Program

Hearing Instrument Practitioner (Diploma)

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Hearing Instrument Practitioner
Credits
60.00
Length of Program
Two years
Credential Type
Diploma
Campus
Coquitlam
Learning Format
Full-time
Admission Type
Limited Enrolment
Offered
Fall

Overview

The Hearing Instrument Practitioner Diploma gives you the skills and training to help improve the quality of life for people with hearing loss. The only program of its kind in B.C., this two-year hearing instrument specialist program teaches you how to dispense and program hearing aids, test people’s hearing and counsel patients on managing ongoing hearing loss.

A practical education

As a part of your education, you’ll get hands-on hearing aid technician training at three supervised practicums. During these practicums, you’ll work with actual patients, providing them with hearing evaluations and counselling on test results. Once you graduate, you’ll be ready to apply for the Hearing Instrument Practitioner (HIP) Internship. This internship, done through the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia (CSHBC), is a necessary step to becoming a Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner (RHIP) in B.C.

Employment outlook

Overall, 60% of Canadians aged 19 to 79 are living with some form of hearing loss, which means the demand for hearing aid practitioners is expected to grow rapidly. You’ll be joining a growing industry, with many of our students finding employment even before they graduate.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:

  • General College Admission Requirements
  • High School Graduation (successful completion of two three-credit university transfer courses may be substituted for high school graduation)
  • Foundations of Math 11, Pre-Calculus 11 or Pre-calculus 12 with a minimum of C (or equivalent)
  • Signed documentation of a Hearing Clinic tour or signed attendance at a Douglas College Information Session for the Hearing Instrument Practitioner Program
  • Criminal Record Check (CRC) - This program requires students to train in an environment that requires individuals to provide proof of a satisfactorily completed, current CRC for the protection of the clients. To meet this requirement, prospective students must submit to a current CRC as a condition of entry to the program. All costs related to the completion of this search are the responsibility of the individual student.  The Registrar's Office will provide instructions on obtaining a CRC after an offer of admission is made
  • Applicants may be required to attend a personal interview that will be used for the purposes of providing information and academic counseling

Cost

Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition & fee estimator. See costs broken down into categories including tuition fees, textbooks, student activity fees, U-Pass and more. 

For more information, refer to the tuition fee charts

Program Requirements

Curriculum Framework

Graduation Requirements For Students Completing By Summer 2023:

  • Successful completion of 60 credits
  • 25% (15 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College 
  • Time limit to complete program graduation requirements: seven (7) years

Graduation Requirements For Students Completing After Summer 2023:

  • Successful completion of 60 credits
  • 50% (30 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College
  • Time limit to complete program graduation requirements: seven (7) years
  • Graduate in Good Academic Standing (Cumulative GPA of 1.50 - See Academic Performance Policy)

 

Course Requirements:

Course Number Course Title Credits

CMNS 1111

Workplace Communications

3.00

HEAR 1100

Hearing Aids and Bioacoustics I

2.00

HEAR 1101

Anatomy and Physiology of the Ear

3.00

HEAR 1111

Introduction to Hearing Aids

3.00

HEAR 1112

Introduction to Hearing Testing and Clinical Practices

4.00

HEAR 1200

Hearing Disorders

3.00

HEAR 1211

Introduction to Hearing Aid Fitting, Analysis and Verification

4.00

HEAR 1212

Introduction to Audiometry

4.00

HEAR 1310

Clinical Practicum Introduction

4.00

HEAR 2100

Hearing Aids and Bioacoustics II

2.00

HEAR 2101

Hearing Instrument Practitioner Regulation

2.00

HEAR 2111

Advanced Fitting and Clinical Practices

3.00

HEAR 2112

Audiometry II

4.00

HEAR 2200

Hearing Impaired Patient Interaction

2.00

HEAR 2201

Peripherals and Assistive listening Devices

3.00

HEAR 2210

Clinical Practicum II

4.00

HEAR 2212

Audiometry III

4.00

HEAR 2310

Clinical Practicum III

6.00

Total Credits

 

60.00

Program Guidelines

Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

Testimonials

An ear for the industry Blog Photo

An ear for the industry

How this HEAR student is helping others through lived experience

Career Pathways

Career opportunities include:

  • Assistive Listening Device Technician 
  • Audiologist & hearing Instrument Practitioners 
  • Audiometric Aide/Technician 
  • Audiometric Technician - public health 
  • Audiometric Technician 
  • Audiometrist and Audiometrist Aide 
  • Contact Centre Agent 
  • Customer Care Representative
  • Customer Service Supervisor 
  • Health Promotion Facilitator/Coordinator 
  • Hearing Aid Assessment Technician