Frequently Asked Questions About 2012 Audiology Standards
Implementation Dates
Degree/Accreditation Requirement
Course Work/Knowledge Areas
Clinical Practicum
Forms and Documentation
Summative Assessment
Clinical Fellowship
Certification Maintenance
Other Information
Implementation Dates
When did the 2012 Audiology Standards take effect?
The 2012 Audiology Standards took effect January 1, 2012, and require that all individuals applying for initial or reinstatement of certification as of that date have an earned doctoral degree. The 2012 Audiology Standards are a result of a Practice and Curriculum Analysis of the Profession of Audiology that was conducted in 2007 under the auspices of the CAA and CFCC. The CFCC reviewed the survey data and determined that the Standards for Clinical Certification and the Praxis examination blueprint needed revision in order to be in line with the results of the survey. Proposed Standards were distributed for select and widespread peer review in 2008 and all comments were considered in the final version of the document. The CFCC approved the 2012 Audiology Standards in July 2009 and set an implementation date of January 1, 2012.
Degree/Accreditation Requirement
What is the degree requirement for ASHA certification in audiology?
Individuals applying for certification in audiology beginning January 1, 2012, must have been awarded a doctoral degree.
Is the AuD the only degree that is accepted by ASHA under the 2012 Audiology Standards?
No. Although most accredited clinical doctoral programs in audiology offer the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree, the CFCC's requirement for an earned doctoral degree does not exclude any specific designator (PhD, EdD, or ScD) to meet this standard.
In order for me to be certified, does my program need to be accredited, and by whom?
As was required under earlier standards, all graduate level academic course work and clinical practicum for ASHA certification must have been initiated and completed in a program that holds accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). You can find a list of accredited programs in your area using EdFind, ASHA's academic search engine.
Does my doctoral degree have to have been awarded in audiology?
No. Your graduate degree may be in any area as long as you have completed sufficient course work and clinical practicum to successfully meet the knowledge and skill requirements mandated by the audiology certification standards.
What verification is required to prove that I have been awarded a graduate degree?
Applicants must submit either an official transcript showing the date the degree was awarded, or a letter from the registrar indicating that the degree requirements have been completed, the degree designation, and the date the degree was or will be awarded.
If I submit a letter from the registrar verifying that I will be receiving the degree, will I then need to submit an official transcript once the degree is awarded and posted to the transcript?
Yes. Certification cannot be awarded until an official transcript has been received confirming your receipt of a doctoral degree.
If I already have the CCC-A, will I have to have a doctoral degree beginning in 2012 to maintain my certification?
No. Only individuals applying for initial certification, or those whose certification was dropped or has been revoked and are reinstating after December 31, 2011, will be required to hold a doctoral degree. As long as your annual dues/fees remain current and your certification maintenance requirement is met every 3 years, you will not be required to obtain a doctoral degree.
Course Work/Knowledge Areas
How much course work must be completed under the 2012 standards?
Applicants for certification must complete a program of study that includes academic course work and a minimum of 1,820 hours of supervised clinical practicum sufficient in depth and breadth to achieve the knowledge and skills outcomes stipulated in Standard IV. The supervision must be provided by individuals who hold the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Audiology.
How will the program director know that I have acquired the needed knowledge and skills?
Each academic program will have determined the specific student learning outcomes and mechanisms they will use to assess students' acquisition of knowledge and skills. The CFCC expects that programs will use a variety of mechanisms (e.g., performance on exams, submitted papers, performance in clinic) and will make these assessments on an on-going basis.
If a student receives a passing grade in a course, won't that indicate that he or she has gained a particular knowledge or skill?
It may, but a grade won't tell the CFCC which knowledge or skill has been mastered. Knowledge may be gained in more than one area through completion of a course. The CFCC is relying on academic and clinical instructors/supervisors to assess which knowledge and skills have been achieved and how they have been achieved.
Clinical Practicum
How much practicum must be completed for ASHA certification under the audiology standards?
