Guidance Document: Routes to HCPC Registration As a Hearing Aid Dispenser

Guidance Document: Routes to HCPC registration as a Hearing Aid Dispenser

March 2016

Disclaimer:

Please note this document applies to the current context in Hearing Aid Audiology and is subject to change. It is intended as guidance and will need regular revision to accommodate changes in education, accreditation and registration guidelines.

Source:

This guidance document is based on the sources below:

 STEENKAMP, L., 2014. Registration Options in Audiology. BAA Magazine. Winter 2014, issue 29.  STEENKAMP, L., 2014. Registration and Audiology. Bournemouth: British Academy of Audiology (BAA) Conference. 21 November 2014

Contents Useful Abbreviations

RHAD – Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser BSHAA – British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists HAA – Hearing Aid Audiology CCC – Certificate of Clinical Competency RCCP – Registration Council of Clinical Physiologists HCPC - Health and Care Professions Council PTP – Practitioner Training Programme MSC – Modernising Scientific Careers AHCS – Academy for Health Care Science

Useful websites

BSHAA- http://www.bshaa.com HCPC – http://www.hcpc-uk.org RCCP – http://www.rccp.co.uk AHCS - http://www.ahcs.ac.uk

1. Introduction

This document will discuss the various routes in the profession of audiology that lead to eligibility to register with the Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC) as a hearing aid dispenser.

2 | P a g e Version 5 March 2016 The ‘act of dispensing hearing aids’ in the independent sector is a protected function 1 by law and regulated by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). Independent hearing aid audiology practice was initially governed by the Hearing Aid Council 2(HAC). All independent hearing aid providers must be registered3 with the HCPC. This statutory regulation of hearing aid dispensers means that it is a criminal offence to assess hearing or prescribe a hearing aid with a view to selling a hearing aid, unless you are registered with the HCPC as a hearing aid dispenser (HAD).

The British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA4) is the professional body for independent hearing aid providers and it represents and promotes the interests of the independent hearing aid profession in the United Kingdom. The Society's remit is to support the development of high standards in professional and business practice and to provide information on education and training, practice and continuing professional development. BSHAA is also the governing body of Hearing Care Assistant (HCA) programmes in the independent sector.

There are broadly two routes to HCPC registration as a hearing aid dispenser:

1. Approved course: HCPC approved courses that could potentially lead to eligibility to register as HAD upon completion. Click here to access the list

2. Aptitude test: Existing audiologists, particularly from the NHS or abroad who qualified as an audiologist from a non HCPC approved course, may be able to register via the aptitude test route. This route will be explained further in this document.

Audiology in the United Kingdom is a profession with many titles. Over the years we have had registered hearing aid dispensers, clinical scientists, audiological scientists, hearing therapists, audiologists, medical technical officers and assistant or associate audiologists, clinical scientists and healthcare scientists. The latter is a term that was recently added as a result of a government initiative known as Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC). A hearing aid audiologist must be registered with the HCPC as a hearing aid dispenser if they are employed to fulfill the scope of practice of a hearing aid audiologist, even in the NHS. Audiologists fall under voluntary registration (RCCP or AHCS) when working within NHS trusts or in a non-clinical facility (such

1For more information on what protected function means: Click here

2 Independent hearing aid audiology practice was initially governed by the Hearing Aid Council (HAC). This body was created through an act of parliament in 1968. The regulation of hearing aid dispensers moved from the Hearing Aid Council (HAC) to statutory regulation with the Health Professions Council (now the Health Care Professions Council) on the 1st of April 2010. Information on transfer of function from HAC to HCPC can be found here: Click here

3 Information on the profession of Hearing Aid Dispensers can be found on HCPC website: Click here

4 Joining BSHAA: Click here

3 | P a g e Version 5 March 2016 as a research facility), unless they are qualified to work as a clinical scientist in which case they must register with the HCPC as a clinical scientist.

