American Board of Audiology Certified

Licensure represents a government process by which a state or federal agency grants an individual permission to practice a profession and constitutes the legal right to practice that profession within the state. It is generally mandatory and must be renewed periodically. Licensure is an important form of consumer protection in that loss of an audiology license prohibits an individual from practicing audiology within the state or federal agency. 

Certification, however, is generally voluntary and is not required* to practice the profession. Loss of certification in audiology does not prohibit the practice of the profession, so long as licensure is maintained. Certification, however, represents a self-governing standard that serves to inform consumers, peers, and other healthcare professionals of the scope of practice and training of the credential holder or certificant.

ABA certification is a voluntary, nationally recognized standard that is not tied to membership in any professional organization.

*See the last FAQ below for a list of states that either require a certification for licensure or accept certification in lieu of other licensure requirements.

This certification may be a preferred option for audiologists who are interested in demonstrating that they adhere to a higher standard of practice as evidenced by the greater number of hours of professional experience and the continuing education hours that are required by the ABA. Some may simply prefer to support a certification program that was designed by and for audiologists. It is a matter of personal choice.

The ABA processes applications in the order in which they are received. If all required documentation is received in a timely manner, the application review takes on less than a week. You will be contacted when your application has been received in the event additional information is required.

Many employers and third-party payers have been informed of the high standards required for the ABA Certified credential. For written verification of your credential, have your employer or third-party payer contact the ABA at aba@audiology.org.

ABA certification is voluntary, and was developed to meet the needs of audiologists who asked for a national certification not tied to membership in any organization. ABA certification was developed by and designed exclusively for audiologists. The ABA credential demonstrates a commitment to a quest for excellence through lifelong learning.

Check with your state licensure board. Several states recognize the ABA Certified credential in lieu documenting Praxis scores and/or supervised clinical experience when applying for an audiology license. These states include: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island (for Master’s degree only), Texas, and Washington.

In addition, several states require each licensure applicant to hold an audiology certification. The ABA Certified credential is one of two certifications that meet that requirement in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Mississippi (for Master’s degree only), Nevada, New Mexico, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wyoming.

To have verification of your credential sent to a state board, either by mail or through email, please contact aba@audiology.org.