A Turning Point for Audiology

West Lafayette, IN -- Today is a very significant day for Audiology. The Arizona School of Health Sciences and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, School of Audiology announced their intentions to begin distance education Au.D. degree programs. The regionally accredited institutions meet the very specific requirements outlined by the Audiology Foundation of America (AFA) in the second track of the two-track plan (credential and/or degree) we announced in 1996, according to Dr. George S. Osborne, AFA Chair. This means audiologists have genuine access to an affordable Au.D. degree. The announcements were made at the opening session of the Academy of Dispensing Audiologists annual convention on October 29, 1999.

The AFA's specific requirements include: accessibility; affordability; provision of credit for assessed capabilities; completion of courses only in areas of documented deficiencies; no research component; and the award of the Au.D. degree by an accredited academic institution.

The AFA and the Academy of Dispensing Audiologists (ADA) have encouraged the development of these two new Au.D. programs and provided valuable information and resources. Dr. James T. McDonald, President of the ADA, called the announcement of these new Au.D. programs, 'A turning point for the profession, an historic day'. ADA members expressed enthusiastic interest in the proposed programs.

'The AFA is able to fulfil the two-track plan (credential and/or degree) using the assessment tool developed for the Au.D. credential process in order to convert audiologists' individually assessed capabilities into academic credit', according to Dr. Osborne. The AFA has been working on developing options for practitioners since its founding in 1989. Now, all qualified audiologists who wish to obtain the Au.D. will be able to do so.

The audiology program at the Arizona School of Health Sciences, a Division of Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, is chaired by Tabitha C. Parent, Au.D. For information about the proposed Au.D. distance education option for existing practitioners, contact the school at 602-841-4077 or visit their website at www.ashs.edu.

The Pennsylvania College of Optometry's (PCO) new School of Audiology proposes to offer their AuDonline.org distance education Au.D. degree in a web-based format for qualified practitioners. George S. Osborne, Ph.D., the Dean of the PCO School of Audiology has information about the developing program. Call 215-780-1238 for information and a brochure describing both the proposed distance education and four-year residential Au.D. degree programs. As soon as the proposed program is operational, you may visit their website at www. AuDonline.org for further information.

According to Drs Osborne and Parent, the 'Evaluation of Practicing Audiologists Capabilities' (EPAC) must be completed by applicants to each program in order for the faculties to place applicants appropriately in the course of study. Advanced standing will be granted as is merited. 'The EPAC allows faculty to directly prescribe necessary coursework without duplicating competencies which have already been mastered,' said Dr. Parent.

Dr. O.T. Wendel, Associate Provost and Dean of the Faculty at the Arizona School of Health Sciences said, 'The EPAC process was the single factor that allowed the collaboration between the college, the AFA and the ADA. Identifying the required outcomes for a profession makes the education process much more targeted and expedites development and provision of educational content for both distance learning and on-campus teaching.'

Those who have already earned the AFA's Au.D. credential will not have to complete the EPAC. They simply need to request that Credentialing Services, Inc. forward their Professional Recredentialing Program profile scores and data to the program of their choice. The EPAC is available by contacting Credentialing Services, Inc. at 309-343-1202. Dr. Osborne suggests that, 'Audiologists would do well to get started on the process by completing the EPAC now.