American Board of Audiology® Preparing First Preceptor Certificate Program to Validate Audiologists Who Supervise Students in Clinical Settings
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) March 24, 2014 -- The American Board of Audiology® (ABA) announced today that it is developing a Preceptor Certificate program for audiologists who provide clinical instruction to audiology students. Audiologists who successfully complete the program training and earn the Preceptor Certificate will gain an understanding of their critical role as educators and will be competent to lead students through valuable clinical learning experiences to make them practice-ready.
According to Mindy K. Brudereck, AuD, chair of the ABA Board of Governors, the ABA Preceptor Certificate is being built on the first-ever post-graduate Practice Analysis in Audiology study that will reflect not only the knowledge, but also the skills and abilities that audiologists with a minimum of three (3) years of post-graduate experience have today. The Preceptor Certificate also will fully integrate the Clinical Education Guidelines for Audiology Externships, issued by the American Academy of Audiology.
“Currently, no formal infrastructure or uniform guidance exists to prepare preceptors for their role — a commitment that calls for a broad range of knowledge and skills beyond clinical expertise. Audiologists new to precepting proceed with scant training and may or may not possess the essential non-clinical skills, such as mentoring, teaching, and management, that they need to confidently embrace their role.”
Because there is no centralized system in place to ensure that students can access field experiences and externship opportunities aligned with their needs and preferences, the ABA plans to fill that void with the ABA Preceptor Certificate.
“This ABA Preceptor Certificate will help students choose the best teaching environment possible, and it will help the preceptors lead students through this most critical component of their training — the clinical experience,” Dr. Brudereck continued.
“We are working extensively with experienced Preceptors and recently graduated audiologists, as well, to gain the broadest perspective regarding the skills and competencies the Preceptor curriculum should include. This will be a very relevant, high-quality, high-value credential.”
Topics covered in the Preceptor Certificate curriculum will include key concepts related to the application of adult learning theory and learning styles to promote optimal learning outcomes. Resources will be presented to Preceptors in working with students to set clear expectations and reasonable learning targets. Audiologists who earn the ABA Preceptor Certificate will have a bank of concrete techniques to effectively manage student clinical experiences, stimulate critical thinking, provide constructive feedback, and conduct efficient evaluations.
“The ABA Preceptor Certificate now under development will help students choose the best possible learning environment to meet their professional goals. Preceptors will enjoy working with highly motivated students interested in the instructional opportunities they have to offer,” Brudereck commented.
“Students selecting an audiologist who has earned the Preceptor Certificate can be confident that their clinical placements will ground them in the knowledge, clinical skills, and professional competencies they need to be practice-ready audiologists in their selected area of focus.”
“We envision the ABA Preceptor Certificate becoming an industry standard that sets audiologists apart,” Dr. Brudereck concluded. “Audiologists who meet the training required to earn the ABA Preceptor Certificate will be recognized as outstanding clinical practitioners committed to lifelong learning and professional excellence. Students who select placements with ABA Certified Preceptors can trust that they have chosen a quality clinical placement that will prepare them for their audiology career.”
If you are interested in serving as a subject matter expert preceptor on the ABA Preceptor Certificate program, please contact Torryn Brazell at tbrazell(at)audiology(dot)org, 1-800-881-5410.
About the American Board of Audiology® (ABA)
An autonomous organization, the American Board of Audiology (ABA) is dedicated to enhancing audiological services to the public by promulgating universally recognized standards in professional practice. The ABA encourages audiologists to exceed these prescribed standards, thereby promoting a high level of professional development and ethical practice. To help meet that goal, the ABA administers the Board Certified in Audiology® credential, the Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification (PASC®), and the Cochlear Implant Specialty Certification (CISC®), all of which are voluntary certification programs.
Margaret Brown, MLB Communications, +1 (703) 898-9443, [email protected]
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