AUDIOLOGISTS SENT BACK TO SCHOOL

See in the past Audiologists were able to get a degree by simply completing a Masters Degree in Audiology (they were not held to the same standards as a doctor). The original Masters Degree in Audiology was intended for Researchers or Instructors. In 2007 the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) changed the degree requirements for licensing in Audiology (coincidentally after the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) came out with their Position Statement; quoted in the last blog post) . It would no longer be acceptable to have a 4 year Bachelors degree and 45 credit hours focus in Audiology; it was recommended that Audiologists with this kind of degree went back to school for an AuD degree. There was so much information that changed in the world of Audiology they needed to make sure that Audiologists were up on the issues, they were also concerned that coursework offered little help in aiding the public. Audiologists now must have at least the AuD  which requires a bachelors degree with an emphasis on communication disorders, an additional 75 credit hours post baccalaureate course work in  Audiology, 12 months of supervised experience in the field, and passing all necessary exams. (History)