2. Routes leading to eligibility to register as a ‘hearing aid dispenser’ with the HCPC

There are various routes leading to eligibility to register as a hearing aid dispenser. At the time of the move from HAC to the HCPC, various Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) were approached to deliver specific courses that would lead to eligibility to register as hearing aid dispensers. This resulted in the development of the following two degrees:

• Foundation degree in Hearing Aid Audiology • Diploma in Higher Education in Hearing Aid Audiology

4 | P a g e Version 5 March 2016 Since then some national hearing healthcare providers also developed in-house hearing aid dispenser training. This allows candidates to apply for HCPC registration and provides an alternative route to those available through university courses and the aptitude test.

A number of other university courses in audiology also applied for HCPC approval and this led to courses that offer graduates more options for registration and employment. The range of different routes that lead to eligibility to register as a hearing aid dispenser can create some confusion for graduates and employers.

3. Awards in audiology that may lead to eligibility to register as a hearing aid dispenser

A number of different audiology awards exist in the United Kingdom and we will now consider how they could lead to eligibility to register as a hearing aid dispenser with the HCPC.

A. HCPC approved courses designed to become a hearing aid dispenser

 Foundation degree in Hearing Aid Audiology  Diploma in Higher Education in Hearing Aid Audiology  The Award in Hearing Aid Dispensing Competence

B. Other courses that may be HCPC approved to allow eligibility to register as a hearing aid dispenser (please see HCPC website for confirmation)

 BSc (Hons) in Audiology (no longer offered) / Graduate Diploma in Audiology (no longer offered)  BSc (Hons) in Healthcare Science (Audiology) Practitioners Training Program (PTP)  Pre-registration Postgraduate Diploma / MSc Audiology course with Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC)

5 | P a g e Version 5 March 2016 4. Aptitude Test: HCPC registration for audiologists, who intend to work in the independent sector as hearing aid dispensers

Graduates from the courses below are eligible to apply for the aptitude test if their course does not have HCPC approval thus allowing eligibility to register as a hearing aid dispenser. Applicants may be asked to provide evidence of clinical competency obtained as part of the initial audiology course completed. RCCP registration is considered evidence of clinical competency.

The first three courses listed below are included in this section because they offer alternative routes to registration as an audiologist with the RCCP. They are not required to have HCPC approval as graduates can work in the NHS through RCCP approval. Some of these courses may have applied for HCPC approval to also offer their graduates eligibility to register with the HCPC as a hearing aid dispenser. Please see http://www.hcpc-uk.org/ for approved HCPC courses.

A. BSc (Hons) in Audiology (no longer offered) / Graduate Diploma in Audiology (no longer offered) B. BSc (Hons) in Healthcare Science (Audiology) PTP C. Pre-registration Postgraduate Diploma / MSc Audiology course with CCC or equivalent D. BAAT I and II (no longer offered)

At the time of writing, there are at least three universities offering the aptitude test. Please see their websites for more information. Other providers may become available in future and applicants are advised to regularly consult the HCPC website for more information.

Aston University, Birmingham (click here)

Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh (click here)

Southampton University (click here)

5. Other awards in audiology

A. BSc in Hearing Sciences (or other alternative exit awards) Graduates with this award (or other) are not eligible to practice as audiologists or hearing aid dispensers. They are often employed in the private sector as health care assistants (HCA) and may be eligible to register with the HCPC via the aptitude test (through RCCP equivalence), if

6 | P a g e Version 5 March 2016 they are considering employment as a hearing aid dispenser (see appendix I for more information about RCCP equivalence).

B. PgDip / MSc Audiology course without recognised clinical training MSc courses in audiology usually include recognised clinical training as part of the program (CCC). However, it is possible to be awarded a PgDip/MSc in Audiology without completing this recognised training, but this does not infer automatic eligibility to register with the HCPC as a hearing aid dispenser. A graduate with a PgDip/MSc Audiology award (without the recognised training element) considering employment as a hearing aid dispenser may be eligible to register with the HCPC via the aptitude test (through RCCP equivalence (see appendix I for more information about RCCP equivalence).