Applicants for certification must complete 1,820 hours of supervised clinical practicum at the graduate level. Supervision must be provided by individuals who hold the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Audiology. Hours may be counted for direct patient/client contact, consultation, record keeping, and administrative duties relevant to audiology service delivery.
What are the supervision requirements?
As stated in the implementation language for Standard III, supervision must be sufficient to ensure the welfare of the patient and the student in accordance with the ASHA Code of Ethics. The amount of supervision must also be appropriate to the student's level of training, education, experience, and competence.
Who can supervise the clinical practicum?
Only individuals holding current ASHA certification in audiology may supervise the hours required for ASHA certification. Other appropriate individuals, as determined by the graduate program, may supervise hours that are acquired beyond the ASHA certification requirements. The graduate program may use the input of all of these individuals in assessing the student's acquisition of knowledge and skills in particular areas.
What must be included in supervision?
Supervision must include direct observations, guidance, and feedback, to permit the student to monitor, evaluate, improve performance, and develop clinical competence.
Does ASHA have a policy on pay for practicum?
ASHA policy allows students to receive pay for services they provide within the clinical practicum setting. However, some academic programs or state licensure laws may have policies that prohibit students from being paid for their practicum work. In such cases, ASHA defers to the university's or state's decision about such payment.
Forms and Documentation
How should a program track student progress in meeting ASHA standards?
Programs may use the mechanism of their choice to document and track student progress in the acquisition of knowledge and skills.
What form should individuals use to apply for ASHA certification?
The application form [PDF] addressing 2012 standards is available on the ASHA website. All applicants will submit pages 1 and 2 that provide their background information, as well as the "Verification by Program Director" page, which must be completed and signed by the director of the graduate educational program.
Where is the KASA form? I can't find it on the website.
KASA refers to the Knowledge and Skills Acquisition form previously used by the Council For Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) for applicants for clinical certification. This form is no longer used for certification and has never been a requirement for accreditation purposes. Please refer to How to Apply for Audiology Certification in the certification section of the ASHA website for current information about the application process for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in audiology.
What else must be submitted for certification?
All applicants will be required to submit verification of receipt of the graduate degree. This can be accomplished in one of two ways:
- submission of an official transcript that shows the degree and the date it was earned,
- a letter from the program director or university registrar verifying this information is acceptable in lieu of the official transcript if all course work, practicum, and degree requirements have been completed, and the degree will be awarded at a later date.
All applicants are also required to submit payment of the appropriate dues/fees to initiate the certification process.
What happens if it is determined that a student has not met all of the requisite knowledge and skills for certification?
Programs must discuss their assessment of the student's knowledge and skill acquisition with the student and it is anticipated that the program will work with the student to develop a plan to address the need for further development. It is the program's responsibility to ensure that the student has met all of the knowledge and skills prior to signing the application for ASHA certification.
Can I apply for certification if I have not yet completed the exam?
Yes. Individuals are eligible for apply for certification once all graduate level academic course work and clinical practicum have been completed and they have been judged by the graduate program as having met all of the knowledge and skills mandated by the current standards.
After I apply for certification, how much time do I have to complete the requirements?
Once you apply for certification you have two (2) years in which to complete the process.
Before submitting my application, what things do I need to remember to do?
- Be sure to review all of the paperwork you will be submitting to make sure that you have completed it correctly, that the application bears your signature on page 2, and that the "Verification by Program Director" page has been completed and signed by the director of your graduate program;
- Before you send in your application, make a copy for your records. While it is a rare occurrence, there are times when materials are lost in the mail and applicants must submit a copy of the original forms in order to effect the application process. Additionally, the National Office does not retain paper copies of the forms you submit and copies are not available once certification has been granted;
- Please be sure that you have enclosed the appropriate payment either through check or credit card. ASHA accepts either MasterCard or Visa.
Once I send in my application, how long will it take to learn whether or not I have been certified?
