Occupational Profile

Audiologist

Audiologists work with children and adults to prevent, assess, diagnose and provide treatment and counselling for hearing and balance disorders.

Avg. Salary $83,390.00
Avg. Wage $55.50
Minimum Education 6 years post-secondary
Outlook N/A
Employed 2,300
In Demand High

Also Known As

Hearing Professional

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years

55%

Average Wage

Starting

Overall

Top

Certification Regulated
Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg

NOC & Interest Codes

The Audiologist is part of the following larger National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Audiologists NOC 3141.1

Audiologists

NOC code: 3141.1

OBJECTIVE: Interest in operating equipment to administer audiometric tests and examinations to diagnose and evaluate the degree and type of patients' hearing impairment
INNOVATIVE: Interest in co-ordinating research programs and conducting research related to hearing; and in establishing personalized care plans working as a member of an inter-disciplinary team
SOCIAL: Interest in mentoring patients by planning and implementing habilitation/rehabilitation programs including selection and adjustment of hearing aid devices, teaching speech (lip) reading and providing counselling

Reading Interest Codes

A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn More

Duties

Updated Oct 12, 2016

Audiologists may work with a particular age group (for example, infants, preschoolers, the elderly) or work with people of all ages. In general, they:

use specialized instruments and electronic equipment to test and measure hearing abilities and balance disorders
determine the degree, type and location of hearing or balance problems
recommend, select, fit or teach clients how to use appropriate assistive listening devices (for example, hearing aids, cochlear implants, telephone adaptors, visual alarms)
plan and implement management programs (for example, auditory training, instruction in speech reading, treatment for tinnitus)
help parents and others (for example, teachers, employers) facilitate communication for people who have hearing impairments
maintain client records
assess and mange central auditory processing disorders
consult with and advise other health professionals.

Audiologists sometimes work in teams with speech-language pathologists, hearing aid practitioners, otolaryngologists, physicians, psychologists, social workers, nurses, teachers, occupational therapists or physical therapists. For example, teams may be involved in the assessment and rehabilitation of hearing abilities through the prescription of hearing aids, speech reading instruction or teaching strategies. Or they may be involved in studying and improving measures for hearing conservation in work, school and leisure settings.

Some audiologists:

develop and supervise hearing screening programs
plan and implement hearing conservation programs
work with clients who have problems with balance or tinnitus
educate and supervise students, professionals and support personnel in a variety of work settings
participate in research related to hearing and balance
work in the hearing aid manufacturing and sales industries
teach in universities and colleges.

Working Conditions

Updated Oct 12, 2016

Audiologists generally work standard weekday office hours. They may work with individual clients or groups of clients in private practice clinics, community health centres, rehabilitation centres, hospitals or schools. Those in the hearing aid manufacturing and sales industries work primarily with other audiologists and engineers.

Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg

Skills & Abilities

Updated Oct 12, 2016

Audiologists need the following characteristics:

excellent communication and interpersonal skills
the intellect and perseverance required to complete the training
sensitivity to client needs
the ability to concentrate and pay close attention to details
an appreciation for precision instrumentation
the ability to work in a team environment.

They should enjoy working with people, exploring problems in depth and operating equipment.

Educational Requirements

Updated Oct 12, 2016

In Canada, the minimum education requirement for audiologists is a master's degree in audiology. Admission to master's degree programs generally requires an acceptable average in a four year bachelor's degree program with specified courses. Some audiologists choose to obtain their doctorate in audiology or AuD from programs in the United States.

In Canada, the following post-secondary institutions offer related master's degree programs:

University of Western Ontario in London
University of British Columbia in Vancouver
Dalhousie University in Halifax
University of Montreal (instruction in French)
University of Ottawa (instruction in French).

An internship in a hospital, private hearing clinic, rehabilitation centre or health care facility is required before graduation.

