Those who become audiologists are not only interested in audiology, biology and mathematics, they must have an aptitude for academic work in these areas, as well as the intellectual and emotional stamina needed to complete the necessary educational requirements.
Audiologists must also be manually dexterous in order to utilize specialized equipment and conduct experiments. They must be comfortable working with children and adults, and must have a genuine interest in their health.
Below we've outlined what you'll need to begin a career as an audiologist. We've also included helpful information for this career, such as job description, job duties, salary expectations, a list of possible employers and much more!
Education You'll Need
To become an audiologist in Canada, the minimum educational requirement is a master’s degree in audiology. Admission to master’s degree programs in audiology generally require a certain grade point average within a specified body of coursework, usually related to the physical sciences.
In the United States, the minimum education requirement is a doctorate in audiology (AuD). AuD programs may also be offered in Canada in the next few years.
Where Do Audiologists Work? Who Employs Them?
Audiologists can work as clinicians, researchers, educators and administrators. The capacity they choose to operate within typically determines where they work. The following types of organizations may hire audiologists:
Working as Clinicians:
• Private practice offices
• Hospitals
• Schools
• Community health centres
• Auditory rehabilitation centres
Working as Researchers & Educators:
• Hospitals
• Colleges and universities
• Government agencies
• Private research firms
Working as Administrators of Speech and Hearing Programs
• Government agencies
• Non-profit organizations
• Hospitals and clinics
General Job Description
An audiologist is responsible for providing treatment and counseling services to adults and children who have hearing and balance disorders. Audiologists utilize a variety of procedures and advanced technology to diagnose and treat their patients.
Typical Job Duties
• Check hearing and balance disorders using a variety of specialized equipment
• Determine the location, type and severity of the hearing or balance problem
• Develop and implement assistance or training programs, such as instruction in speech reading
• Recommend available community resources
• Teach clients how to use the appropriate listening aid
• Maintain comprehensive client records
• Consult with other health professionals
Fields of Specialty Within This Profession
There are many different fields of specialty within audiology you can pursue based on your interests, competencies and career goals. Some of these specialties include:
Clinical: Clinical audiologists work in healthcare settings, such as clinics and hospitals, where they test hearing using a variety of audiological testing methods. These audiologists also assess and treat middle ear problems, and prescribe hearing aids.
Paediatric: Paediatric audiologists work in healthcare facilities or in school settings, where they assess the hearing of children.
Aural Rehabilitation: Aural rehabilitation audiologists are responsible for training people to hear better, as well as training them to get better use from hearing aids and other assistive listening devices.
Industry or Military: The work of audiologists that work in private industry, or for the military, is primarily focused on hearing conservation, noise reduction, and hearing protection.
Dispensing: Dispensing audiologists typically work in private practice, and they are often involved in fitting and dispensing hearing aids.
Research and Teaching: Audiologists that are involved in research and teaching are typically employed by universities and colleges, and some may work for private research firms.
Other Areas of Specialty: Some audiologists work with implantable hearing devices, such as cochlear implants, from the assessment stage to post-surgical programming. Other audiologists may focus their work on neuro-otology or perform intraoperative monitoring of the hearing nerve (the 8th cranial nerve).
Success Tip: Pursue Job-Shadowing Opportunities
If you want to know more about becoming an audiologist before you commit to this career, you should contact an audiologist in your area and ask if they will let you job-shadow them for an agreed-upon period of time. This will not only give you an excellent idea of what an audiologist’s job is like, it may also be an entrance requirement for some university audiology programs.
How Much Do Audiologists Make?
The salary level of audiologists can vary depending on where they work, their area of specialty, their level of education, their level of experience, the specific requirements of their job, and many others.
Salary - Canada (Alberta figures only): According to the 2018 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans working as part of the Audiologists occupational group is $100,381 per year. Unfortunately, no similar statistics were available from reliable sources for other Canadian provinces or territories at the time of writing (June 10, 2019).
Salary - United States: According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of Audiologists is $66,660 per year (2010 figures). The lowest 10 percent of salaries in this group are lower than $42,590, and the top 10 percent are higher than $102,210.
Job Openings - Current Opportunities
Our job board below has audiologist postings in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Similar Career Profiles in Our Database
Listed below are careers in our database that are similar in nature to audiologist, as they may involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities.
• Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist
• Doctor
References
Please use the references below to find more information on the various aspects of this profession.
Occupations in Alberta: “Audiologist” (March 31, 2018). ALIS website - Alberta Learning Information Service. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
Healthcare: “Audiologists.” (September 4, 2019). Occupational Outlook Handbook - United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
Audiology: “Becoming an Audiologist.” (n.d.). Speech-Language & Audiology Canada website. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
Scholarships for Becoming an Audiologist
The "Relevant Fields of Study" section below shows fields of study relevant for becoming an audiologist. You can find scholarships matched to those fields of study on the following pages:
Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
Relevant Fields of Study
Studying one of the university majors listed below is an excellent starting point for working in this profession. Click on the links to find out what else you can do with these majors!
