Planting the Seeds of Change

I know it’s an overused cliché, but spring has sprung! Up here in the northern tundra lands of Minnesota, spring is a highly anticipated season which is greeted with joy and frenzied outdoor activity. As an avid gardener, very little brings me as much happiness as finally seeing the tiny green shoots and buds emerge in my garden beds and watching nursery stands open up with colorful containers of icicle pansies (yes, that’s an actual thing up here) and hanging floral baskets ready for Mother’s Day gifting.

As the work of the ABA continues, I feel a similar excitement. With Academy support the ABA portfolio garden has continued to see growth in the sturdy perennial programs—the Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification (PASC), Certificate Holder–Tinnitus Management (CH-TM), Certificate Holder–Audiology Preceptor (CH-AP). Next, as the season has progressed, we see our new plantings—the Vestibular Audiology Specialty Certification (VASC) and the Certificate Holder–Educational Audiology (CH-EdAud) rooted and blossoming with 33 new Board Certified in Vestibular Audiology (BC-VA) credentials earned in 2025 and 47 new EdAud certificates issued so far in 2026. Now the ABA is building the foundation for the latest addition to the ABA “garden,” General Audiology Board Certification (GABC). The GABC Development Task force, led by Dr. Trent Westrick is hard at work on developing a beta exam, with item writing and review already underway. The GABC Oversight Committee is completing work on the GABC candidate handbook, eligibility guidelines, and recertification requirements. As the GABC continues to grow, key dates to watch are July 1, 2026, when online applications for the beta exam will open and November 6–16, 2026 when the beta exam will be administered.

Spring also represents renewal and I was re-energized by the AAA Annual Convention 2026. Arriving in San Antonio was a true fiesta—Fiesta San Antonio coincided with AAA 2026 and the combination was amazing! Parades, music, flowers, and food were abundant and AAA 2026 provided four days of outstanding educational, networking, and social opportunities. The “Beyond the Booth” series expanded for 2026 and included exceptional sessions designed for career growth and leadership. The audiology assistant programming was also broadened to encourage participation and continuing education for this important group of audiology extenders. As always, the grand rounds and research podiums offered exciting information on the latest research and technologies in audiology, and the poster sessions provided our students and early career professionals a fantastic platform to highlight their work.

As spring quickly turns into the longer, warmer days of summer I hope all of you will continue to consider how the ABA credentials portfolio can help grow your career and further your professional agenda. Board certification and certificate credentials demonstrate your expertise and experience and your continued commitment to excellence in audiology and patient care. In this continually evolving professional environment, the ABA portfolio can provide audiologists with recognizable credentials that validate their expertise as health care providers and experts in hearing, tinnitus, and balance disorders.

Which credentials will you choose to help your career bloom?

Carrie Meyer, AuD, DFAAA
American Board of Audiology Certified