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Hearing Aid Practitioner

Hearing aid practitioners test hearing levels. They select, fit and sell hearing aids for adults, and provide follow-up support.

Also Known As

Hearing Instrument Specialist

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

  • 3235.1: Audio Prosthetists

2006 NOC-S

  • D235: Other Technical Occupations in Therapy and Assessment

2011 NOC

  • 3237: Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

2016 NOC

  • 3237: Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

2021 NOC

  • 33109: Other assisting occupations in support of health services

2023 OaSIS

  • 33109.01: Audiometric technicians
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2018

Duties vary but, in general, hearing aid practitioners:

  • discuss hearing problems with adult clients and help them adjust to hearing loss
  • use instruments and standard procedures to test hearing
  • identify and assess hearing problems
  • discuss test results with clients
  • help clients select hearing aids or assistive listening devices
  • inform clients about funding sources
  • take ear impressions for use in making hearing aids
  • sell, fit, and adjust hearing aids and assistive listening devices
  • provide ongoing user support (program, service, and minor repairs)
  • advise other health providers
  • maintain equipment to industry standards
  • uphold infection control standards at all times.
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2018
  • Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg

Most hearing aid practitioners work in privately owned clinics, offices or retail companies. They may need to travel. Hours of work vary and may include evenings and weekends.

It can be stressful to work with clients whose expectations are not realistic.

Interests & Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Audio Prosthetists

2006 NOC: 3235.1

Interest Codes

Interest Codes for This NOC Group
METHODICAL

Interest in analyzing data to fit and adjust hearing aids

SOCIAL

Interest in speaking with patients to ensure comfort and fit of hearing aids during follow-up examinations and readjustments

OBJECTIVE

Interest in operating equipment to take ear impressions for use in the manufacture of audio prostheses; may test patients' hearing

Your Interest Codes

To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. 

It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn About Interests

Abilities

Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Mental Abilities

General Learning Ability

Verbal Ability

Numerical Ability

Visual Abilities

Spatial Perception

Form Perception

Clerical Perception

Physical Abilities

Motor Coordination

Finger Dexterity

Manual Dexterity

Understanding Abilities

A Quick Guide

You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Learn About Abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2018

Hearing aid practitioners need to possess:

  • the ability to build good relationships
  • good speaking and listening skills
  • empathy
  • good hand-eye coordination
  • patience
  • self-discipline
  • an interest in biology.

They should enjoy:

  • collecting, recording, and studying test results
  • working with adults of all ages
  • using computers
  • working with different types of equipment and technology.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

2016 NOC: 3237

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 100 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Feb 22, 2023 and Mar 28, 2024.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Tasks: Carry out treatment programs, under the direction of physiotherapists and/or occupational therapists, to rehabilitate patients with various injuries or disabilities
Tasks: Clean and maintain equipment
Tasks: Assist during assessment of patients and carry out treatment programs and develop materials for use with patients
Tasks: Schedule and confirm appointments
Attention to detail
Tasks: Document patient rehabilitation progress
Construction Specialization: Organized
Physiotherapy
Construction Specialization: Client focus
Construction Specialization: Team player
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2018
  • Minimum Education 2 years post-secondary

Hearing aid practitioners may learn on the job (under the supervision of a qualified practitioner) and take a related education program at the same time. Or they can take the education program and then look for work. A number of schools in Canada offer education programming related to the hearing aid and hearing instrument fields.


Required Education

The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.

Grant MacEwan University

To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2018
  • Certification Provincially Regulated

Certain professional titles or duties within this occupation are protected by provincial legislation. Requirements vary if you use these titles or perform these duties.

The related legislation is shown below. If there are multiple related legislations, select a certification heading to learn about each one.

Hearing Aid Practitioner

Hearing aid practitioners examine and evaluate adult human hearing as it relates to hearing acuity, sensitivity and communication, and select and fit appropriate hearing instruments.

Legislation

Under Alberta's Health Professions Act and Hearing Aid Practitioners Profession Regulation, registration with the College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta (CHAPA) is mandatory if you meet identified competency requirements and provide professional services directly to the public, teach the practice of the profession to members or students of the profession, or supervise registered members who provide services to the public. Registered members who are authorized by the College may perform restricted activities specified in the Regulation. Only registered members may call themselves Hearing Aid Practitioners.

For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Hearing Aid Practitioner.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2018

Most hearing aid practitioners work in private clinics, offices or companies in cities. Many are self-employed.

Experienced hearing aid practitioners may start their own businesses. Or they might move into a related field. For example, they might become a sales rep with a company that makes hearing aids.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

In the 3237: Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment occupational group, 82.5% of people work in:

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, the 3237: Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 3.4% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 75 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.

Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2018

Hearing aid practitioners may:

  • work on a commission basis
  • receive an hourly wage or annual salary
  • receive a combination of salary and commission
  • be self-employed.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

2016 NOC: 3237
Average Wage
$27.61
Per Hour
Average Salary
$46,713.00
Per Year
Average Hours
33.2
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
11.7
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 3237 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.

B: Good Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.


Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $15.00 $43.71 $24.13 $19.92
Overall $17.00 $47.94 $27.61 $23.36
Top $17.00 $49.35 $29.26 $24.95

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Educational Services
Health Care & Social Assistance

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
36%
36%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
13%
13%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
7%
7%
Vacancy Rate
3%
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Health Care and Medical Sciences
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2018

College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta website: www.chapa.ca

National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences website: www.nbc-his.com

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 31, 2018. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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