Apprenticeship training course

Hearing aid dispenser (level 5)

Assess hearing and provide aftercare for hearing aids.

• Qualification level: 5 ; Equivalent to higher national diploma (HND).
• Typical duration: 24 months
• Apprenticeship category: Health and science
• Maximum funding: £13,000 ; Maximum amount government will fund ; for apprenticeship training.
• Also known as:
  • Audiologist
  • Hearing aid audiologist
  • Hearing aid dispenser
  • Hearing specialist
• Skills:
  Skills an apprentice will learn

  • Identify the limits of own practice and when to seek advice or refer to another professional or service.
  • Recognise the need to manage own workload and resources safely and effectively, including managing the emotional burden that comes with working in a pressured environment.
  • Keep own skills and knowledge up to date.
  • Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct.
  • Promote and protect the service user’s interests at all times.
  • Respect and uphold the rights, dignity, values, and autonomy of service users, including own role in the assessment, diagnostic, treatment and/or therapeutic process.
  • Recognise that relationships with service users, carers and others should be based on mutual respect and trust, and maintain high standards of care in all circumstances.
  • Obtain valid consent, which is voluntary and informed, has due regard to capacity, is proportionate to the circumstances and is appropriately documented.
  • Apply legislation, policies and guidance relevant to own profession and scope of practice.
  • Recognise the power imbalance which comes with being a health care professional, and ensure it is not for personal gain.
  • Identify own anxiety and stress and recognise the potential impact on own practice.
  • Develop and adopt clear strategies for physical and mental self-care and self-awareness, to maintain a high standard of professional effectiveness and a safe working environment.
  • Recognise that they are personally responsible for, and must be able to, justify their decisions and actions.
  • Use own skills, knowledge and experience, and the information available, to make informed decisions and/or take action where necessary.
  • Make reasoned decisions to initiate, continue, modify or cease treatment or the use of techniques or procedures, and record the decisions and reasoning appropriately.
  • Make and receive appropriate referrals, where necessary.
  • Exercise personal initiative.
  • Demonstrate a logical and systematic approach to problem solving.
  • Use research, reasoning and problem-solving skills when determining appropriate actions.
  • Make judgements on the effectiveness of procedures used in practice.
  • Respond appropriately to the needs of all different groups and individuals in practice, recognising this can be affected by difference of any kind including, but not limited to, protected characteristics, intersectional experiences and cultural differences.
  • Recognise the potential impact of own values, beliefs and personal biases, which may be unconscious), on practice and take personal action to ensure all service users and carers are treated appropriately with respect and dignity.
  • Actively challenge barriers to inclusion, supporting the implementation of change wherever possible.
  • Adhere to the professional duty of confidentiality.
  • Respond in a timely manner to situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and/or the wider public and recognise situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and/or the wider public.
  • Use effective and appropriate verbal and non-verbal skills to communicate with service users, carers, colleagues and others.
  • Communicate in English to the required standard for the profession.
  • Work with service users and/or own carers to facilitate the service user’s preferred role in decision-making, and provide service users and carers with the information they may need where appropriate.
  • Modify own means of communication to address the individual communication needs and preferences of service users and carers, and remove any barriers to communication where possible.
  • Use information, communication and digital technologies appropriate to own practice.
  • Explain the financial implications of suitable hearing aid systems.
  • Inform service users about the range of strategies available to them which could improve their ability to hear and communicate more effectively.
  • Keep full, clear and accurate records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines.
  • Manage records and all other information in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines.
  • Use digital record keeping tools, where required.
  • Work in partnership with service users, carers, colleagues and others.
  • Contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Identify anxiety and stress in service users, carers and colleagues, adapting own practice and providing support where appropriate.
  • Identify own leadership qualities, behaviours and approaches, taking into account the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Demonstrate leadership behaviours appropriate to own practice.
  • Act as a role model for others.
  • Promote and engage in the learning of others.
  • Recognise those conditions or circumstances that require the involvement of other professionals and give the appropriate advice to service users.
  • Demonstrate awareness of emerging technologies and new developments in hearing care practices.
  • Engage in evidence-based practice.
  • Gather and use feedback and information, including qualitative and quantitative data, to evaluate the responses of service users to own care.
  • Monitor and systematically evaluate the quality of practice, and maintain an effective quality management and quality assurance process working towards continual improvement.
  • Participate in quality management, including quality control, quality assurance, clinical governance and the use of appropriate outcome measures.
  • Evaluate care plans or intervention plans using recognised and appropriate outcome measures, in conjunction with the service user where possible, and revise the plans as necessary.
  • Demonstrate the principles and applications of scientific enquiry, including the evaluation of treatment efficacy and the research process.
  • Change own practice as needed to take account of new developments, technologies and changing contexts.
  • Gather appropriate information.
  • Analyse and critically evaluate the information collected.
  • Select and use appropriate assessment techniques and equipment.
  • Undertake and record a thorough, sensitive, and detailed assessment.
  • Undertake or arrange investigations as appropriate.
  • Conduct appropriate assessment or monitoring procedures, treatment, therapy or other actions safely and effectively.
  • Critically evaluate research and other evidence to inform own practice.
  • Engage service users in research as appropriate.
  • Use technologies safely and effectively where appropriate for diagnostic or monitoring procedures, treatment, therapy or other actions.
  • Safely use appropriate techniques and equipment to assess hearing difficulties and the physical condition of the ear.
  • Select and evaluate the most appropriate hearing aid system, performance settings and associated technologies for service users.
  • Plan, implement and manage appropriate rehabilitation programmes for service users to optimise outcomes.
  • Safely and competently take impressions of the ear.
  • Safely and competently programme and physically fit hearing aids.
  • Formulate specific and appropriate management plans including the setting of timescales.
  • Formulate and provide appropriate advice regarding hearing aids and associated technologies and their use to facilitate informed choices by service users.
  • Undertake and record appropriate case histories.
  • Check that equipment is functioning accurately and within specifications and to take appropriate action in the case of faulty functioning and operation.
  • Interpret data arising from case history, physical examination, hearing assessments and hearing instruments.
  • Demonstrate awareness of relevant health and safety legislation and comply with all local operational procedures and policies.
  • Work safely, including being able to select appropriate hazard control and risk management, reduction or elimination techniques in a safe manner and in accordance with health and safety legislation.
  • Select appropriate personal protective equipment and use it correctly.
  • Establish safe environments for practice, which appropriately manages risk.
  • Ensure that the environment in which service users are seen is appropriate for the assessment, service, care and attention given.
  • Empower and enable individuals (including service users and colleagues) to play a part in managing own health.
  • Engage in occupational health, including being aware of immunisation requirements.

Full information on Hearing aid dispenser (level 5) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

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