- What "PASC Training" Actually Means
- Training Before You Apply: The Experience You Must Already Have
- Know the Test Before You Train for It
- Training by Domain: What to Master in Each Content Area
- A Domain-Weighted Sequencing Plan
- Training for the Testing Environment
- Money, Dates and Deadlines That Shape Your Training Window
- Training Never Stops: Renewal and Continuing Education
- Frequently Asked Questions
- PASC leads to the BC-PA designation from the American Board of Audiology; it is voluntary and independent of other certification.
- Eligibility needs 550 pediatric direct-patient hours and 50 case-management hours; externship hours do not count.
- The exam has 120 questions (100 scored, 20 unscored) in 2 hours 30 minutes, with no guessing penalty.
- Assessment and Diagnosis carries 24% and Case Management and Counseling 22%, so they deserve the most training time.
What "PASC Training" Actually Means
When people search for "PASC training," they usually mean one of two very different things. The first is the clinical and professional training that qualifies you to sit for the credential at all. The second is the focused exam preparation that turns years of pediatric practice into a passing performance on a four-option, closed-book test. Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification (PASC), offered by the American Board of Audiology (ABA), awards the designation Board Certified in Pediatric Audiology (BC-PA), and it demands both.
There is no single mandated course, curriculum or approved training vendor. Instead, the certification is built on documented pediatric clinical experience plus a criterion-referenced examination. That structure shapes how you should think about training: your clinical caseload is the foundation, and your exam preparation is the bridge that organizes what you already know into the six content domains the test measures. If you are still deciding whether the credential fits your career, our overview What Is PASC Certification? covers the basics before you invest preparation time.
Training Before You Apply: The Experience You Must Already Have
PASC is not an entry-level credential. The training that matters most happens in your clinic, and the application asks you to prove it. Under the current handbook and program page, ABA general certification, CCC-A and professional membership are not prerequisites, which surprises many audiologists who assume a prior credential is required. Older language in superseded documents, including the January 2024 handbook introduction, referenced other-certification prerequisites, but the current handbook controls.
The experience thresholds
- A graduate audiology degree from a regionally accredited institution, verified by an official transcript.
- An appropriate audiology license or work authorization. The current handbook requires a permanent U.S. audiology license, or valid license/work authorization for international and U.S.-territory applicants.
- Paid post-degree professional experience.
- 550 pediatric direct-patient hours and 50 pediatric case-management hours, accrued over two consecutive years within the preceding five years.
- Two professional references, including a supervisor, plus documented experience and an ethics agreement.
Externship hours do not qualify. That single line eliminates many recent graduates from near-term eligibility, so plan your clinical placement accordingly if pediatrics is your goal.
A wording discrepancy worth knowing
The live application specifies a minimum of 2,000 professional hours within two years, while the handbook phrases the requirement as two years of post-degree, full-time (2,000) hours. These are worded differently, and you should read both the application page and the handbook before you document your history. Do not assume a larger threshold than either source states; neither document describes a 4,000-hour requirement. For a full walkthrough, see PASC Requirements: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Key Takeaway
Start logging pediatric direct-patient hours and case-management hours in a way you can document later. Your application will ask for evidence, and reconstructing two years of caseload from memory is far harder than tracking it as you go.
Know the Test Before You Train for It
Effective preparation starts with understanding the instrument. The PASC exam contains 120 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes. Of those, 100 are scored and 20 are unscored beta items, and you cannot tell which is which, so every question deserves full effort. Every question has four options. Single-answer multiple-choice items have exactly one correct answer, while multiple-response items have two or three correct answers. That second format punishes shallow recognition: you must know a topic well enough to identify every correct response and reject plausible distractors.
