Audiologist screening questions: state license, CCC-A, the ASLP compact, hearing aid dispensing and setting fit

Audiologist screening questions should confirm the state license for the job state (all states license audiologists), any separate hearing aid dispensing license the state requires, and the candidate's national certification (ASHA's CCC-A or the American Board of Audiology), then match their clinical experience to the client's setting: adult diagnostics and hearing aids, pediatrics and newborn follow-up, vestibular testing, cochlear implants, schools or industrial hearing conservation. As of November 2026, the audiology interstate compact is only beginning to issue privileges, so plan on a full license in most job states.

The speech-language pathologist screening questions cover the other ASHA profession, which shares the same compact and many school and hospital teams. This page is for audiologists, whose work turns on equipment, test batteries and, in many jobs, hearing aid sales. For the later interview rounds, see the interview guide for therapy roles.

Which audiology job is it?

Which credentials and state rules apply?

• The state license. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook says audiologists must be licensed in all states and typically need a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.). California's audiologist license page, for example, requires fingerprinting, a doctoral degree in audiology (for licenses after January 1, 2008), 300 hours of supervised practicum in three settings, the final-year externship, and the Praxis audiology exam (5343) with a score of at least 162. It accepts a current CCC-A or ABA certification as an equivalent-qualifications route.
• Hearing aid dispensing. Some states license dispensing separately. California's board says an audiologist who wishes to dispense hearing aids must pass the state's hearing aid dispensers written and practical exams. If the job sells hearing aids, ask about dispensing specifically.
• ASHA's CCC-A. ASHA's 2020 audiology certification standards require a doctoral degree in audiology from a CAA-accredited program (or equivalent) and a passing Praxis audiology score, and holders must report 30 professional development hours every three years. Check status with ASHA's Verify ASHA Certification search. ASHA lists new audiology standards that take effect August 1, 2027.
• The ASLP compact. The ASLP-IC site says 37 jurisdictions have enacted the compact, registration for compact privileges is open for licensed practitioners in Louisiana, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia, and practice occurs in the state where the patient is located. For other states, plan on a full license.
• Medicare. CMS's audiology services page says that since January 1, 2023 a patient may see an audiologist without a physician's order once every 12 months for certain diagnostic tests for non-acute hearing conditions, billed with the AB modifier, and that Medicare does not pay for hearing aids, though it covers cochlear and similar implants as prosthetic devices.

Knockout questions

Clinical questions with strong answers and red flags

1. "Walk me through a comprehensive evaluation for a 68-year-old who says they can't follow conversations."
   • Strong answer: case history, otoscopy, immittance testing, air and bone conduction thresholds with masking where needed, speech testing, counseling on the results, and the findings that mean a medical referral (for example sudden or markedly asymmetric loss).
   • Red flags: jumps to a hearing aid recommendation before testing is finished; does not mention masking.
2. "How do you verify a hearing aid fitting?"
   • Strong answer: real-ear (probe microphone) measurement against a prescriptive target, then outcome measures and follow-up adjustments.
   • Red flags: relies on the manufacturer's first-fit setting and the patient's comfort alone.
3. "A patient bought over-the-counter hearing aids online and isn't happy. How do you handle it?"
   • Strong answer: tests first; knows the FDA's OTC hearing aid category (in effect since October 17, 2022) is for adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss; explains options without disparaging the purchase.
   • Red flags: dismisses OTC devices outright, or does not know who they are for.
4. Pediatrics: "A baby was referred from newborn screening at three weeks. What happens next?"
   • Strong answer: a full diagnostic evaluation as soon as possible; knows the CDC's guidance that babies should be screened by 1 month and, if they do not pass, have a full hearing test ideally by 3 months; describes diagnostic ABR and family counseling.
   • Red flags: "We rescreen in six months."
5. Industrial: "What does a technician do, and what must you do, in a hearing conservation program?"
   • Strong answer: under 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(3), tests are done by a licensed or certified audiologist or a physician, or by a technician certified by CAOHC or shown competent, who must be responsible to an audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician; the audiologist or physician reviews problem audiograms and decides on further evaluation.
   • Red flags: signs off on audiograms they never review.

Implants, vestibular and school questions

How does audiology experience get overstated?

• Externship counted as employment. Ask for the license issue date and employers since.
• "ABR experience" that was automated newborn screening. Ask about diagnostic, frequency-specific ABR.
• Implant programming that was watching the senior audiologist map.
• Dispensing in a state where they did not hold the dispensing license, under someone else's.
• "All ages" from a few pediatric patients a year. Ask for the youngest patient they tested alone.

A 15-minute phone-screen flow

1. Minutes 0 to 2: setting, schedule, patient mix and whether the role dispenses.
2. Minutes 2 to 5: knockouts; write down every license and certification number to verify after the call.
3. Minutes 5 to 10: the evaluation walk-through and the fitting verification question, plus one setting question (pediatric, implant, vestibular or industrial).
4. Minutes 10 to 13: volume, targets and documentation.
5. Minutes 13 to 15: pay expectations (see salary expectation questions) and next steps.

Scoring

What to put in the submittal

Audiologist: [name]
State license(s): [state, number, expiry], verified [date]
Dispensing license: [state, number] or not required
National certification: [CCC-A / ABA], verified [date]
Compact privilege: [state] or none
Settings, last 3 years: [clinic / hospital / implants / vestibular / schools / industrial], months each
Weekly volume: [evaluations], [fittings], [other tests]
Verification method: [real-ear measurement, yes / no]
Equipment and software: [audiometer, ABR, VNG, programming software]
Candidate's own gap: [e.g. "no sedated ABR; pediatrics over age 5 only"]

Lawful phrasing

Ask about the job's functions, not the candidate's own hearing or health: "The role involves positioning patients for testing and lifting equipment cases between two clinics. Can you perform that, with or without accommodation?" is lawful before an offer under the EEOC's guidance on disability-related questions. Ask for years of experience, not graduation year. See illegal interview questions for other slips, how to verify candidate certifications for the checks, and how to track healthcare license expirations once the audiologist is placed. This page is not legal advice.