Satisfactory Progress

Official Requirements

Academic Performance

Academic performance is defined by course grades, including those earned in clinical clerkship. The Doctor of Audiology program defines the minimum academic performance as:

  1. A cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of no less than 3.0 (B) across all graduate-level courses;
  2.  No more than two instances of course grades less than “B” in graduate courses; and
  3. No course grade less than “C” in any graduate course.

Note: A grade of BC at UW-Madison or a B- at UW-Stevens Point are considered less than a “B”. If a student fails to maintain minimum academic performance, he or she will be dismissed from the program.

If a student is having difficulty in courses and/or clinic an improvement plan will be developed to outline the steps needed to show improvement in order to satisfy ASHA’s knowledge and skills as highlighted on the ASHA knowledge and skills assessment (KASA) form

All improvement plans must be completed prior to externship placement. The Au.D. faculty determine whether the student has met the standards. If the student does not meet each standard on the improvement plan after a full 15-week semester, he/she will be dismissed from the program.

Academic Probation

A student failing to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation and will be required to raise his/her GPA to 3.0 or above in the following semester. If the GPA is not raised to 3.0 or above in the following semester, the student will be dismissed from the program. A student receiving a course grade less than “B” shall receive a written warning reminding the student of the “no more than two grades below a ‘B’” rule and shall be placed on academic probation.

Students who are having difficulty with essential abilities and/or meeting competencies in coursework will receive a written improvement plan. An improvement plan specifies the ASHA standards and competencies that the student has not met, and includes statements explaining what the student must do to meet competency level and what the faculty will do to provide opportunities for improved performance.

An improvement plan may require the student to retake an examination or even repeat an entire course if deemed necessary by the academic instructor. If a student has an improvement plan, he/she should meet regularly with each academic instructor to discuss the plan each semester the plan is in place. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange these meetings.

Clinical Alert

A student may be placed on clinical alert at any point during the semester when the student's clinical performance is below the minimum expected standard and would warrant a grade lower than a “B.” Typically, however, a student will be placed on clinical alert at mid-term to allow adequate time to resolve problems prior to the end of the semester.

The intent of the clinical alert process is to assist the student in bringing his or her performance to an acceptable level. An improvement plan will be developed by the clinical professor and reviewed with the student, the Au.D. program director on their respective campus, and the Au.D. program coordinator.

If the problems are not resolved, and the student receives lower than a B for the clinical clerkships the student will be placed on Au.D. program probation.

Procedures:

  1. The clinical alert process may be initiated by one or more of the student's clinical supervisors during a semester. These supervisors, along with the Au.D. faculty, will identify areas of concern and specific changes that must be made by the student in order to meet the minimum expected standard of performance.
  2. The relevant supervisors and Au.D. faculty will meet with the student to discuss the areas of concern, obtain the student's perspective on the problems, identify the specific changes that the student needs to make, and develop strategies to facilitate making the changes. This information will be used to complete an improvement plan and is given to the student and the Au.D. program coordinator, and is placed in the student's departmental file.
  3. At the end of the semester, the student's clinical performance is reviewed. If problems are not resolved, the student will be assigned the grade BC (Madison)/B- (Stevens Point) or below, depending on the quality of clinical performance, and will be placed on Au.D. program probation inclusive of an improvement plan for the following semester.

Clinical Probation

A student whose clinical performance in one semester received a grade lower than a B will be placed on program probation prior to beginning clinical clerkship the next semester. Typically, students who are on probation will have been on clinical alert during the previous semester.

If the student does not meet each standard on the improvement plan after a full 15-week semester, he/she will be dismissed from the program.

Clinical Clerkship Hours

Students receive a grade for each clinical assignment. Clinical clock hours will be signed and applied toward the graduate degree and ASHA certification requirements if the student earns a grade of B or better.

A non-passing grade of BC (Madison)/ B- (Stevens Point) or below for any clinical assignment will likely result in an extension of the student’s academic program since the hours obtained during that semester will not be applied toward the graduate degree and ASHA certification requirements.

Clinical Exams

First year students in their spring semester must pass at a B level or higher on both a written exam and a practical exam as designated by their 891 clerkship in order to be eligible for off-site clinical placements and continuation in the Au.D. program. If the student does not pass the written or practical exam at a B level, an improvement plan for the student’s performance on one or both of the exams will be executed, discussed and approved to assist the student in obtaining the required level of performance.

The student can take a total of two retakes (including the practical and written exam). The student must complete the retake(s) at the end of the summer session. If the student does not pass the exam(s) at the end of the summer, the following actions will be taken:

  1. They will be required to sit in on the hearing assessment course and lab (CD 852 and 853) in the fall semester.
  2. They will be required to register for CD 891 instead of CD 892 for the fall semester and will not be assigned as a clinic mentor.
  3. They will be required to retake the exam(s) at the end of the fall semester of their second year. If they do not pass the exam at this time, they will be dismissed from the program. They will have the option to go through the normal channels of appeal. See the AuD handbook for details on this process.

Students will not be assigned to an offsite clinical placement until they have passed both the written and clinical exam.

Appeal of Dismissal

Students who wish to appeal dismissal must submit a letter to the Au.D. Program Director on their respective campus detailing why they should be readmitted to the program. The Au.D. faculty will then meet to discuss the appeal, and notify the student of their decision.

Leaves of Absence

Students in the AuD program may apply for a leave of absence from the program for up to one calendar year. Leaves typically are granted for medical or personal reasons.

Leave requests should be first discussed with the student’s advisor, and then submitted in writing to the Department Chair. If the leave request is not granted, the student must complete the regular application process if he or she decides to return to the program, and will be considered as a new applicant. If students have pre-enrolled for a future term, they must be sure to drop all courses before the first day of class.

Students who are absent for one or more terms must re-apply to the program

The readmission process accomplishes two goals:

  1. assures that a student is in good standing with his/her academic program; and
  2. activates his/her enrollment eligibility.

There is no application fee if reapplication is made within five years of the last semester of enrollment (see Graduate School Academic Policies and Procedures > Leave of Absence).

Students receiving financial aid should contact the Financial Aid office for information regarding loan-deferment guidelines.

International students should check on their visa status with International Student Services.

Licensure and Certification

ASHA Certification

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as the organization qualified to accredit educational programs in speech pathology and audiology.

ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) serves as the basis for licensure of audiologists in most states.

For details on ASHA certification, read How to Apply for Certification in Audiology.

State Licensure

Because licensing requirements and statutes vary by state, you should contact the licensing board for each state in which you are interested in becoming licensed.

For details on audiology licensing requirements in Wisconsin, visit the Department of Regulation and Licensing.

Wisconsin Department of Instruction (DPI) Licensure

To work as an audiologist in Wisconsin public schools, you must obtain a DPI license in audiology. You must also complete the following additional Au.D. curriculum requirements:

  1. Educational Psychology course that includes principles and theories of learning
  2. School Methods course
  3. Sign Language course
  4. 50 clinical hours in a school setting

For details on DPI licensing in Wisconsin, visit Wisconsin DPI Licensing Information.

Other states may have different licensure requirements. It is up to you to find out the requirements for the states in which you wish to work.