Scoring realities
Passing is criterion-referenced. The ABA uses modified Angoff standard setting and the overall raw score on the 100 scored items, with difficulty adjustment rather than one fixed passing percentage that applies to every form. There is no guessing penalty, so leaving an item unanswered gains you nothing; answer everything. Results arrive approximately eight weeks after the administration. Our deeper explanation lives in PASC Passing Score: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
| Exam Feature | PASC Detail |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 120 (100 scored, 20 unscored beta) |
| Time allowed | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Answer options | Four per question |
| Item types | Single-answer and multiple-response (two or three correct) |
| Guessing penalty | None |
| Passing method | Criterion-referenced, modified Angoff, difficulty-adjusted |
| Results | About eight weeks after administration |
What the pass data does and doesn't tell you
The ABA's August 6, 2026 report gives a Spring 2026 first-time pass rate of 82.6%, while 20 of 25 candidates passed overall. Those figures use different denominators and should not be treated as interchangeable. The reported 2025 first-time rate of 86.9% describes a separate cohort, not 2026. The takeaway for training is cautious: the cohorts are small, candidates are experienced clinicians, and the exam is demanding enough that preparation still matters. See PASC Pass Rate: What the Data Shows and How Hard Is the PASC Exam? for context.
Training by Domain: What to Master in Each Content Area
The six domains below are formal exam content domains, not a prescribed curriculum. The current handbook publishes scored-item allocations of 24, 21, 22, 16, 9 and 8 out of 100, and the ABA's November 13, 2023 revised-blueprint announcement publishes the matching percentage weights. The scope source is the ABA Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification Handbook, Edition 23, November 2025. For a domain-by-domain deep dive, read PASC Exam Domains: Complete Guide to All 6 Content Areas.
Domain 1: Assessment and Diagnosis of Auditory and Vestibular Disorders (24%)
The largest domain. Expect questions that ask you to select, sequence and interpret pediatric test batteries across developmental ages.
- Age-appropriate behavioral and electrophysiologic approaches, and how to reconcile conflicting results
- Cross-checking and interpreting findings when a child cannot be tested conventionally
- Vestibular considerations in children, including when referral or further evaluation is warranted
- Multiple-response items where several test choices are defensible and you must pick the right two or three
Domain 2: Habilitation/Rehabilitation (21%)
Covers what happens after diagnosis: amplification and other technology, verification and validation, and monitoring outcomes as the child grows.
- Fitting, verifying and adjusting devices for infants and children
- Outcome measures and follow-up schedules across development
- Auditory-learning supports and coordination with early intervention
Domain 3: Case Management and Counseling (22%)
The second-largest domain, and one clinicians often under-prepare for because it feels intuitive. The exam tests structured decision-making, not just good bedside manner.
- Counseling families through diagnosis, with attention to emotional and informational needs
- Coordinating care across medical, educational and early-intervention teams
- Follow-up, tracking and loss-to-follow-up prevention
Domain 4: Medical Audiology (16%)
Tests the medical context surrounding pediatric hearing loss.
- Etiologies and risk factors that should prompt specific referrals or evaluation
- Middle-ear and other medical conditions that affect test interpretation
- When and why to involve physicians and other specialists
Domain 5: Professional and Regulatory Issues (9%)
A smaller domain, but a reliable source of points for candidates who review it deliberately.
- Scope of practice, ethics and licensure compliance
- Documentation and professional responsibility in pediatric settings
Domain 6: Educational Audiology (8%)
The smallest domain, but it is a distinct specialty area, and clinic-based audiologists often have the thinnest exposure to it.
- Hearing-related needs in school and learning environments
- Collaboration with educators and the broader school team
A Domain-Weighted Sequencing Plan
Generic study advice is plentiful, so this section keeps it tied to PASC specifics. The logic is simple: allocate time in proportion to blueprint weight, but front-load the domains where experienced clinicians tend to have blind spots. The sample timeline below assumes a roughly six-week runway; stretch or compress it based on your clinical background. For a broader plan, see our PASC Study Guide: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Domain 1 and Domain 3 Foundations
- Review pediatric diagnostic batteries and practice interpreting conflicting results
- Rehearse counseling and case-management scenarios as decision problems
- Together these two domains make up 46% of scored items
Domain 2 and Domain 4
- Revisit amplification, verification and outcome monitoring for children
- Review etiologies, risk factors and medical referral pathways
Domain 6 and Domain 5
- Give educational audiology dedicated time if your clinical setting has limited school contact
- Review ethics, scope and licensure content
Timed Mixed Practice
- Simulate the 120-question, 2 hour 30 minute format
- Practice multiple-response items specifically, since two or three answers must be right
Use the practice questions on the PASC Exam Prep practice test site to time yourself, and keep a short quick-reference page of high-yield facts; our PASC Cheat Sheet is a good starting skeleton you can customize.