It will take about 4 weeks from receipt of your complete application for it to be processed. Your attention and care in submitting the application and all required materials will make the process easier. You can check on the status of your application by e-mailing Certification Administration at certification@asha.org.
Summative Assessment
What mechanism is used for summative assessment?
The summative assessment used for ASHA certification is the Praxis series examination in audiology administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
Is the graduate program responsible for making sure students take the Praxis examination prior to graduation?
No, it is the student's responsibility to be sure that they have completed the examination at the appropriate time. The Praxis examination is designed to be taken once all academic course work and clinical practicum required for certification have been completed, but in many situations students take the exam as they are beginning their final year in the graduate program.
When the exam is taken, the applicant must list ASHA as a score recipient so that the results will be sent to the National Office. Additionally, it is helpful if the applicant lists their graduate program as a score recipient so that the program can report aggregate performance data periodically to the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) for the program's accreditation purposes.
What is the minimum passing score required for ASHA certification?
The current passing score in audiology is 600, however the passing score will become 170 as of January 1, 2013. In order for an applicant's score to be accepted a score for ASHA certification, it must be reported to ASHA by the Educational Testing Service (see above question). Score reports received directly from applicants are not acceptable for certification purposes.
How long do scores remain valid?
Exam results submitted for certification in audiology must have been obtained no more than 5 years prior to the submission of the certification application. Scores older than 5 years will not be accepted for certification.
Clinical Fellowship
There is no reference in the standards to a Clinical Fellowship. Why not?
It is the position of the CFCC that the increase in clinical practicum hours and experience makes a clinical fellowship after completion of graduate education unnecessary.
Certification Maintenance
Once I am certified, what do I need to do to maintain my certification?
You must do three things to maintain your certified status:
- pay your annual dues/fees when billed
- continue to abide by the ASHA Code of Ethics
- participate in continuing professional development hours sufficient to meet the Certification Maintenance Requirements outlined on the ASHA website
What happens if I don't pay the annual fees or if I don't comply with the Certification Maintenance Requirement?
Failure to pay annual fees or meet the maintenance requirement will cause your certification to be dropped or revoked. Should you decide at a later date that you wish to again be certified, you will need to meet the Certification Reinstatement Requirements in effect at the time you submit your reinstatement application. Current certification maintenance requirements and reinstatement procedures are detailed on the ASHA website.
Other Information
Does submitting an application mean that I am ASHA certified?
Submission of your application does not mean that you are certified. Until you receive notification from the National Office that your certification has been awarded, you may not
- present yourself as holding the CCC-A,
- represent that you are certified by ASHA,
- act in any manner that signifies ASHA certification.
How do I make sure that I receive all important communications from ASHA about my certification?
To be sure that you receive important information regarding your certification status, maintenance interval, and annual invoices for dues/fees, be sure to notify the National Office of any name, address, and e-mail changes as they occur. You may make these changes yourself on the member section of the website, or by calling the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071.
How will I be informed that I have been awarded certification?
You will receive three things in the mail:
- a letter of congratulations on your newly received certification
- a letter verifying your certification that can be shown to your employer
- a Certificate Order Form to order your copy of the Certificate of Clinical Competence
When will I receive the actual Certificate of Clinical Competence?
If you wish to receive the actual Certificate, you will need to complete the Certificate Order Form (see above question) and return it to the National Office. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks after submission of your order form to receive the Certificate.
Will ASHA notify my state licensure board/regulatory agency once I am certified?
We will be happy to notify anyone you designate once you become certified, but ASHA does not automatically send verification of certification to other entities. If you need a verification letter once you have been awarded certification, contact the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071 to have a letter prepared and sent to the entity you designate.
If I have more questions or need help, is there anyone I can talk with?
Yes, there is assistance available. You can contact the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071 if you have general questions about the certification process. For specific information regarding your file, please contact the Certification Administration Team who have access to the materials you have submitted. The phone number for the Certification Administration Team is available on the ASHA website and will also appear on information you are sent when you submit your application for certification.