The Academy Comments on Proposed Changes to Virginia’s Audiology Regulations

This week, the Academy submitted comments to the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology on proposed rule changes to the regulations governing licensure for audiologists in Virginia. The board’s intent, outlined in the proposal, is to streamline licensure processes by removing the requirement for certification. While the Academy agrees with the approach to remove barriers to attaining licensure, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) remains in the language as non-essential, while the American Board of Audiology (ABA) certification language was entirely removed. The Academy finds this exclusion unfair and has urged the board to either reinstate ABA certification language or remove all certification references to ensure equity and consistency.

The Academy also advocated for including language allowing for AuD programs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE). Although the board’s guidance documents already recognize ACAE-accredited programs, the Academy believes incorporating this language into the regulations would eliminate ambiguity and reinforce transparency for licensure applicants. This adjustment, the Academy argued, aligns with the board’s goals of reducing barriers and improving accessibility for qualified professionals.

The Academy will continue to advocate for the inclusion of ABA and ACAE in licensure regulations across the nation to uphold fair and consistent standards for audiologists.