Training for the Testing Environment
The exam is delivered through Prolydian with Proctor360 live remote proctoring. Older material referring to Examity delivery language should not override the current Prolydian/Proctor360 instructions. Treat the technical setup as part of your training, because a failed room check wastes preparation.
- Device: a desktop or laptop with a webcam and microphone. Tablets, phones and Chromebooks do not meet testing-device requirements.
- Environment: a private room, with identity and room checks before you begin.
- Identification: current government photo/signature ID that matches the name on your registration.
- Rules: standard testing is English-only and closed book, with no calculators, notes, dual monitors or ordinary breaks. Approved accommodations are governed separately.
Because there are no ordinary breaks across 2 hours 30 minutes, practice sitting through a full-length session in a quiet room before test day so pacing and stamina are not surprises.
Money, Dates and Deadlines That Shape Your Training Window
Your preparation calendar should be built backward from the application and registration deadlines. The next exam window is May 3-17, 2027. The application deadline is March 9, 2027, and exam registration runs January 12-April 13, 2027. Confirm current dates on the ABA's upcoming-exams page, and see PASC Exam Dates: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling for scheduling detail.
| Fee Item | Academy Member | Non-Member |
|---|---|---|
| Exam registration | USD 395 | USD 440 |
| Application (separate) | USD 125 | USD 160 |
| Combined first application and exam | USD 520 | USD 600 |
These amounts exclude membership. A second-certification application receives a USD 50 application-fee reduction. For a full breakdown, see PASC Certification Cost: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Your eligibility clock
The current handbook permits testing and retakes for five years beginning on the first day of the next testing window after application approval. An older FAQ counts from the first test date instead. This is a genuine source conflict, and the current handbook is the document to follow. After eligibility expires, you need a new application, new documentation and new fees, so a longer training runway is a real advantage but not an unlimited one.
Training Never Stops: Renewal and Continuing Education
BC-PA certification renews every three years. The requirement is 60 CE hours total, including 30 pediatric hours, 15 Tier 1 hours and 3 professional-ethics hours, along with continued ethics and licensure compliance and a USD 360 fee for either membership group. Those categories are subsets of the same 60-hour total rather than additional hours stacked on top, and excess hours do not carry forward. Details are on the ABA recertification page.
If you are weighing the payoff of the entire effort, our analyses in Is the PASC Certification Worth It?, PASC Salary Guide and PASC Jobs explore careers and compensation, and we avoid quoting unverified figures here. Qualitatively, the credential signals advanced pediatric competence to employers such as children's hospitals, pediatric audiology clinics and programs that serve infants and school-age children, though hiring weight varies by employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
No single mandated course exists. Eligibility rests on documented pediatric direct-patient and case-management hours plus the exam. Preparation resources are optional, and the six exam domains are content areas, not a required curriculum.
Under the current handbook and program page, no. PASC is voluntary and independent of other certification, and general ABA certification, CCC-A and professional membership are not prerequisites.
Assessment and Diagnosis (24%) and Case Management and Counseling (22%) carry the most weight, followed by Habilitation/Rehabilitation (21%). Still review smaller domains like Educational Audiology (8%) if your clinical exposure is limited.
Yes. There is no guessing penalty, so leaving an item unanswered offers no scoring advantage. Remember that multiple-response items have two or three correct answers.
No. You need a desktop or laptop with a webcam and microphone, in a private room, with matching government photo ID. Tablets, phones and Chromebooks do not meet the testing-device requirements.