Black Friday: The Best Value Isn’t in Your Shopping Cart

Black Friday is upon us! That annual celebration of irresistible bargains, overflowing shopping carts, hours of scrolling the online stores and purchases we somehow convince ourselves we (or someone we know) cannot live without. But before you rush to grab the latest electronics, kitchen gadgets, or whatever happens to be this year’s must-have item, consider something a little different.

What if this year’s best investment isn’t something you can put in a shopping cart? What if it’s an investment in YOU?

The American Board of Audiology’s (ABA) new General Audiology Board Certification (GABC) offers experienced audiologists an opportunity to demonstrate advanced professional knowledge, strengthen their credentials, and potentially open doors to new career opportunities. And unlike that fabulous Black Friday purchase that might be old news in a few years (remember those bread machines?), a professional credential can deliver value throughout the lifetime of your career.

More Than Just Another Set of Letters

Let’s face it. Audiologists have invested considerable time, energy, and money in their education. We’ve earned our degrees, obtained our licenses, completed countless hours of continuing education, and developed clinical expertise through our years of patient care.

So why pursue another credential?

Because there’s a meaningful distinction between meeting the minimal competency licensure requirements to practice and voluntarily demonstrating advanced professional knowledge through a rigorous board examination.

For physicians, board certification has long been an established marker of professional achievement and excellence. It’s a credential that communicates commitment to a recognized standard of knowledge and continued professional development.

Audiologists deserve that same opportunity. It’s our time.

The GABC provides a formal, examination-based pathway for experienced audiologists to demonstrate their knowledge of contemporary, evidence-based audiological practice. It’s not just another collection of letters after your name. It’s a statement about your professional commitment for your community, your colleagues and your patients to see.

The Return on Your Investment

Every good Black Friday shopper asks the same question: Am I really getting my money’s worth? It’s a fair question to ask about professional certification, too.

Consider the potential returns:

• Career advancement. Board certification may help distinguish you when pursuing leadership positions, expanded clinical responsibilities, or new employment opportunities.
• Earning potential. While no credential guarantees a salary increase, advanced professional qualifications can strengthen your position when negotiating compensation or pursuing promotion.
• Professional credibility. When collaborating with otolaryngologists, neurotologists, primary care physicians, and other healthcare providers, examination-based board certification provides another recognizable demonstration of your clinical knowledge and professional commitment.
• Patient confidence. Patients increasingly seek reassurance that their healthcare providers possess the most current and relevant expertise necessary to deliver high-quality care. Board certification offers another meaningful way to communicate that commitment.

And perhaps most importantly, GABC offers an opportunity to contribute to the continued advancement of audiology as a doctoral-level healthcare profession.

A Deal That Goes Beyond Black Friday

Unlike the temporary discounts that dominate the holiday shopping season, professional growth doesn’t come with a one-day expiration date. The GABC is an investment that will linger in your curriculum vitae for years to come.  It’s part of a pioneering standard of excellence that will shape our profession for the foreseeable future and beyond. 

So, while you’re making your holiday shopping list, consider adding something that won’t require batteries, assembly instructions, a trip to the crowded mall or a gift receipt.

Your professional future.

Because sometimes the best deal isn’t about how much money you save.  It’s about how much value you stand to gain.

The beta GABC examination is being administered November 2026, with future examination opportunities to follow. Follow the GABC developments on the ABA website and future newsletters.