Consider the Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification

Are you interested in becoming a pediatric audiologist? Have you already memorized the recently released 2019 Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) Position Statement? At the AAA 2019 conference in Columbus, Ohio, numerous students attended the Pediatric Grand Rounds and the annual Marion Downs Lecture in Pediatric Audiology. When the speakers asked how many students in the audience were hoping to become pediatric audiologists, a substantial number of hands raised.

Your love for early hearing detection and intervention and childhood development does not go unnoticed. Whether you are interested in working in a pediatric hospital, a pediatric ENT center, or an education system (to name a few settings), it is clear that you want to dedicate your career and energy to pediatric audiology. 

The American Board of Audiology (ABA) offers a way to stand out as a pediatric audiologist; the ABA’s Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification (PASC) is an excellent way to prove to your employers and your patients’ parents that you are a highly educated and elite provider in the realm of pediatric audiology. This specialty certification requires the successful completion and passing score on a rigorous exam, 2,000 post-externship (post-degree) full-time hours of paid professional experience as an audiologist, an additional 550 direct pediatric post-graduate patient contact hours within a two-year period, and 50 post-graduate hours of pediatric case management.   

Children with hearing loss are a vulnerable population who must be protected. PASC holders have indicated that the credential is a way for audiologists to show a dedication and commitment to pediatrics (Drohosky, 2019). While most pediatric audiologists could not qualify until 3+ years of work, keep the PASC on your radar. As a student, request clinical rotations with pediatric audiologists and become involved with organizations like the Educational Audiology Association (EAA), Hands and Voices, and attend the annual EHDI meeting. The ABA has created a suggested reading list to stay current on pediatric audiology literature. The PASC application will require information like how much of your week is spent visiting schools, meeting with team members regarding case management, conducting patient evaluation, etc. To view the PASC application, check out the sources below. If pediatric audiology is your calling, consider joining the elite group and setting out on the professional journey of earning your PASC.

Tyler Hawthorne, BS, is a third-year AuD student from the University of Texas, in Austin, TX. He enjoys volunteering with national SAA, currently sits on SAA’s Education Committee, and is the student liaison on the American Board of Audiology. He is interested in medical audiology.

Sources 

Drohosky, J. (2019, November). Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification: A Panel Weighs In. Audiology Today, 31(6), 72–74.

Haven’t read the 2019 Position Statement from the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing? Check it out here: https://www.audiology.org/wp-content/uploads/yo-migrate/files/publications/resources/2019_JointCommiteeInfantHearing_Principles_Guidelines4EarlyHearingDetectionInterventionProgrs.pdf

Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification:
https://www.audiology.org/american-board-of-audiology/pediatric-audiology-certification/

 PASC Handbook:
https://mk0audiologyotvgk5ps.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PASC-Handbook-Feb2020-Final.pdf