Universities and colleges throughout Alberta offer bachelor's degree programs that can provide suitable preparation for a master's degree program in audiology. Admission requirements for bachelor's degree programs vary from one post-secondary institution and program to another but generally include a competitive average in English Language Arts 30-1, Biology 30 and three other appropriate 30 level subjects. Before enrolling in a program, prospective students should consult the institutions offering master's degree programs regarding course requirements.

For current information about programs, admission requirements and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

Required Education

The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.

University of Alberta

Master of Science - Speech Pathology and Audiology

Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

University of Alberta

For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.

Certification Requirements

Updated Oct 12, 2016

Audiologist

Audiologist

Audiologists assess auditory and vestibular function, diagnose, rehabilitate, prevent and provide appropriate devices and treatment for auditory and vestibular dysfunction, and teach, manage and conduct research in the science and practice of audiology.

Legislation

Under Alberta's Health Professions Act and Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Profession Regulation, registration with the Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (ACSLPA) is mandatory if you meet identified competency requirements and provide professional services directly to the public, teach the practice of the profession to members or students of the profession, or supervise registered members who provide services to the public. Registered members, who are authorized by the College, provide restricted activities specified in the Regulation. Only registered members of ACSLPA may use the protected professional titles and designations of Audiologist, AuD and R.Aud in Alberta.

Education

Registration requires successful completion of: (1) a minimum of a master's degree from an approved audiology program, and (2) recent education or current qualifications in the profession. Applicants who have been out of practice for a period of time also may have to demonstrate that they are currently competent to practice. Successful completion of an approved examination may be required. For official, detailed information about registration requirements, visit the ACSLPA website or contact the ACSLPA.

Working in Alberta

Audiologists who are registered and in good standing with a regulatory organization elsewhere in Canada may be eligible for registration in Alberta if registered audiologists in the two jurisdictions have similar responsibilities and competencies. For more information, see "What if I am already certified in another province or territory?" and the Alberta regulatory authority (below).

To find more information on the certification process for internationally educated audiologists, see Audiologist Registration Process on the AlbertaCanada.com website.

Contact Details

Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
209, 3132 Parsons Road
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6N 1L6
Phone number: 780-944-1609
Toll-free phone number (within Alberta): 1-800-537-0589
Fax number: 780-408-3925
Website: www.acslpa.ab.ca

Employment & Advancement

Updated Oct 12, 2016

Most audiologists are employed as clinicians by:

private practice offices
hospitals
schools
community health centres
rehabilitation centres.

Some are employed as:

researchers in hospitals, universities and government agencies (a doctorate usually is required)
administrators of speech and hearing programs
sales representatives for hearing aid companies (for more information, see the Technical Sales Representative occupational profile).

Some audiologists own and operate their own private practice office.

Private practice fees are not covered by Alberta Health Care Insurance but many private insurance plans and other sources of government funding cover specific services and products.

Audiologists are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 3141: Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists. In Alberta, 78% of people employed in this classification work in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry)
location in Alberta
employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Wage & Salary

Updated Oct 12, 2016

For information about current collective agreements in the public and not-for-profit sectors, see the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website.

Audiologists and speech-language pathologists NOC 3141

Audiologists and speech-language pathologists

NOC code: 3141

Survey Methodology

Survey Analysis

Overall Wage Details

Average Wage

Average Salary

Hours Per Week

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees

Low
High
Average
Median

Starting

Overall

Top

Wages*	Low (5th percentile)	High (95th percentile)	Average	Median
Starting	$31.19	$115.00	$46.18	$40.26
Overall	$36.54	$125.00	$55.50	$49.46
Top	$41.58	$125.00	$59.31	$53.50

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

B: Good Reliability

Data Reliability Code Definition

Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.

Industry Information

Educational Services

ALBERTA, ALL INDUSTRIES

Health Care & Social Assistance

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years

55%

Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties

12%

Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months

2015 Vacancy Rate

Related High School Subjects

English Language Arts
Science
- Biology
- Physics
Health, Recreation and Human Services
- Health Care Services
- Human and Social Services