General Audiology Board Certification: Questions from AAA 2026

To understand how the current American Board of Audiology Certified (ABAC) credential will relate to the new General Audiology Board Certification (GABC), it is important to remember why the American Board of Audiology was created. Until the 1970s and 1980s most states did not require audiologists to be licensed, and it was not until 2004 that all fifty states required licensure to practice as an audiologist.

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. ASHA developed its Certificate of Clinical Competency in Audiology (CCC-A) credential in 1965 to create a national standard for audiology practice before consistent state licensure was enacted. In 1999 the ABA credential, Board Certified in Audiology, was created as an audiology specific credential, comparable to the ASHA CCC-A. In 2019 the ABA credential was renamed American Board of Audiology Certified (ABAC) to more accurately represent the credential – as a professional verification, not actual board certification. Like any credential other than licensure, the ABAC is voluntary and is not required to practice audiology.

As the GABC certification continues to move forward, several questions continue to be asked by audiologists currently holding the American Board of Audiology Certified (ABAC) credential.

Q: I already hold the ABAC. Doesn’t that mean I am “board certified” in audiology?

Q: Will the ABAC program go away once the GABC program is up and running?

A: No, the ABAC will remain as an entry-level ABA credential for those new AuD graduates. The ABAC and the GABC are two distinctly different credentials. The ABAC verifies a new graduate’s degree, license and mentored, professional entry-level experience gained in the externship. Holding the ABA credential may expedite licensure in some states. In addition, the ABAC requires a higher level of continuing education for recertification, and adherence to AAA ethical practices and professional standards.

In contrast to the ABAC, GABC is a true board certification—requiring a rigorous examination to validate knowledge and clinical proficiency in adult audiologic care. Being a Board Certified Audiologist (BC-A) will demonstrate advanced expertise in assessment, diagnosis, and rehabilitative management of auditory disorders across the adult life span.