Audiologists are healthcare professionals who provide patient-centered care in the prevention, identification, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders for people of all ages. Hearing and balance disorders are complex with medical, psychological, physical, social, educational, and employment implications. Audiologists provide professional and personalized services to minimize the negative impact of these disorders, leading to improved outcomes and quality of life. They help people with these disorders better communicate and connect with the world around them.

Audiologists are trained to perform a wide variety of tasks, including but not limited to:

   - diagnosing and treating hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders

   - providing comprehensive hearing tests

   - dispensing hearing aids

   - designing and implementing auditory rehabilitation and related communication programs

   - assisting in the monitoring of cochlear implants and bone-anchored hearing systems

Audiologists serve in a number of roles including clinician, diagnostician, therapist, educator, consultant, researcher, and administrator. They provide clinical and academic training to students in audiology and related fields such as medicine, by teaching about hearing and hearing loss, the prevention of hearing loss, and the (re) habilitation of those with hearing loss. They provide information and training on hearing to other professions, including psychology, social work, education, and other related professions, and to business and industry. They develop and oversee hearing conservation programs for both occupational and recreational noise exposure. They may serve as expert witnesses within the boundaries of forensic audiology.

Audiologists provide services in hospitals, private practice, rehabilitation centers, public health settings, schools, government agencies, and other environments in which audiological services are relevant.

Audiologists in Canada must hold a master’s or doctoral degree in audiology from an accredited university, and are, in most provinces, licensed or otherwise governed by a regulatory body. Currently, twelve Canadian universities provide entry-to-practice education in speech-language pathology and five also provide entry-to-practice education in audiology. The entry-to-practice degree requirement in Canada is a Master’s degree.

The five universities that offer programs in both audiology and speech-language pathology are: the University of British Columbia, Dalhousie University, Université de Montréal, Université d’ Ottawa, and Western University. Seven universities offer a speech-language pathology program solely: University of Alberta, Université Laurentienne, Université Laval, McGill University, l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, University of Toronto, and McMaster University.

Programs at five universities are offered in French: Université Laurentienne, Université Laval, Université de Montréal, Université d'Ottawa, and l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. The remainder are offered in English.