C. International qualifications including Au.D. Internationally qualified audiologists and hearing aid dispensers, wishing to work in the UK as independent hearing aid dispensers, may be able to register with the HCPC through the recognised route for international applicants. Please see http://www.hpc- uk.org/apply/international/ for more information.

It should be noted that clinical scientist and hearing aid dispenser are protected titles and requires registration with the HCPC to practice and international applicants may require further training within the UK to be eligible to register.

Both the HCPC and the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP) have experience considering equivalence with a range of international courses. Therefore, international candidates and professionals who did not graduate from an HCPC approved course and would like to register with HCPC as Hearing Aid Dispenser, can first apply for RCCP registration and then take the aptitude test to be eligible to register as a hearing aid dispenser with the HCPC. More information about the RCCP equivalence process is available in appendix I.

6. Returning to Practice

This process only applies to individuals who have removed themselves from the HCPC Register. HCPC can require applicants who have been out of practice for over five years to undertake additional measures, for example education or a period of supervision to ensure that they meet the standards of proficiency. Please see the HCPC website for more guidance http://www.hpc-uk.org/registrants/readmission/ 7 | P a g e Version 5 March 2016 7. Appendices

Appendix I: Higher degree routes for Hearing Aid Audiologists: Top up degrees and Equivalence

Top up degrees:

Academic progression options for graduates from a Foundation degree in Hearing Aid Audiology or Diploma in Higher Education in Hearing Aid Audiology

If a hearing aid dispenser would like to develop their skills further and attain higher qualifications they can demonstrate equivalence through a combination of clinical practice (completing the Individual Record of Clinical Practice known as IRCP logbook or equivalent) and Higher Education modules at an appropriate academic level. The scope of practice of a hearing aid dispenser does not typically involve vestibular, paediatric and auditory evoked potential assessment and can include, but are not limited to the following competencies:

• Diagnostic and/or threshold auditory brainstem responses • Eye movement assessment • Bithermal caloric assessment • Dix-Hallpike test • Distraction test • Performance testing / play audiometry • Visual reinforcement audiometry • Toy discrimination test (including automated tests)

8 | P a g e Version 5 March 2016 Those completing the Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology or the Diploma in Higher Education in Hearing Aid Audiology and wishing to expand their knowledge and training to audiologist level may be able to do so through the RCCP equivalence process (see below) or they can opt to formalize this route through completing a relevant top up degree at an HEI.

Equivalence route through the RCCP:

This route requires a minimum of 6 years training and experience in the UK, with evidence provided to indicate competent practice and underpinning knowledge, which is assessed by professional representatives. This route typically includes education and clinical practice. Applicants could demonstrate clinical equivalence by mapping their clinical experience to the IRCP logbook as discussed above. Applicants will need to provide a reference from their employer supporting the competence of the applicant across the whole scope of practice. More information is available on the RCCP website (https://www.rccp.co.uk/articles/50/The-Process- of-Application-to-the-Register). Some courses discussed above will require registration with the RCCP before being able to consider applying for the aptitude test.

Appendix II: Professional bodies and societies in Audiology

Professional Bodies

British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA)

BSHAA is the largest professional body for independent providers and it represents and promotes the interests of the independent hearing aid profession, not just within Great Britain and Northern Ireland but also on a global level.

The role of professional body is separate from the statutory body (i.e. HCPC) but their role is complementary to it.

www.bshaa.com

British Academy of Audiologists (BAA)

BAA is the largest association of professionals in hearing and balance in the UK. Their membership extends internationally and provides services in both the public and private sector.

The BAA aims to help its members to develop in their professional skills, provide a benchmark for quality and professional standards and promote audiology as an autonomous profession.

http://www.baaudiology.org

9 | P a g e Version 5 March 2016 Professional Society

British Society of Audiologists (BSA)

The BSA is a learned society of professionals including researchers in hearing and auditory science, educational professionals, and medical professionals such as Ear, Nose, and Throat doctors and Clinical Audiology staff, including Audiologists, Clinical Scientist, Hearing Therapists & the public. It provides an interface between researchers and healthcare practitioners as well as other relevant groups.

http://www.thebsa.org.uk

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