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Studies & Degrees in Audiology

Audiology is the science of hearing, balance and related disorders. Audiologists are healthcare professionals who work on the prevention, identification, diagnosis and treatment of hearing, balance and other auditory disorders in people of all ages, in the definition of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

The training differs a great deal between countries. In the United States it is a doctoral degree. In the United Kingdom it is a bachelor's degree linked to the National Health Service. In Spain the regulated route is a two-year higher vocational qualification focused on hearing aids. Anyone who plans to study in one country and work in another should check first how the qualification is recognised there.

What students learn

Programmes combine the anatomy and physiology of the ear, acoustics, hearing tests and their interpretation, hearing aids and other devices, and communication with patients. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, coursework for the doctor of audiology degree includes anatomy and physiology, diagnosis and treatment, and statistics, together with supervised clinical practice. The Spanish vocational qualification is more technical. Its holders learn to:

  • Carry out audiological examinations to analyse how the ear functions
  • Make ear moulds and hearing protectors
  • Adjust implanted hearing prostheses and select and fit non-implanted ones
  • Select and fit technical hearing aids

Qualifications and levels

  • United States: Doctor of Audiology (AuD). Audiologists need an AuD degree, which typically takes four years after a bachelor's degree, and must be licensed in every state, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. ASHA's certificate (CCC-A) requires a doctoral degree from a programme accredited by its Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) and a pass in the Praxis examination. Vanderbilt University in Nashville, for example, teaches a full-time, four-year AuD with this accreditation, and also offers a PhD in Hearing and Speech Sciences for research careers.
  • United Kingdom: healthcare science degree. The government's National Careers Service describes the NHS Practitioner Training Programme, a three-year scheme of study and on-the-job training that leads to a degree in healthcare science (audiology). Science graduates can join the postgraduate NHS Scientist Training Programme. To work as a hearing aid dispenser in the private sector, a foundation degree approved by the Health and Care Professions Council is needed.
  • Spain: Técnico Superior en Audiología Protésica. This higher vocational training (FP) qualification in the health family lasts 2,000 hours over two years. Entry is with the Bachillerato or an equivalent qualification, and applicants from the science and technology Bachillerato have preference. Holders can go on to a university degree, with possible recognition of modules.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 10 active schools for this subject: four in Spain, three in the United States and one each in Chile, Argentina and the United Kingdom.

In Spain, Universidad Europea de Madrid teaches the Técnico Superior en Audiología Protésica at its vocational training centre in Villaviciosa de Odón. The university describes it as an official qualification of two years, 2,000 hours and 120 ECTS credits, taught in Spanish. At Universidad CEU San Pablo, students of the bachelor's degree in Optics and Optometry can obtain the same vocational qualification at the same time through CEU's vocational training institute, which appears in the directory as CEU FP Madrid. The Universidad de Salamanca is also listed.

In the United States the list includes Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Northern Colorado. The University of Manchester is the school listed in the United Kingdom, Universidad SEK Chile in Chile and the Universidad Nacional de San Luis in Argentina. Teaching is in English in the United States and the United Kingdom and in Spanish in Spain, Chile and Argentina.

Careers

Most audiologists in the United States work in healthcare facilities such as physicians' offices, audiology clinics and hospitals, and some work in schools, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their tasks include examining patients, diagnosing problems and fitting and dispensing hearing aids. Audiologists may specialise in areas such as paediatrics, balance, cochlear implants or tinnitus.

In Spain, the education ministry's TodoFP portal lists the jobs open to holders of the vocational qualification: hearing aid specialist (audioprotesista), maker of ear moulds and hearing protectors, sound level measurement technician and audiometrist. They work in the health sector, in hearing aid centres and in the prevention of the effects of environmental noise.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 14,200 audiologist jobs in the United States in 2025. It projects employment to grow 11 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 600 openings a year.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to become an audiologist?

It depends on the country. In the United States the doctor of audiology degree typically takes four years after a bachelor's degree. The NHS training degree in the United Kingdom takes three years, and the Spanish vocational qualification in hearing aid audiology takes two years.

Is the Spanish Técnico Superior en Audiología Protésica the same as a US audiology degree?

No. It is a higher vocational qualification of 2,000 hours centred on hearing tests and hearing aids, while the US degree is a clinical doctorate. Ask the authority of the country where you want to work what recognition each qualification has.

Do audiologists need a licence?

In the United States, yes: all states require audiologists to be licensed. Other countries have their own registration rules, so check with the national health or professional authority.

What school subjects are useful for audiology?

Science subjects. In Spain, applicants from the science and technology Bachillerato have preference for the vocational course, and UK degree courses usually ask for a science A level or equivalent.