Guidelines for Overseas Applicants applying for Membership of Audiological Society of Australia

This documentation was prepared by the Membership Committee of the Audiological Society of Australia to provide information and guidance for audiologists who have obtained their qualifications in a country other than Australia.

The information contained here is accurate at the time of preparation. However, applicants should consult directly with the Audiological Society of Australia National Office to confirm details of the application requirements and procedures.

If you currently live overseas and intend to migrate to Australia and intend to practise as an audiologist in Australia you should contact your nearest Australian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission to obtain information on the skilled migration program including information on requirements for assessment of qualifications and skills.

If you are currently in Australia and need a skills assessment in order to change your migration status you should contact the local office of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

If you currently live in Australia, you can apply directly to the Audiological Society of Australia for assessment or recognition of your skills and qualification.

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Audiology in Australia

Audiologists work in a large variety of professional settings in Australia including private practice, hospital clinics, in public and private hearing aid clinics, in schools and universities and in industry. Audiology is not a registered profession in any State or Territory in Australia. In general, employers ask that audiologists meet the eligibility criteria for membership of the Audiological Society of Australia and its Certificate of Clinical Practice(CCP) for audiology positions. Members of the Audiological Society of Australia who hold a CCP are automatically eligible for Qualified Provider status with the Office of Hearing Services, which administers the government's hearing aid provision program for older Australians.

In order to qualify as an audiologist in Australia it is necessary to complete a 2-year post-graduate Masters degree in an approved program in audiology. Currently, approved programs in audiology are available at the following universities:

University of Melbourne, VIC
Macquarie University, NSW
Flinders University, South Australia
University of Western Australia, WA
University of Queensland, QLD

A degree from these institutions automatically meets the requirements for Full Membership of Audiological Society of Australia. However, a further 12-months (EFT) supervised practice in audiology is required before an applicant is eligible for the awarding of the CCP. Maintenance of the CCP is dependent on a member continuing to hold Full and financial Membership and meeting the requirements of the Society's Continuing Professional Development Program. Overseas applicants for membership should read the relevant information on requirements for supervision for clinical certification and the Continuing Professional Development program.

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Entry of overseas trained audiologists into the profession in Australia

ASA's application procedures are based on enabling overseas-qualified audiologists to demonstrate their equivalency to Australian-qualified audiologists. In this, we hope you would agree that ASA has an obligation to protect the standards of professional audiology for all of its membership, regardless of whether members obtained their qualifications in Australia or overseas.

A. Overseas Applicants - Process for Full Membership:

To become a Full Member, the process is relatively straightforward, and can be summarised as follows:

1. All overseas-qualified applicants must apply to become a Full Member and undergo the Core Knowledge and Competencies assessment process. Please refer to the "Core Knowledge and Competencies Required of Overseas Trained Audiologists Applying for Membership of Audiology Australia" document. The Membership Application Form and supporting documentation must be submitted to the Membership Secretary, along with the names of your Proposer and Seconder. In general, your proposer and seconder must be Full Members of the Audiological Society of Australia, both of whom must sign your application. For Overseas applicants intending to practice in Australia, but have not yet arrived in Australia, the proposer and seconder may be two hearing professionals of good standing in your own community who have personal knowledge of you and your qualifications and who are members of the local professional association (evidence of such membership must be attached).
   
   
2. An application fee of AUD$350.00 is payable with your application and an examination fee is payable once you have been assessed as eligible to sit the Theoretical Knowledge Written Examination.
   
   
3. Evidence of an IELTS test undertaken within the last two years that fulfills the following:
   (This is a requirement of the ASA if your first language is not English)
   
   • IELTS – an overall band of 7 on the single academic module
   
   • Pass the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test, with a score of at least 6.5 in Reading and Listening, and a score of at least 7 in Writing and Speaking and an overall band score of 7
   
   The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a practical and valid English language assessment primarily used by those seeking international education, professional recognition, benchmarking to international standards and global mobility. It is an academically based test designed to assess whether a candidate is ready to study or work in the medium of English at a professional level.
   
   Please note that the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test assessment has a validity period of two (2) years from the date of the test.
   
   
4. To qualify for Full Membership, all overseas-qualified applicants are required to sit the ASA's Theoretical Knowledge Written Examination. This is conducted on behalf of ASA by the teaching staff of Australian university audiology courses. However application must be made through ASA. Your application for Full Membership will be considered by the Membership Committee, who will make a recommendation to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on whether you should be approved to sit the examination.
   
