Community-Based AuD Clinical Instructors

What does it mean to be a community-based clinical educator for our AuD program?

Community-based clinical educators are audiologists in Tucson and around the country who volunteer to be teachers of our AuD graduate students in the context of their own clinical care.  They work side by side with our students, teaching methods of clinical care and giving them experience in doing so.  They are not passive “supervisors,” but instead vital members of our educational team focused on the students’ development towards clinical independence.  Some work with students in their second and third year of the program for a day or two a week while the students also take classes; others work with externs during their fourth year for all or most of each week.

What are the advantages of being a community-based clinical educator?

Clinical educators gain the satisfaction that comes from giving back to the next generation of audiologists.  They also make contact with future audiologists that they may be interested in recruiting in the future.  Additionally, the UArizona Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences recognizes the work done by our clinical educators by providing the following:

  • Free admission to all UArizona audiology and/or clinical instruction conferences and workshops.
  • The opportunity to have a university id (CatCard) that allows for, in part:
    • Library access online and in person
    • Access to the UArizona Rec Center at Faculty prices
What are the requirements for being a community-based clinical educator?

Audiologists are invited to consider being clinical educators based on the faculty’s knowledge of the quality of their work, the kind of work that they do, and a potential interest in teaching.  Additionally, they must have done at least two hours of continuing education in clinical teaching at some point in the past, or be willing to do so in the near future.  It is NOT required that they be certified by either ASHA or AAA, although if they are that will make it easier for students to become certified after graduation.

If you are ASHA certified, it is required that you attest that you meet this requirement (documentation is not required).  Here is how to do so:

  • Go to the ASHA Website (asha.org) and log in.
  • Click on “My Account”
  • Click on “2020 Requirements for Clinical Instructors, Supervisors, and Clinical Fellow Mentors”
  • You will then see where you can attest.

Clinical Education Training Opportunities

Council for Academic Programsin Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD)

Free and quite helpful. These links take you directly to the courses with instructions. Visit the eLearning webpage for more information.

American Academy of Audiology Certificate Holder

The AAA Audiology Preceptor (CH-AP) program: this program is not free, but reasonably priced particularly for academy members.  Most of the on-campus clinical faculty have also completed this program and found it to be very good.  Here is the link to more information: eAudiology: CHAP Program

Resources for Clinical Educators

Pediatric Audiology Video Series

The Audiology faculty of SLHS, with support from the Arizona Department of Health Services, have produced these educational videos on childhood hearing loss and infant audiological assessments. These videos are for parents, students, and other community professionals who currently see or will come in contact with children with hearing loss.

The first video includes information on frequency of childhood hearing loss, the goals of Newborn Infant Screening programs, and the components of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention programs.

Childhood Hearing Loss Part 1: Introduction to hearing loss and early detection

Childhood Hearing Loss Part 2: Infant Audiologic Assessment

Childhood Hearing Loss Part 3: The steps following confirmation of hearing loss

Annual Audiology Conference

This annual conference provides state-of-the-art information about issues relevant to hearing and hearing loss in both children and adults. Speakers and topics in the past include Richard Styler on Tinnitus, Robert Burkard and Michael Cevette on Innovations in Hearing and Balance, and Linda Thibodeau on Assistive Devices.

The Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences is committed to creating and maintaining an environment free of discrimination -- in the classroom, the clinical setting, and the workplace.  The University of Arizona Office of Institutional Equity provides education and support for these efforts.

The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University prohibits discrimination in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information and is committed to maintaining an environment free from sexual harassment and retaliation.