstating after December 31, 2011, will be required to hold a doctoral degree. As long as your annual dues/fees remain current and your certification maintenance requirement is met every 3 years, you will not be required to obtain a doctoral degree.

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Course Work/Knowledge Areas

How much course work must be completed under the 2007 standards?

Applicants for certification in audiology must complete a minimum of 75 post-baccalaureate semester credit hours (112.50 quarter hours).

What prerequisite courses are required for certification?

Although there is not a uniform curriculum that all applicants must have followed, transcript credit is required as evidence of courses completed in the life sciences, physical sciences, behavioral sciences, and mathematics.

What courses are acceptable in those four areas?

Individual graduate programs will determine which courses are acceptable in life science, physical science, behavioral science, and mathematics. The CFCC believes that individual graduate programs are best equipped to make an assessment of which specific courses will best provide the appropriate and adequate prerequisite skills and knowledge for successful performance. A list of courses that might be accepted to satisfy the prerequisite requirement can be found in Standard IV.A2 of the audiology standards.

What professional area courses are required in audiology?

Here is a major difference between the 1993 standards and the 2007 standards. Under the 2007/2012 Audiology Certification Standards, the emphasis is on the acquisition of knowledge and skills, not on the completion of specific course work. A graduate program is required to periodically assess its students' acquisition of the knowledge and skills listed in Standards IV-B through IV-E and will determine which courses will permit acquisition of the mandated knowledge and skills.

How will the program director know that I have acquired the needed knowledge and skills?

Each academic program will have determined the specific student learning outcomes and mechanisms they will use to assess students' acquisition of knowledge and skills. The CFCC expects that programs will use a variety of mechanisms (e.g., performance on exams, submitted papers, performance in clinic) and will make these assessments on an on-going basis.

If a student receives a passing grade in a course, won't that indicate that he or she has gained a particular knowledge or skill?

It may, but a grade won't tell the CFCC which knowledge or skill has been mastered. Knowledge may be gained in more than one area through completion of a course. The CFCC is relying on academic and clinical instructors/supervisors to assess which knowledge and skills have been achieved and how they have been achieved.

Is there a requirement for a certain number of courses or semester hours in hearing disorders and hearing evaluation?

No. Beyond the prerequisite courses noted earlier, there are no specific courses in audiology required for certification; however, graduate programs will likely have requirements for course work that are above those required for ASHA certification and that is their prerogative. Additionally, individual state licensure boards may have requirements that are not the same as the ASHA certification requirements. It may be necessary for applicants to be able to provide a breakdown of courses and practicum hours to satisfy those licensure requirements.

Is there a requirement for course work in speech-language pathology? If so, how much?

The audiology certification standards do not mandate specific course work or clinical practicum in speech-language pathology, but do address acquisition of knowledge related to speech and language areas. As noted earlier however, individual graduate programs and licensure boards may have different requirements in this area.

In several of the standards, there is the phrase "the applicant must demonstrate...the acquisition of knowledge and skills." How will a student demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge?

The individual graduate programs will have developed mechanisms for assessing the acquisition of the knowledge and skills listed in the standards. Their verification, via completion of the "Verification by Program Director" page of the application, will be sufficient documentation to the CFCC that the applicant has met the requirements.

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Clinical Practicum

How much practicum must be completed for ASHA certification under the audiology standards?

This is another area where a difference from the 1993 audiology certification standards can be found. Applicants for certification under the current standards will be required to complete a minimum of 12 months full-time equivalent of supervised clinical practicum.

Twelve months of clinical practicum—how many hours is that?

Clinical experience under current standards must equal 52 weeks of full-time experience. The definition of full-time is 35 hours per week in direct patient/client contact, consultation, record keeping, and administrative duties relevant to audiology service delivery. The aggregate total is 1,820 clock hours of clinical practicum.

Why so many hours of clinical practicum?

In the 2007 standards there is no requirement for supervised clinical fellowship experience after completion of academic course work and clinical practicum. The Standards Council (the group that developed the new standards) received input from practicing professionals, graduate programs and a Skills Validation Study that indicated that the skills necessary for practice as an audiologist had to be gained while the individual was enrolled in a graduate program. An increase in the amount of practicum was the logical solution, thereby increasing the depth of skills acquired during the program and eliminating the need for the clinical fellowship experience after completion of the graduate degree.