   
5. Upon approval by the FEC the ASA will write to you inviting you to submit your application and fee to sit the next scheduled examination. As a guide, examinations are generally conducted in early April and October each year.
   
   
6. Following receipt of your application and fee to sit the examination, ASA liaises with university staff to set a date and time for the examination. Once the examination date, time and venue have confirmed, ASA advises the applicants of these details.
   
   
7. When ASA is advised of the results of your examination, your name is submitted to the Membership Committee who will make a recommendation to the FEC as to whether your application for Full Membership should be accepted.
   
   
8. The FEC will decide whether to approve your name for circulation to the Members.
   
   
9. All approved names are circulated to the Members. There is a 28-day period during which Members may raise an objection.
   
   
10. If no objections are received within the 28-day period, the applicant is declared elected to the grade of Full Member. On payment of appropriate membership fees, the applicant becomes a Full Member and a Membership Certificate is issued.
    
    
11. Should an objection be received, the Membership Committee will consider the grounds for objection, and make a recommendation to the FEC. The FEC is responsible for the decision as to whether to uphold or deny the objection.
    
    

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B. Application Process for the Certificate of Clinical Practice (CCP)

Applicants who wish to qualify for the award of the ASA Certificate of Clinical Practice (CCP) must first successfully complete the ASA’s Clinical Internship program. The Internship program provides for a comprehensive and transparent 12-month (EFT) clinical practicum under the supervision of a Full Member who holds a current CCP. The process for application for the ASA Certificate of Clinical Practice is outlined in ASA Membership Application documents. A brief summary of the process is as follows:

1. Only Full Members or Fellows may apply for a Certificate of Clinical Practice.
   
   
2. Applicants must have completed a Clinical Internship (12 months EFT of supervised clinical practice). The applicant will have completed and submitted the Clinical Internship documentation to register for the Internship program at the time that they became a Full Member. This documentation outlines the proposed program of clinical supervision and is signed by the proposed supervisor, who must be a Full Member of the ASA and hold a valid Certificate of Clinical Practice.
   
   
3. At the completion of the 12-month Internship program, the applicant for the Certificate of Clinical Practice must provide a signed CCP Award Application Form (Form B). This application must include the signature of the Supervisor verifying the completion of the approved GCI program and must also include supporting documentation of clinical experience and competence gained.
   
   
4. The required documentation is reviewed by the Membership Committee, which makes recommendations to the Federal Executive Council.
   
   
5. Federal Executive Council determines those members to whom it will award the ASA Certificate of Clinical Practice, and the names of the successful awardees are circulated to the Members on the monthly Membership Circular.
   
   
6. All Members holding the Certificate of Clinical Practice must fulfil the obligations of the Continuing Professional Development program to continue to be eligible to hold the Certificate of Clinical Practice.
   
   

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Special Consideration for Overseas-Gained Clinical Certification:

While this summary clearly outlines the process for Full Members undertaking the ASA's 12 month Clinical Internship, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is aware that in some specific cases, applicants for the CCP may have undertaken and successfully completed rigorous programmes of supervised clinical training prior to coming to Australia or joining the ASA. For these special cases, the FEC has recently implemented, on a trial basis, an alternative process for ASA Full Members with overseas-qualifications seeking the ASA Certificate of Clinical Practice.

1. Full Members may apply for special consideration on the grounds that they have successfully completed a program of supervised clinical practicum equivalent to that required of ASA Members.
   
   
2. The applicant must provide verified documentary evidence of completion of a supervised clinical training program or possession of valid clinical certification from an FEC approved professional audiology association. Evidence of employment as a professional audiologist does not fulfil this requirement.
   
   
3. The applicant's documentation will be reviewed by the Membership Committee, who will make a recommendation to the FEC.
   
   
4. The FEC will decide whether to approve the applicant to sit a Practical Clinical Examination conducted by an Australian university audiology program on behalf of ASA.
   
   
5. All expenses for the examination must be met by the applicant (or employer). These expenses will include the examination fee, and any travel or other costs incurred by the examiner.
   
   
6. The applicant will also be responsible for providing a venue and appropriate cases for the Practical Clinical Examination. In general, this will require a minimum of two cases, with details to be determined with the Examiner.
   
   
7. Upon completion, the Examiner will report the outcome to the Membership Committee, who will then make recommendation to the FEC.
   
   
8. The FEC will then make a decision on whether to award the Certificate of Clinical Practice. The decision of the FEC is final.
   
   
9. Candidates will not in general be allowed a second opportunity to sit a Practical Clinical Examination. Should an applicant be unsuccessful, they would be encouraged to complete the standard 12-month (EFT) Clinical Internship.