February 6th, 2026
VA Professional and Occupational Licensing Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
9960 Mayland Drive
Suite 300
Henrico, VA 23233
Re: Amendment of 18VAC30-21-60(A) to include American Board of Audiology certification as an accepted pathway for audiologists applying for licensure
Dear Members of the Board,
The American Academy of Audiology (the Academy) appreciates the opportunity to submit comments in support of amending 18VAC30-21-60(A) to include American Board of Audiology (ABA) certification as an accepted pathway for audiologists applying for licensure. The Academy is the largest professional organization of, by, and for audiologists and is dedicated to advancing quality hearing and balance care through professional development, education, research, and increased public awareness.
The amendment seeks the restoration of ABA certification in the licensure regulations as an alternative pathway to audiology licensure while maintaining rigorous professional standards. When ABA certification was removed from the regulations, the result was not increased flexibility, but rather the elimination of a recognized pathway, leaving applicants with effectively a single certification-based option for licensure. This narrowing of pathways makes it more difficult for qualified audiologists to become licensed in Virginia.
ABA certification is a nationally recognized credential that reflects comprehensive education, examination, and professional requirements specific to the practice of audiology. The ABA certification process is designed exclusively for audiologists and requires demonstration of advanced competencies, making it a highly rigorous and profession-specific credential. In many respects, ABA certification represents a more specialized and stringent standard for the practice of audiology than broader certification pathways that are not exclusively focused on audiology.
Virginia’s regulations already recognize certification as an expedited pathway to licensure, and if the Commonwealth recognizes the CCC, it should likewise recognize ABA certification. Explicitly restoring ABA certification alongside other accepted pathways would preserve applicant choice and accurately reflect the diverse, high-quality training routes within the audiology profession. Explicitly restoring ABA certification alongside other accepted pathways would preserve applicant choice, ensure recognition of a highly rigorous audiology-specific credential, and accurately reflect the diverse, high-quality training routes within the audiology profession.
Thank you for your consideration of this amendment and for your continued work to modernize and clarify audiology licensure in Virginia. The Academy appreciates the opportunity to provide input on this petition and looks forward to continued collaboration with the Board. If you have any questions regarding these comments, please contact Joanne Zurcher, Vice President of Government Relations, at jzurcher@audiology.org.
Sincerely,
David Zapala, PhD
President, American Academy of Audiology