What are the supervision requirements?

As stated in the implementation language for Standard III, supervision must be sufficient to ensure the welfare of the patient and the student in accordance with the ASHA Code of Ethics. The amount of supervision must also be appropriate to the student's level of training, education, experience, and competence.

Is there a breakdown of practicum hours for the various categories?

The standards do not specify a particular number of hours in different categories. Programs may determine the number of hours that they will require and licensure boards may require a specific number of hours in different categories. Students must be aware of the various requirements so that they will be able to meet the standards of these various entities.

Are there requirements for a certain amount of hours in the area of speech-language pathology?

No. For ASHA certification, activities must be within the scope of practice of audiology to meet the requirements. But as noted above, programs and state regulatory agencies may have requirements that differ from the ASHA certification standards.

Who can supervise the clinical practicum?

Only individuals holding current ASHA certification in audiology may supervise the hours required for ASHA certification. Other appropriate individuals, as determined by the graduate program, may supervise hours that are acquired beyond the ASHA certification requirements. The graduate program may use the input of all of these individuals in assessing the student's acquisition of knowledge and skills in particular areas.

What must be included in supervision?

Supervision must include direct observations, guidance, and feedback, to permit the student to monitor, evaluate, improve performance, and develop clinical competence.

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Forms and Documentation

How should a program track student progress in meeting ASHA standards?

Programs may use the mechanism of their choice to document and track student progress in the acquisition of knowledge and skills, including the KASA.

What form should individuals use to apply for ASHA certification?

The application form [PDF] addressing 2007 standards is available on the ASHA Web site. All applicants will submit pages 1 and 2 that provide their background information, as well as the "Verification by Program Director" page, which must be completed and signed by the director of the graduate educational program.

My program has been entering my information on a form called the KASA. What is the KASA and whose responsibility is it to keep?

KASA means Knowledge and Skills Acquisition. The KASA form [PDF] tracks students' progress in gaining the knowledge and skills required to earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence. In most programs, the maintenance of the KASA is a shared responsibility between faculty/staff and the student. At the completion of the graduate program, the program director will be required to review the KASA and complete the "Verification by Program Director" page that is part of the certification program.

What if my program is using a different form other than the KASA?

That's okay. The CFCC does not mandate that programs all use the same form so some programs may have developed their own forms or be using a computerized form to document student acquisition of knowledge and skills, as long as all of the relevant information is tracked.

What else must be submitted for certification?

All applicants will be required to submit verification of receipt of the graduate degree. This can be accomplished in one of two ways:

submission of an official transcript that shows the degree and the date it was earned
a letter from the graduate program director or university registrar verifying this information is acceptable in lieu of the official transcript if all course work, practicum and degree requirements have been completed and the degree will be awarded at a later date,

Additionally, if you are applying more than three years after receipt of the graduate degree, you will need to submit both undergraduate and graduate transcripts for all courses being used to meet ASHA certification requirements. And all applicants are required to submit payment of the appropriate dues/fees to initiate the certification process.

What happens if it is determined that a student has not met all of the requisite knowledge and skills for certification?

Programs must discuss their assessment of the student's knowledge and skill acquisition with the student and it is anticipated that the program will work with the student to develop a plan to address the need for further development. It is the program's responsibility to ensure that the student has met all of the knowledge and skills prior to signing the application for ASHA certification.

Can I apply for certification if I have not yet completed the exam?

Yes. Individuals are eligible for apply for certification once all graduate level academic course work and clinical practicum have been completed and they have been judged by the graduate program as having met all of the knowledge and skills mandated by the current standards.

After I apply for certification, how much time do I have to complete the requirements?

Once you apply for certification you have two (2) years in which to complete the process.

Before submitting my application, what things do I need to remember to do?

Be sure to review all of the paperwork you will be submitting to make sure that you have completed it correctly, that the application bears your signature on page 2, and that the "Verification by Program Director" page has been completed and signed by the director of your graduate program;
Before you send in your application, make a copy for your records. While it is a rare occurrence, there are times when materials are lost in the mail and applicants must submit a copy of the original forms in order to effect the application process. Additionally, the National Office does not retain paper copies of the forms you submit and they are not available once certification has been granted;
Please be sure that you have enclosed the appropriate payment either through check or credit card. ASHA accepts either MasterCard or Visa.

