Question
If you do not pursue your Au.D., will you be able to practice audiology with a Master's degree in a different state from the state where you previously lived? I have asked this question to ASHA, a few state organizations and other colleagues and no one seems to have the correct answer.
Answer
There is no single correct answer. I believe in most states you will have reciprocity and be able to practice with a Master's degree. Key word is "most". There will be exceptions.
There are some states where the Au.D. is now the entry level requirement (Masters no longer accepted) for licensure. As an example, below is the licensure law for audiologists in Ohio as it relates to the Au.D.:
§ 4753.06. Eligibility for licensure.
(C) If the person seeks licensure as an audiologist, the person submits to the board an official transcript demonstrating that the person has at least a doctor of audiology degree or the equivalent as determined by the board. The person's academic credit must include course work accumulated in the completion of a well-integrated course of study approved by the board and delineated by rules dealing with the normal aspects of human hearing, balance, and related development and clinical evaluation, audiologic diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of human hearing, balance, and related development. The course work must have been completed in an audiology program that is accredited by an organization recognized by the United States Department of Education and operated by a college or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the board.
Taken from: https://slpaud.ohio.gov/
Getting back to the question of reciprocity with the Master's degree, here is what the rule is in Ohio:
§ 4753.08. Waiver of examination, educational and professional experience requirements.
The board of speech-language pathology and audiology shall waive the examination, educational, and professional experience requirements for any applicant who meets any of the following requirements:
(A) On September 26, 1975, has at least a bachelor's degree with a major in speech-language pathology or audiology from an accredited college or university, or who has been employed as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist for at least nine months at any time within the three years prior to September 26, 1975, if an application providing bona fide proof of such degree or employment is filed with the board within one year after September 26, 1975, and is accompanied by the application fee as prescribed in division (A) of section 4753.11 of the Revised Code;
(B) Presents proof of current certification or licensure in good standing in the area in which licensure is sought in a state which has standards at least equal to the standards for licensure in this state at the time the applicant applies for the licensure;
(C) Presents proof of both of the following:(1) Having a current certification or licensure in good standing in audiology in a state that has standards for licensure as an audiologist that were in effect in this state on December 31, 2005;(D) Presents proof of a current certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology or audiology that is in good standing and received from the American speech-language-hearing association in the area in which licensure is sought.
(2) Having first obtained that certification or licensure not later than December 31, 2007.
Taken from: https://slpaud.ohio.gov/
So, as far as Ohio is concerned, if you meet the requirements with your Master's degree, you would have reciprocity as long as your license or certification was obtained not later than December 31, 2007.
That said, the examples above would only be relevant if you were moving to Ohio. State licensure statutes and regulations are continuously being updated and your question will depend on which state and when. I would advise you to review the requirements in the state(s) you are interested in and if you believe there is a strong likelihood that you might be moving to a different state later in you career, get licensed in that state now. Licensure fees are relatively low and would provide you relative inexpensive assurance of your legal ability to practice in that state later in your career.
Personally, I feel that if one intends to practice audiology anywhere, there is no reason they should not be enrolled in a distance "bridge" program to complete the transition to the Au.D. This would effectively eliminate questions about licensure reciprocity.
George S. Osborne, Ph.D.
Dean
PCO School of Audiology
www.pco.edu