This article is a part of the July/August 2026, Volume 38, Number 4, Audiology Today issue.
A Turning Point for Audiology
The profession of audiology continues to evolve. The American Academy of Audiology has moved forward as a professional organization to focus on promoting evidence-based, outcome driven audiological care. The Academy’s mission has become to translate current research into guidelines and practice standards for use in daily clinical practice to optimize patient outcomes. To support the effort to expand audiologists’ scope of practice and verify consistent use of best practices in clinical care, the American Board of Audiology is introducing General Audiology Board Certification (GABC).
Why a GABC Now?
In all fifty states, audiologists are required to be licensed. In audiology and similar clinical professions, licensure represents a minimum competency, demonstrating that the licensed practitioner has the minimum education and clinical experience required to ensure consumer safety. In today’s highly competitive health-care landscape, additional credentials that function as markers of advanced expertise are necessary for differentiation required for career advancement and salary increases. GABC aligns audiology with other health-care professions with a recognized credential indicating a higher level of professional experience and proficiency.
Foundations in Evidence Based Practice
The Academy continues to promote evidence-based clinical best practices as demonstrated by the NASEM: Measuring Meaningful Outcomes for Adult Hearing Health Interventions (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2025), as well as the recent American Academy of Audiology: the Academy (AAA) Writing Group’s Systematic Review on Hearing Aid Use and Related QoL for Adults with SNHL (Johnson et al., 2026). Exam-based board certification in audiology formalizes and integrates these guidelines by verifying that American Board of Audiology® (ABA) board certified audiologists (BC-As) know best practices and can consistently apply them. ABA is building the GABC based on the 2022 practice analysis and subject matter expert developed exam content to ensure that this certification reflects current evidence and real-world clinical practice. The ABA goal is that GABC will better align audiology with other evidence driven health-care professions and promote audiology as a research informed, patient focused clinical discipline.
What is GABC?
The ABA portfolio of credentials is best known for the most frequently obtained credential, the American Board of Audiology Certified (ABAC), an entry-level professional verification credential that requires continuing education and adherence to ethical and professional practice standards. The ABA portfolio of credentials has continued to expand to include certificate programs in tinnitus management, educational audiology, audiology preceptorship, and specialty board certifications in pediatric and vestibular audiology and cochlear implants.
In addition to ABA’s specialty board certifications in pediatric and vestibular audiology, the GABC is being developed specifically to recognize advanced expertise in audiological assessment, diagnosis, and rehabilitative management through the adult lifespan. Current certificate and board certification holders can also obtain GABC as a complement to their current credentials, similar to physicians who hold multiple board certifications, and be designated as a BC-A.
How is the GABC Exam Being Developed?
This exam is based on the 2022 Practice Analysis, which used survey results from practicing audiologists to describe general audiology practice and define current professional activities and tasks. Results of the practice analysis were used to create a structured exam blueprint that defines content domains, knowledge and task areas, weighted to ensure balanced and representative coverage of daily activities in general audiology practice. The GABC Development Task Force is made up of subject matter experts working to write and review exam questions aligned with the exam blueprint, and each exam item is supported by scientific references and data to ensure alignment with current evidence and best practices.
GABC exam details, content domains, and a list of references will be published in the candidate handbook.
Who Is Eligible for GABC?
For Applicants to be Board Eligible, the following requirements must be met:
Education
- AuD or
- PhD in Audiology or
- Master’s Degree in Audiology
Licensure
- Licensed to practice audiology in U.S. (state licensure) or
- International work authorization in audiology
Work Experience
- AuD/PhD
- Five years
- Current ABAC holder (AuD/PhD)
- Three years
- Master’s degree
- Seven years (for international applicants)
Applicant must be currently working in audiology or an audiology related role.
These requirements will be posted on the ABA website and in the candidate handbook. Online applications for the beta exam open July 1, 2026 and the beta exam is scheduled to be administered from November 6–16, 2026.
Why Should I Consider GABC?
For the adult audiology practitioner, the ongoing technological advancements in hearing aid technology have linked professional value to a device rather than professional experience and expertise. GABC indicates adherence to professional best practices, emphasizes practicing at the top of licensure scope, and demonstrates a commitment to the highest level of continuing education.
Hearing-health care today is highly competitive, and GABC demonstrates that the audiology practitioner has mastered core competencies and has specialized knowledge in their field, differentiating them from other professionals. By validating professional proficiency, board certification in audiology further promotes the medicalization of hearing-health care and positions audiologists as health-care providers and experts in diagnostic assessment and management of the full scope of auditory disorders, not simply as hearing aid sales people.
In addition, many employers use advanced credentials for advancement in rank and pay. Board Certified staff lend prestige and help organizations stand out, attracting patients looking for expert care. Board Certification provides documented proof that a practitioner is committed to continuing education and staying abreast of research and technological advancements.
Exam-based board certification matters to patients as well. Consumer research commissioned by the American Board of Medical Specialties shows up to 95 percent of consumers rate it as an important factor when choosing a health-care provider. It acts as a trusted indicator of a provider’s knowledge, commitment to high standards, and dedication to better patient care, often ranking second only to insurance coverage in importance (American Board of Medical Specialties, 2025).
Amplifying Audiology’s Value
GABC amplifies audiology’s professional identity while reinforcing a broader scope of practice. GABC provides parity, positioning audiology as an equal among other board-certified professions. The Academy’s commitment to audiology and hearing-health care is clear in its emphasis on promoting evidence-based practice standards. These standards are guidelines for best clinical practice. Board certification represents a validation of proficiency and adherence to the highest levels of professional practice.
The American Board of Audiology GABC formally recognizes advanced expertise in adult audiological assessment, diagnosis, and rehabilitative management through a rigorous, exam-based process. Grounded in a national practice analysis and aligned with evidence-based clinical standards, this new board certification moves beyond licensure and entry-level credentials to verify consistent application of best practices in real-world care. The GABC is designed to elevate clinical quality, professional identity, and public trust in audiology.
Learn more about the GABC in a recent Science Meets the Sound Booth podcast episode at www.audiology.org/practice-resources/podcast.
