Smith Mark G, Windmill Ian M
Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40202, USA.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2006 May;17(5):321-30. doi: 10.3766/jaaa.17.5.3.
Over the past several years there has been increasing reference to the Doctor of Audiology degree (Au.D.) as a "first professional degree." Currently, first professional degrees are awarded in the fields of chiropractic, dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, theology, and veterinary medicine. General entrance requirements, clinical experiences, and graduation requirements for the Au.D. degree were compared to the health-care professions awarding first professional degrees. Comparisons were also made to the professions of pharmacy, psychology and speech-language pathology. For all first professional degree occupations, unique entrance and competency examination processes have been developed. The four-year postbachelor's Au.D. degree model is similar in length to first professional degree programs, although most of the other occupations provide the opportunity to specialize after graduation. For the factors examined in this study, including entrance requirements, entrance examinations, program length, graduation requirements, and certification requirements, the Au.D. continues to be more similar to the nonprofessional degree models of psychology and speech-language pathology. The comparison with first professional degree programs yields information for possible further evolution of the education of audiologists.
