How to become an Audiologist (AuD)
Audiologists diagnose + treat hearing and balance disorders across the lifespan. The entry-level credential moved from master's to Doctor of Audiology (AuD) in 2007, so all current entry paths are doctoral. About 14,000 audiologists practice in the US per BLS.
Undergraduate
Most AuD programs accept candidates from any bachelor's major + completion of prerequisite courses (typically a year of biology, physics, chemistry, statistics, and several CSD or speech-and-hearing-sciences courses). Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is the most direct undergraduate major; psychology + biology are also common.
Doctoral program
The Doctor of Audiology (AuD) is a 4-year clinical doctorate accredited by CAA (Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology). Curriculum covers anatomy + physiology of the auditory + vestibular systems, audiometric testing, hearing aids + cochlear implants, pediatric audiology, vestibular assessment, electrophysiology, balance disorders, and ~1,820 hours of supervised clinical practicum culminating in a fourth-year externship.
Credentialing + licensure
After graduation, candidates take the Praxis Examination in Audiology administered by ETS. Pass = eligible for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) from ASHA, the standard credential most employers + insurers require. State licensure (all 50 states + DC) is separate; most states accept CCC-A directly.
Practice settings
Otolaryngology (ENT) practices, hospital audiology departments, school-based audiology (educational audiologist credential adds state-dependent requirements), Veterans Affairs (one of the largest US audiology employers), private hearing-aid + cochlear-implant practices, balance + vestibular specialty clinics, pediatric specialty hospitals, military medicine.
Compensation
BLS reports median annual audiologist salary around $87k-$92k. VA + hospital settings + senior management roles command meaningfully more; private-practice owners earn highly variable income based on case mix + product fitting. Specialty certifications (Cochlear Implant, Vestibular Audiology) add a modest premium.