Once I send in my application, how long will it take to learn whether or not I have been certified?

It will take from 4 to 6 weeks from receipt of your complete application for it to be processed. Your attention and care in submitting the application and all required materials will make the process easier. You can check on the status of your application by e-mailing Certification Administration at certification@asha.org.

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Summative Assessment

What mechanism is used for summative assessment?

The summative assessment used for ASHA certification is the Praxis series examination in audiology administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Is the graduate program responsible for making sure students take the Praxis examination prior to graduation?

No, it is the student's responsibility to be sure that they have completed the examination at the appropriate time. The Praxis examination is designed to be taken once all academic course work and clinical practicum required for certification have been completed, but in many situations students take the exam as they are beginning their final year in the graduate program.

When the exam is taken, the applicant must list ASHA as a score recipient so that the results will be sent to the National Office. Additionally, it is helpful if the applicant lists their graduate program as a score recipient so that the program can report aggregate performance data periodically to the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) for the program's accreditation purposes.

What is the minimum passing score required for ASHA certification?

The current passing score in audiology is 600. In order for an applicant's score to be accepted a score for ASHA certification, it must be reported to ASHA by the Educational Testing Service (see above question). Score reports received directly from applicants are not acceptable for certification purposes.

How long do scores remain valid?

Exam results submitted for certification in audiology must have been obtained no more than 5 years prior to the submission of the certification application. Scores older than 5 years will not be accepted for certification.

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Clinical Fellowship

There is no reference in the new standards to a Clinical Fellowship. Why not?

This is another major area of difference between 1993 and 2007 standards. Under the 2007 audiology standards there is no clinical fellowship requirement. It is the position of the CFCC that the increase in clinical practicum hours and experience makes a clinical fellowship after completion of graduate education unnecessary.

Certification Maintenance

Once I am certified, what do I need to do to maintain my certification?

You must do three things to maintain your certified status: 1) pay your annual dues/fees when billed, 2) continue to abide by the ASHA Code of Ethics, and 3) participate in continuing professional development hours sufficient to meet the Certification Maintenance Requirements outlined on the ASHA Web site.

What happens if I don't pay the annual fees or if I don't comply with the Certification Maintenance Requirement?

Failure to pay annual fees or meet the maintenance requirement will cause your certification to lapse. Should you decide at a later date that you wish to again be certified, you will need to meet the Certification Reinstatement Requirements in effect at the time you submit your reinstatement application. Current certification maintenance requirements and reinstatement procedures are detailed on the ASHA Web site.

To be sure that you receive important information regarding your maintenance interval and your annual invoices for dues/fees, be sure to notify the National Office of any name, address, and e-mail changes as they occur. You may make these changes yourself on the member section of the Web site, or by calling the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071.

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Other Information

Once I graduate, can I begin working without supervision?

Submission of your application does not mean that you are certified. Until you receive notification from the National Office that certification has been awarded, you may not present yourself as being certified and you may not provide independent clinical services, or supervise students or audiology aides/assistants.

How will I be informed that I have been awarded certification?

You will receive three things in the mail: 1) a letter of congratulations on your newly received certification, 2) a letter verifying your certification that can be shown to your employer, and 3) a Certificate Order Form to order your copy of the Certificate of Clinical Competence.

When will I receive the actual Certificate of Clinical Competence?

If you wish to receive the actual Certificate, you will need to complete the Certificate Order Form (see above question) and return it to the National Office. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks after submission of your order form to receive the Certificate.

Will ASHA notify my state licensure board/regulatory agency once I am certified?

We will be happy to notify anyone you designate once you become certified, but ASHA does not automatically send verification of certification to other entities. If you need a verification letter once you have been awarded certification, contact the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071 to have a letter prepared and sent to the entity you designate.

If I have more questions or need help, is there anyone I can talk with?

Yes, there is assistance available. You can contact the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071 if you have general questions about the certification process. For specific information regarding your file, please contact the Certification Administration Team who have access to the materials you have submitted. The phone number for the Certification Administration Team is available on the ASHA Web site and will also appear on information you are sent when you submit your application for certification.

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This page was updated on: 11/7/2008.

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