- What a PASC Actually Is
- Who Runs It and Why It Is Voluntary
- Who Qualifies to Sit for It
- Exam Format and Question Style
- The Six Content Domains
- Fees and Registration Mechanics
- Pass Rate Data and Scoring
- Exam-Day Delivery Rules
- Windows, Deadlines and Eligibility Period
- After You Pass: Renewal and Career Context
- Sequencing Your Preparation by Domain
- Frequently Asked Questions
- PASC is Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification from the American Board of Audiology, awarding the designation Board Certified in Pediatric Audiology...
- The exam has 120 questions: 100 scored and 20 unscored beta items, in 2 hours 30 minutes.
- Assessment and Diagnosis carries the most weight at 24%, followed by Case Management and Counseling at 22%.
- Eligibility needs 550 pediatric direct-patient hours and 50 case-management hours; externship hours do not count.
What a PASC Actually Is
In this context, PASC stands for Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification. It is a board-level credential for audiologists whose daily work centers on infants, toddlers, children and adolescents. Candidates who pass earn the designation Board Certified in Pediatric Audiology (BC-PA).
The acronym is shared with several unrelated credentials in other fields, so it is worth being precise: nothing in this article applies to any certification other than the pediatric audiology program described here. If you are still sorting out the terminology, our explainers on what PASC stands for and PASC meaning cover the naming question, while this article focuses on what the credential is, who it is for and how the exam works.
Think of PASC as a formal, third-party verification that your pediatric practice meets a defined standard. It is not an entry-level license and it does not grant authority to practice. It sits on top of your existing audiology licensure and signals focused depth in the pediatric population, which has distinct diagnostic, habilitation and family-centered counseling demands compared with adult audiology.
Who Runs It and Why It Is Voluntary
The certifying body is the American Board of Audiology (ABA). The program is voluntary and independent of other certification. Under the current handbook and program page, general ABA certification, the CCC-A and professional membership are not prerequisites. That independence matters for candidates who assume they must stack credentials in a particular order.
Because the credential is voluntary, its value comes from what you and your employer make of it. For a frank look at that question, see Is the PASC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and the earnings discussion in the PASC Salary Guide 2026.
Who Qualifies to Sit for It
PASC eligibility is built around documented pediatric experience rather than a single course or test. The current requirements include:
- A graduate audiology degree from a regionally accredited institution, verified by 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, accumulated over two consecutive years within the preceding five years.
- Two professional references, one of whom must be a supervisor.
- Documented experience and an ethics agreement.
The professional-hours wording discrepancy
There is a genuine wording difference between sources. The live application specifies a minimum of 2,000 professional hours within two years, while the handbook phrases it as two years of post-degree, full-time (2,000) hours. Do not interpret either phrasing as a 4,000-hour threshold; no such requirement exists. If your situation falls near the edge, confirm directly with the ABA before applying. A full walkthrough of the eligibility pathway is in PASC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Exam Format and Question Style
The exam is 120 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes. Of those, 100 are scored and 20 are unscored beta items being evaluated for future use. You will not be told which are which, so treat every question as if it counts.
Every question has four options, but not every question has one right answer:
- Single-answer multiple-choice items have exactly one correct option.
- Multiple-response items have two or three correct answers among the four.
That second format is the one that catches candidates off guard. In a multiple-response item you must recognize which combination of statements is defensible, which rewards integrated clinical reasoning over memorized single facts. There is no guessing penalty, so leaving an item blank offers no scoring advantage; answer everything.
| Feature | PASC Detail |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 120 (100 scored + 20 unscored beta) |
| Time allowed | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Options per question | Four |
| Correct answers | One (single-answer) or two to three (multiple-response) |
| Guessing penalty | None |
| Language | English only (standard testing) |
| Reference materials | Closed book; no calculators or notes |
The Six Content Domains
The exam blueprint is divided into six formal content domains. 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 matching percentage weights. The scope reference is the ABA Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification Handbook, Edition 23, November 2025 (blueprint summary and detail, printed pages 19-21). For a deeper treatment, see PASC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 6 Content Areas.
Domain 1: Assessment and Diagnosis of Auditory and Vestibular Disorders (24%)
The largest domain, covering how you evaluate hearing and balance in children across developmental stages.
- Age-appropriate behavioral and electrophysiologic test selection
- Interpreting results for infants and difficult-to-test children
- Pediatric vestibular concerns alongside hearing assessment
Domain 2: Habilitation/Rehabilitation (21%)
What happens after a diagnosis: fitting, verifying and supporting children with hearing loss.
- Amplification and other hearing technology decisions for pediatric patients
- Verification and ongoing management of devices
- Supporting listening and communication development
Domain 3: Case Management and Counseling (22%)
The second-largest domain, reflecting how much of pediatric audiology involves families and care coordination.
- Family-centered counseling and shared decision-making
- Coordinating with physicians, therapists, schools and early-intervention programs
- Follow-up, monitoring and communicating results
Domain 4: Medical Audiology (16%)
The medical context of pediatric hearing and balance disorders.
- Etiologies and medical conditions associated with pediatric hearing loss
- Knowing when to refer and to whom
- Interpreting findings within a medical differential
Domain 5: Professional and Regulatory Issues (9%)
Standards, ethics and compliance in pediatric practice.
- Ethical decision-making and scope of practice
- Regulatory and documentation obligations
Domain 6: Educational Audiology (8%)
The smallest domain, but one that distinguishes pediatric from adult practice.
