Candidate Questions
An audiologist wishing to take the examination for PASC must meet the following requirements:
- Graduated from an accredited audiology program with a masters or doctoral degree
- Hold current state licensure or registration as an audiologist – or – be ABA Certified in the international category
- Completed two years of post-degree, full-time (2,000) hours paid professional experience as an audiologist. Externship hours are ineligible.
- Demonstrate five hundred fifty (550) direct pediatric patient post-graduate contact hours within a two-year period during the past five years. Direct patient contact may include the following areas:
- screening and diagnostic evaluation,
- counseling (patient and family) and
- habilitation/rehabilitation.
- The candidate must also demonstrate fifty (50) post-graduate hours of case management of pediatric cases within a two-year period during the past five (5) years. Case management may include:
- involvement in team meetings,
- school visits
- interface with other agencies involved in pediatric patient care.
- Two (2) references from professionals (preferably supervisors or colleagues familiar with the candidate's work in the area of pediatric audiology) verifying the number of hours worked and eligibility for the specialty credential.
Holding the PASC demonstrates to colleagues, other healthcare providers, patients, and employers that you have obtained a high level of knowledge in the area of pediatric audiology. When an employer is seeking to hire a pediatric audiologist, when another audiologist or other healthcare provider is looking to make a referral, or when a patient is seeking a pediatric audiologist, holding a PASC advertises that you are an expert in this area of audiology and are a primary referral destination for children with audio-vestibular disorders.
Once a complete application has been submitted and it has been determined that a candidate has met the criteria described above (see “What are the eligibility requirements for an audiologist to sit for the PASC exam?”), the candidate is notified of eligibility by the ABA.
If you would like to verify that the ABA has received your credentials and other documentation prior to the exam, contact the ABA via telephone at 800.881.5410 or via e-mail to aba@audiology.org.
The examination has been written within subject areas defined by a group of nationally recognized experts in pediatric audiology. These are publicly available and are located in the Exam Content section of the ABA website.
The ABA has published a list of references that may help you prepare for the PASC exam.
The methodology used to set the minimum passing score is the Angoff method, one of the most widely used approaches to applying standards on examinations. In this method, a panel of experts rates each question according to how many competent examinees would typically choose the correct answer. These ratings are averaged and summed to create a cut score for each exam. Pass/fail score determination is based, therefore, on knowledge displayed, not on the performance of other candidates. Passing scores vary slightly for each version of the examination.
The overall pass rate for first-time takers of the PASC exam since 2011 is 74%. The pass rate for first-time takers in 2022 was 84% and in 2023 was 83%.
Candidates can expect to receive results in 8 weeks following their examination date.
A candidate failing to pass the exam may re-take the exam at his or her discretion for up to five (5) years following the first test date. Each time the exam is taken, a candidate must pay a new examination fee.
Specialty certification must be renewed every three (3) years.
All certificants must obtain sixty (60) hours of continuing education in the following categories every three years. This is the case whether the certificant also holds board certification or not.
- A total of sixty (60) hours of continuing education
- Thirty (30) of the sixty (60) hours must be in pediatrics
- Three (3) of the sixty (60) hours must be in ethics
- Fifteen (15) of the sixty (60) hours must be at the Tier 1 level (do not need to be in pediatrics)
Yes, since ABA Certified has an annual recertification and PASC is every three years, they will be managed on two separate schedules.
Parent/Caregiver Questions
An audiologist achieving the PASC has demonstrated that he or she has achieved a high level of expertise in the area of pediatric audiology. This has been demonstrated by passing an examination, demonstrating a minimum level of professional practice, proving adherence to a strict code of ethics, and achieving the highest level of continuing education required by any licensing, membership, or certifying body in audiology.
The ABA is dedicated to offering credentials that identify those audiologists who wish to achieve and maintain a high standard of professional education and practice. In addition to board certification in audiology, the ABA created PASC because it was the most rapidly growing area of audiology. This is driven largely by significant strides in identification of hearing loss in infants and young children and subsequent efforts to achieve intervention at an early age. This movement, known as Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI), has driven a need for many more audiologists to be available to care for children identified with hearing loss. As part of this need, the ABA, other professional organizations, audiologists throughout the United States and abroad, and even state agencies, recognized a need for specialty certification in this area. Those who have dedicated themselves to achieving a high level of knowledge in this area now can be identified through successful completion of a rigorous examination and adherence to high standards of ethics and continuing education.
You may verify whether any audiologist holds specialty certification in pediatrics audiology by visiting the ABA’s Find a Certified Pediatric Audiologist page.
Simply put, because your child deserves it! Not all audiologists work with children regularly and not all audiologists who do can demonstrate the level of specialty knowledge of someone who holds the PASC. When you visit an audiologist who holds the PASC, you know that he or she has met the highest standards in pediatric audiology and is the best provider to treat and coordinate care for your child.
It is probable that your child has received very good, appropriate care. However, you do not have the assurance that your audiologist has undergone the rigorous process of examination and review by her/his peers. Whenever you visit an audiologist, you should ensure that he/she holds state licensure (military and other federal agencies excepted). These audiologists are still held to certain standards of conduct, but have not demonstrated the extra level of knowledge and high standards of professional education as those who do hold the PASC.
Not necessarily. It is important to realize that pediatrics is a broad field and many audiologists will specialize in specific areas of diagnosis and treatment (such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, surgical monitoring, evaluation with ABR, educational audiology, and others). However, it is important to recognize that an audiologist holding the PASC has demonstrated a high level of knowledge in the field of pediatric audiology. If the first audiologist you see is not able to meet all of your child’s needs, he or she should be able to direct you to a specialist who can.
Employer Questions
As an employer in a pediatric facility, you need to be concerned about whether a new employee will be capable of providing clinical services right away, as well the time until that audiologist becomes a productive member of your team. An audiologist holding the PASC has demonstrated a high level of knowledge and continuing education in the area of pediatrics. Hiring only audiologists with the PASC helps to ensure that you will be hiring the individuals who you want treating patients in your facility.
You may verify whether any audiologist holds specialty certification in pediatrics audiology by visiting the ABA’s Find a Certified Pediatric Audiologist page. If you need written verification of an individual’s PASC credential, please contact ABA at aba@audiology.org.
Other Healthcare Provider Questions
When you refer a patient for audiologic care, particularly a child, you want to ensure that the child will receive the best possible care. The PASC designation is the only way that you can ensure the audiologists to whom you refer have met the high standards of knowledge and education required of those obtaining this certification. By doing so, you will help to ensure that your pediatric patients are receiving the best possible audiologic care.
You may verify whether any audiologist holds specialty certification in pediatric audiology by visiting the ABA’s Find a Certified Pediatric Audiologist page. If you need written verification of an individual’s PASC credential, please contact ABA at aba@audiology.org.
