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 — 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.