Distance Education Closures May Impact AuD Transition

By Susan Paarlberg and Tracy Harding

When the first three AuD graduates hit the audiology profession in 1996, a trend was started that has yet to reach its peak. Each year AuDs are graduating in record numbers from residential and distance education programs, putting the profession well on its way toward full transition to the professional doctoral degree.

While the debate continues within the profession about the future need for distance education programs, it is important to realize that the initial objective for the AuD programs has not yet been reached. Given that goal, to transition an initial mass of one half of the profession to the AuD degree, there is concern about planned closures of distance programs.

Reality Check

When the goal was set, there were 10,000 licensed practitioners. Today, there are more than 15,500. Current Audiology Foundation of America (AFA) statistics show there are approximately 3,000 practitioners who now hold the AuD degree, and projections indicate the profession's halfway mark of 7,500-8,000 will not be reached until after 2010.

The number of residential education programs is growing. As recently as 2002, there were only 24 AuD programs available throughout the country, compared with 69 this year. However, the number of distance education programs is dwindling. The distance programs were always intended to be a temporary bridge for practitioners seeking an AuD—remaining open only long enough to help transition the initial group of practitioners. Some of these programs are already making plans to close, but the goal to transition half the profession has not yet been realized.

The Situation Today

Central Michigan University/Vanderbilt (CMU) closed distance education admissions in May 2006, and the Pennsylvania School of Optometry, School of Audiology (PCO) will close admissions at the end of 2006. Both programs will allow enrollees to finish their degree programs. Of the two remaining distance education programs available, the University of Florida plans to remain open and the Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS) is monitoring enrollments to determine when a deadline for applications should be set.

With the anticipated closure of some or all distance education programs, it looks like AuD graduation numbers will peak in 2007 and begin to fall in subsequent years. AuD transition numbers will then grow only through residential program graduations—which numbered 147 in 2005 but will increase over time as additional new programs begin to produce graduates.

The AFA supports distance education. Having more graduates sooner, rather than later, will allow for a stronger stance on important industry issues. It's not only about the degree–associated benefits include being positioned for success among other doctoring healthcare professions and with payers, government bodies and patients. Many of the key characteristics associated with a doctoral-level profession, such as changes in direct access and reimbursement, and better access for patients to high quality care, rely on having a majority of audiologists at the doctoral level. As more practitioners join the AuD movement, audiology as a profession will find greater respect and support among other professions and within the general public.

Susan Paarlberg is the executive director and Tracy Harding is the publicity and development specialist of the Audiology Foundation of America, 8 N. Third St., Suite 406, Lafayette, IN 47901; 765-743-6283. Paarlberg may be reached at Susan@audfound.org and Harding may be reached at Tracy@audfound.org.