How to become an audiologist

1. 1Earn a bachelor's degree with science prerequisites

   Time: 4 yearsCost: Varies by collegeSources 1

   Au.D. programs admit students from many majors, but communication sciences and disorders, biology, psychology and physics are common choices. Prerequisite courses differ by program; many ask for science and statistics, so check the list for each program you are considering early. Shadowing an audiologist in a clinic or hospital and volunteering with people who have hearing loss will strengthen your application.

2. 2Choose an accredited Au.D. program

   Time: Senior yearCost: Application fees varySources 5, 4, 6

   Check that the program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), which accredits clinical doctoral programs in audiology. ASHA's CCC-A requires an Au.D. from a CAA-accredited program or one in candidacy status, and state boards typically require an accredited degree. Compare cost, clinical placement sites and graduates' Praxis pass rates; resident and nonresident tuition can differ by tens of thousands of dollars.

3. 3Complete the Au.D. and clinical training

   Time: 3 to 4 yearsCost: $51,497.78 to $103,937.78 at KU (a 3-year program), for exampleSources 1, 6, 10

   Coursework covers anatomy and physiology of the ear and brain, acoustics, hearing and balance assessment, hearing aids and implants, pediatric audiology and statistics. Clinical practice runs through the program under supervising audiologists, in university clinics, hospitals, ENT offices and schools. ASHA's 2020 standards do not set a fixed number of practicum hours; clinical experience must meet CAA duration standards and be supervised by an ASHA-certified audiologist.

4. 4Pass the Praxis Audiology exam

   Time: 2-hour test, near the end of the programCost: $146Sources 3, 8

   The Praxis Audiology (5343) exam from ETS has 120 selected-response questions in 2 hours, delivered by computer, and covers prevention and screening, assessment, intervention and professional practice. ASHA requires a score of 162 for the CCC-A and recommends taking it no earlier than the end of graduate coursework and clinical practicum, or during the first year of practice after graduation. Scores must be no more than 5 years old when you apply.

5. 5Get your state license and ASHA certification

   Time: Varies by stateCost: $446 to $490 for the CCC-A, plus state feesSources 4, 2, 8

   Apply to your state's audiology licensing board; requirements usually include an accredited Au.D. and a passing Praxis score, and some states add a law exam or a separate rule for dispensing hearing aids. Many audiologists also apply for ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A), which costs $446 without membership or $490 with it. Use the CareerOneStop License Finder for your state's board.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Precise testing

Small errors in masking or calibration in the sound booth can lead to the wrong diagnosis or a poorly fitted hearing aid.

Explaining results plainly

Patients and parents need to understand an audiogram and their options before they can decide on hearing aids or implants.

Patience

Older adults may take several visits to adjust to hearing aids, and testing young children can require games and repeated attempts.

Comfort with technology

Hearing aids, cochlear implants and test equipment are programmed through software that changes with every product generation.

Fine motor skills

Earwax removal, ear impressions and handling tiny hearing aid parts take a steady hand.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: reading comprehension, active listening, writing, speaking, critical thinking.

Training cost

$52.1K–$105K

Before financial aid

Time

8 years after high school

Typical path

Median pay

$95,780

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

1.2–2.3 yrs

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Au.D. tuition and fees only, using the University of Kansas Medical Center's published estimate for its 3-year, 89-credit-hour Au.D. as an example of a public program. Low: KU's estimated total tuition and fees for Kansas residents, $51,497.78, plus the Praxis Audiology fee of $146 and the ASHA CCC-A fee without membership, $446. High: KU's estimate for nonresidents, $103,937.78, plus the same $592. Four-year and private programs may cost more. Not included: the bachelor's degree, books, equipment, state license fees and living costs. College Scorecard puts median federal loan debt for graduates of these professional programs at $63,244.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Speech-language pathologist$97,870 median

  Requires a master's degree in speech-language pathology, a clinical fellowship and a separate license; the two fields share undergraduate coursework.

• Clinic owner or practice manager$123,860 median

  Many audiologists open or run private practices; business or healthcare management training helps with billing, staffing and marketing.

• University professor or researcher$82,250 median

  Usually requires a Ph.D. in audiology or hearing science, often combined with an Au.D.

• Physician (otolaryngologist)$244,180 median

  Becoming an ENT doctor means medical school and a multi-year surgical residency, a separate path rather than a promotion.