Audiology Technician: Education and Career Facts
As the population ages, more and more people need treatment for hearing loss and balance disorders, and audiology technicians are among the professionals who can provide it. Continue reading to learn about the education you'll need to get started in this field, and discover if online education is available. Consider the job outlook for audiology technicians.
What You Need to Know
Audiology technicians, also known as audiology assistants, help audiologists treat patients with hearing and balance-related health problems. While only a high school diploma or its GED equivalent is required in order to initially enter this field, many technicians hold an undergraduate degree.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degrees</b></td><td> Associate's and bachelor's degrees</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2021-2031)*</b></td><td> 10% increase in jobs for audiologists, which could mean an increase for technicians as well</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Annual Salary (2022)**</b></td><td> $40,221</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **PayScale.com</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatDoAudiologyTechniciansDo">What Do Audiology Technicians Do?</h3><p>The responsibilities of audiology technicians are determined by audiologists, who supervise and monitor their activities. Typically, duties include:
</p><ul><li>Preparing patients for testing
</li><li>Assisting with testing
</li><li>Repairing hearing aids
</li><li>Maintaining equipment
</li><li>Providing administrative and clerical support
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatEducationWillINeed">What Education Will I Need?</h3><p>According to the American Academy of Audiology, the minimum educational requirement for audiology technicians is generally a high school diploma or GED and some type of supervised training. This could include on-the-job training or training through a formal educational program. Many community colleges and vocational schools offer audiology assistant certificate programs.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAboutDegreePrograms">What About Degree Programs?</h3><p>Completing an associate degree program in medical assisting or speech-language pathology assisting might also give you the knowledge and training necessary to obtain a job in this field. Additional options include a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders or Speech, Language, and Hearing Science.
</p><p>However, training requirements for working as an audiology technician varies by state. You may want to research your state's minimum educational requirements before you decide on a program.
</p><h3 id="section---CanICompleteAnyTrainingOnline">Can I Complete Any Training Online?</h3><p>Though not common, there are training programs that can be completed mostly online. However, you'll usually need to arrange to perform some course assignments under the supervision of an audiologist. The remaining lessons can be delivered through online reading, videos, slide shows and self-tests. In addition to internet access, you might need to install special software to simulate diagnostic testing procedures.
</p><h3 id="section---HowIsTheJobOutlook">How Is the Job Outlook?</h3><p>Due to advances in medical technology and a growing elderly population, job opportunities for audiologists were predicted to grow at a rate of 10% between 2021 and 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This increase in demand for audiologists could bode well for audiology technicians, as audiologists look to improve their productivity and reduce their operating costs.</p>