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Learn How to Become an Audiologist: Education, Licensing & Certification

Read about audiology schools and careers, including job description and salary information.

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By: All Allied Health Staff

Updated: December 4, 2025

Home » Specialties » Audiologist

Audiologist At a Glance

  • What you’ll do: Once you’ve decided to become an audiologist, you’ll diagnose and treat patients suffering from hearing, central auditory processing, and balance disorders. Working with patients of all ages, you’ll measure hearing ability and function; provide aural rehabilitation to reduce the effects of hearing loss on communication, learning and job performance; fit for hearing aids; and conduct research.
  • Degree you’ll need: Doctoral degree and state licensing
  • Median annual salary: $95,780

Education to Become an Audiologist

New audiologists must earn a doctorate in order to begin practicing. The doctoral degree in audiology (AudD) is a four-year graduate program that you can enter while having a bachelor’s degree in any field.

Some audiology programs, like the one at the University of Washington, allow you to specialize in an area of interest, such as pediatric, geriatric, or educational audiology. Your coursework will be more specialized accordingly.

Audiologist Coursework

  • Anatomy and Physiology: Peripheral Hearing
  • Psycho-acoustics
  • Signals, Systems & Acoustics for the Communication Sciences
  • Biological Foundations of Speech & Music
  • Amplification
  • Clinical Practice and Practicum

Typically, your first year or two will include observations, clinical orientation, a written qualifying exam, and a practical assessment. Your third and/or fourth year will offer more hands-on experience through your externship, internship or other Capstone style intensive project.

Median Annual Salary

Take a look at median annual wages for audiologists by state, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Audiologists

National data

Median Salary: $95,780

Projected job growth: 11%

10th Percentile: $64,610

25th Percentile: $79,340

75th Percentile: $111,300

90th Percentile: $133,120

Projected job growth: 11%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $86,300 $50,530 $104,610
Alaska $114,170 $88,820 $142,630
Arizona $83,210 $77,330 $110,060
Arkansas $96,980 $78,970 $134,040
California $114,910 $62,090 $158,640
Colorado $102,270 $65,660 $136,660
Connecticut $113,180 $65,360 $123,640
Delaware $85,700 $75,350 $105,620
District of Columbia $102,500 $95,770 $159,410
Florida $93,480 $62,980 $120,100
Georgia $98,470 $71,990 $126,400
Hawaii $113,850 $87,990 $127,150
Idaho $95,120 $59,110 $101,650
Illinois $93,510 $77,780 $131,380
Indiana $90,280 $65,790 $108,040
Iowa $97,180 $73,280 $122,740
Kansas $97,250 $79,210 $106,330
Kentucky $92,520 $61,880 $141,590
Louisiana $75,200 $55,550 $103,300
Maine $102,060 $86,900 $119,350
Maryland $91,260 $63,120 $117,320
Massachusetts $104,130 $73,420 $129,770
Michigan $97,790 $77,270 $114,210
Minnesota $102,130 $83,750 $120,110
Mississippi $80,740 $60,410 $94,990
Missouri $99,450 $65,820 $125,090
Montana $86,990 $61,250 $104,110
Nebraska $97,460 $78,900 $115,540
Nevada $133,110 $62,150 $136,720
New Hampshire $105,590 $91,540 $124,530
New Jersey $119,230 $80,850 $135,310
New Mexico $83,050 $64,750 $128,000
New York $100,860 $76,940 $129,530
North Carolina $88,920 $70,120 $131,210
North Dakota $118,750 $86,250 $163,220
Ohio $81,390 $45,310 $107,360
Oklahoma $76,880 $40,010 $105,000
Oregon $109,560 $80,590 $242,080
Pennsylvania $89,480 $64,610 $131,230
South Carolina $82,330 $67,490 $97,980
South Dakota $91,190 $77,860 $108,950
Tennessee $90,540 $67,130 $109,650
Texas $93,570 $73,430 $137,340
Utah $104,450 $77,460 $135,160
Vermont $101,730 $84,540 $131,320
Virginia $80,010 $74,850 $137,780
Washington $108,580 $68,310 $137,190
West Virginia $79,990 $66,490 $170,430
Wisconsin $102,840 $53,250 $134,390

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Licensing and Certification

All states now require licensing for audiologists in addition to a doctorate. Most also require continuing education units to renew your license. You’ll also need to meet the following criteria:

  • Complete 300 to 375 hours of supervised clinical experience
  • Earn a passing score on a national exam
  • Complete nine months of post-graduate professional clinical experience

For specific requirements, check with the state’s licensing board for audiologists, in the state you choose to work in.

Audiologists can earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A), offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.They also may be credentialed through the American Board of Audiology. Although it is not required, certification may satisfy some or all of the requirements for licensure and may be required by some employers.