The clinical training program in audiology progresses from part-time entry-level involvement in practicum to a full-time clinical residency at the end of the curriculum. Below is an outline of clinical experience requirements and opportunities by year.
Years One and Two
During the first two years of the program, students are exposed to clinical work in the heavily supervised training environment of a university clinic. Both Auburn University and Auburn University at Montgomery operate full-service hearing clinics and dispense hearing instruments to children and adults with hearing impairments. The university clinical setting provides a supportive environment for students as they begin their clinical work. Early in the first year of the program, students observe clinical work and become familiar with the operation of the university clinic. The students are expected to master specific competencies at four levels of performance. As students master the four clinical levels, they are responsible for increased competency and responsibility in their clinical work. Ultimately, when level four is mastered, students are capable of performing most common procedures in the field of audiology.
Year Three: Clinical Internship
In the third year of the clinical program, students rotate through three different off-campus clinical sites for a minimum of 24 hours per week. The clinical internship allows students to gain experience and perform clinical duties with increasing independence under the supervision of an experienced, licensed audiologist. Auburn University has developed an impressive network of local facilities over its long history of training audiologists. These sites include Veterans Administration Medical Centers, Martin Army Medical Center, speech and hearing clinics, state agencies, area schools, Children’s Hospitals in Atlanta, GA and Birmingham, AL, and offices of cooperating otologists. During the third year, students are also expected to return to campus for participation in advanced practice-related seminars and to work on a capstone project supervised by senior faculty.
Year Four: Clinical Residency
In the final year of the program, students work full-time for nine months. Clinical residencies are completed at approved facilities throughout the United States.