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Hearing Aid Dispenser

Regulators
  • Health and Care Professions Council
Nations
United Kingdom
Sectors
  • Health and care

Regulatory or professional bodies

Primary regulator

Address

Park House, 184 Kennington Park Road
London
SE11 4BU

Email address
policy@hcpc-uk.org
Phone number
+44 (0)2075 820 866

Regulation

Regulation summary

Hearing aid dispensers work in private practice to assess, fit and provide aftercare for hearing aids.

Regulation of hearing aid dispensers in the UK includes both a protection of title and protection of function.

This means that the following tasks are
"controlled acts" which only a registered hearing aid dispenser can perform:
- assessing or testing a person's hearing;
- prescribing a hearing aid for a person with a view to a hearing aid being supplied to or provided for that person by way of retail, sale or hire.

Only someone registered as a hearing aid dispenser can perform these controlled acts. Any individual not registered with the HCPC as a hearing aid dispenser, even if they are registered as another profession, could be committing a criminal act if they perform them.

Regulation type

Licence

Reserved activities

Regulation of hearing aid dispensers in the UK includes both a protection of title and protection of function. Protected title: hearing aid dispenser. This means that the following tasks are "controlled acts" which only a registered hearing aid dispenser can perform: assessing or testing a person's hearing; or prescribing a hearing aid for a person with a view to a hearing aid being supplied to or provided for that person by way of retail, sale or hire. Only someone registered as a hearing aid dispenser can perform these controlled acts. Any individual not registered with the HCPC as a hearing aid dispenser, even if they are registered as another profession, could be committing a criminal act if they perform them.

Protected titles

Hearing aid dispenser

More about regulated activities and titles
https://www.hcpc-uk.org/about-us/who-we-regulate/the-professions/

Qualifications and experience

New professionals

Routes to qualification

FDSc in Hearing Aid Audiology
FdSc in Hearing Aid Audiology (Higher Apprenticeship)
BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Audiology)
Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology

Professionals from outside the UK

Recognition for professionals outside the UK
All - there are routes to recognition for professionals from all countries
Summary of routes

Professionals who qualified outside of the UK must apply via our international route. In their application, they will have to demonstrate they have the training and experience to enable them to meet the standards of proficiency for their profession in the UK.


Registration


Legislation

Title of relevant act or charter

Health Professions Order 2001

Website link to legislation
https://www.hcpc-uk.org/aboutus/legislation/

Licence Finder

You may need licences and permits to carry out certain activities in the UK. These are called authorisations. Use the licence finder to find what you need.