Certified Audiologists Now Can Use PASC® and CISC® Abbreviations to Indicate Specialized Expertise

(Reston, VA – January 10, 2013) - The American Board of Audiology® (ABA) is making it easier for certified audiologists to display their credentials by allowing them to designate their successful certification with abbreviations after their names. The decision, approved recently by the ABA Board of Governors, allows audiologists who hold the Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification (PASC®) credential or the Cochlear Implant Specialty Certification (CISC®) credential to follow their signatures and other degrees with the PASC or CISC, respectively, or both.

"In the past, audiologists who hold a PASC or CISC credential have been required to spell out the designation after their names," said Angela Pond, AuD, chair of the ABA Board of Governors. "With this update, audiologists who have acquired the specialized knowledge to pass a certification exam successfully can now more easily display their expertise on letterhead, signature lines, and business cards. This allows for easy identification of their mastery in the field."

Launched in 2011, 66 audiologists hold the PASC, which testifies to their expertise in pediatric audiology and demonstrates to their colleagues, other health care providers, patients, and employers that they have acquired a high level of knowledge in the field of pediatric audiology and are the best option for treating children with audio-vestibular disorders and hearing loss. Another 36 audiologists hold the CISC, which testifies to their expertise in all areas of cochlear implant knowledge, including expectations, surgical considerations, device operation, and rehabilitation. The CISC was developed to standardize training and knowledge of CI audiologists, elevate professional standards in audiology, and recognize those professionals who have acquired specialized knowledge in the field of cochlear implants.

In 2013, the ABA is offering examinations in pediatric audiology and cochlear implants on April 7 in
Anaheim, CA. The Cincinnati Children's Hospital and the Ohio Academy of Audiology are hosting both
examinations on October 5, in Cincinnati, OH. To apply for ABA board certification or a specialty
certification, visit www.americanboardofaudiology.org or contact Keri Murphy, senior manager of
credentialing and compliance, at 703.226.1057, kmurphy@audiology.org.


About the American Board of Audiology®
An autonomous organization, the ABA is dedicated to enhancing audiological services to the public by promulgating universally recognized standards in professional practice. The ABA encourages audiologists to exceed these prescribed standards, thereby promoting a high level of professional development and ethical practice. The Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification (PASC®) and the Cochlear Implant Specialty Certification (CISC®) are voluntary certification programs administered by audiologists for audiologists by the ABA.