Certification Standards for Audiology Frequently Asked Questions: Clinical Practicum 

How much practicum must be completed for ASHA certification under the audiology standards?

The Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) no longer prescribes a specific number of hours of supervised clinical practicum. Applicants and their programs will have to ensure that their experience meets CAA standards for duration, and for depth and breadth of knowledge.

What are the supervision requirements?

As stated in Standard III, applicants for certification must have completed supervised clinical practicum under an experienced ASHA-certified audiologist (1) who has a minimum of 9 months of full-time clinical experience, and (2) who has completed at least 2 hours of professional development in the area of clinical instruction/supervision. The experiences must meet CAA standards for duration and be sufficient to demonstrate the acquisition of the knowledge and skills identified in Standard II.

What if my supervisor didn't/doesn't meet the requirements?

Any portion of the applicant’s supervised clinical experience that was not completed under an audiologist meeting the requirements above can be completed post-graduation. Applicants who apply for certification without completing a full, supervised clinical experience under a clinical instructor/supervisor who meets the requirement above within their degree program will have 24 months from their application-received date to initiate the remainder of their experience and will have 48 months from the initiation date of their post-graduation supervised clinical experience to complete the experience.

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.