- Hearing and listening needs in school settings
- Collaboration with educators and school teams
Together, Domains 1 and 3 account for 46% of the scored content, and Domains 1, 2 and 3 together account for 67%. That is where most of your preparation time should concentrate. For the broader question of how to study, see the PASC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Fees and Registration Mechanics
PASC costs are split into an application fee and an exam registration fee, with different rates for Academy members and non-members. Membership dues are not included.
| Item | Academy Member | Non-Member |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | USD 125 | USD 160 |
| Exam registration fee | USD 395 | USD 440 |
| Combined first application and exam | USD 520 | USD 600 |
A candidate applying for a second ABA certification receives a USD 50 application-fee reduction. Remember that application and exam registration are separate steps with separate windows (see below). For the full picture, including renewal costs, read PASC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Pass Rate Data and Scoring
How passing is determined
PASC uses criterion-referenced scoring. The passing standard is set through a modified Angoff standard-setting process and is based on your overall raw score across the 100 scored items, with a difficulty adjustment. There is no fixed universal passing percentage, so be skeptical of any source that claims a single magic number. The details are in PASC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
What the published results say
The ABA's August 6, 2026 issuer report gives a Spring 2026 first-time pass rate of 82.6%, while 20 of 25 candidates passed overall. These two figures use different denominators: one counts first-time testers, the other counts everyone who tested. The reported 2025 first-time rate of 86.9% describes a different cohort and should not be mistaken for a 2026 result.
Exam-Day Delivery Rules
The exam is delivered through Prolydian with Proctor360 live remote proctoring. Older documentation referencing Examity delivery is outdated and must not override the current Prolydian/Proctor360 instructions.
What you need
- A desktop or laptop computer. Tablets, phones and Chromebooks do not meet the testing-device requirements.
- A working webcam and microphone.
- A private room, with identity and room checks before you begin.
- Current government-issued photo ID with signature matching your registered name exactly.
What is not allowed
Standard testing is closed book: no calculators, notes or dual monitors, and no ordinary breaks. Plan your hydration and logistics around a continuous 2 hours 30 minutes. Approved accommodations are governed by a separate process, so if you need one, begin that conversation early rather than at registration.
Key Takeaway
Do a full technical rehearsal on the exact computer and in the exact room you will use. Confirm your ID name matches your registration character for character. Device and identity problems are avoidable failures that have nothing to do with audiology knowledge.
Windows, Deadlines and Eligibility Period
PASC is offered in defined testing windows rather than on demand. The next exam window listed is May 3-17, 2027, with the following milestones:
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Exam registration period | January 12-April 13, 2027 |
| Application deadline | March 9, 2027 |
| Exam window | May 3-17, 2027 |
Notice that the application deadline (March 9) falls before the registration period closes (April 13). You must be approved before you can register, so do not wait until the registration window is nearly over to submit your application. Results arrive approximately eight weeks after the administration. See PASC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling for ongoing scheduling updates.
The five-year eligibility period
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 instead counts from the first test date. These sources conflict, and the current handbook is the one to follow. Once eligibility expires, you need a new application, fresh documentation and new fees.
After You Pass: Renewal and Career Context
Renewal requirements
BC-PA certification renews every three years. Requirements include:
- 60 CE hours in total
- Of which 30 must be pediatric, 15 must be Tier 1 and 3 must be professional ethics
- Continued ethics and licensure compliance
- A USD 360 renewal fee for either membership group
Where the credential shows up in practice
Pediatric audiologists work in children's hospitals, pediatric ENT and audiology clinics, university-affiliated programs, early-intervention and school-based settings, and private practices with a strong pediatric caseload. The credential is most useful where employers or referral partners value documented pediatric depth. Specific hiring patterns vary by region and employer, so treat any generalization with caution. Our overview of PASC jobs explores how the credential intersects with employment, and the broader PASC certification overview covers the program at a higher level.
Sequencing Your Preparation by Domain
Because the blueprint is weighted, preparation should be too. One workable approach is to front-load the high-weight domains and revisit them at the end, rather than treating all six equally. This is a sample sequence, not a formal curriculum.
Assessment and Diagnosis (24%)
- Review age-appropriate test batteries and result interpretation
- Practice multiple-response items where several statements are partly true
Case Management and Counseling (22%) and Habilitation (21%)
- Work through family-centered scenarios and care-coordination decisions
- Tie fitting and verification decisions back to the diagnostic findings from Domain 1
Medical Audiology (16%), Professional Issues (9%) and Educational Audiology (8%)
- Memorize referral triggers and associated conditions
- Review ethics and scope-of-practice scenarios and school-based service models
Timed mixed practice
- Simulate 120 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes
- Answer every item, since there is no guessing penalty
For a ready-made summary of the facts worth memorizing, the PASC Cheat Sheet 2026 condenses the essentials onto one page. When you are ready to test yourself against realistic items, try the practice questions on the PASC Exam Prep practice test site, and consult PASC training for structured preparation options.
Frequently Asked Questions
PASC is the Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification from the American Board of Audiology. Audiologists who meet the experience requirements and pass the exam earn the designation Board Certified in Pediatric Audiology (BC-PA).
No. Under the current handbook and program page, general ABA certification, the CCC-A and professional membership are not prerequisites. Older materials that listed such prerequisites have been superseded.
No. You need 550 pediatric direct-patient hours and 50 pediatric case-management hours from qualifying post-degree work, over two consecutive years within the preceding five years. Externship hours do not qualify.
No. There is no guessing penalty, so leaving a question unanswered offers no advantage. Remember that multiple-response items have two or three correct answers among four options.
The current handbook allows 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; follow the current handbook. After that period, a new application, documentation and fees are required.
If you are comparing this answer to the many other explainers on the topic, our related pages on what PASC certification is and what PASC means approach the same credential from slightly different angles, and the PASC Exam Prep home page is the best place to begin timed practice.