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Studies & Degrees in Audioprosthesis

Audioprosthesis is the field that deals with hearing aids and other hearing devices: testing a person's hearing, choosing a device, fitting and adjusting it, and following the user afterwards. In English-speaking countries the same work is usually called hearing aid audiology or hearing aid dispensing, and it sits next to audiology, which the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) describes as the science of hearing, balance and related disorders.

The need is large. According to the World Health Organization (fact sheet of March 2026), 430 million people, over 5% of the world's population, require rehabilitation for disabling hearing loss, and the figure is expected to pass 700 million by 2050. More than 25% of people over 60 are affected. People who are hard of hearing can benefit from hearing aids, cochlear implants and other assistive devices, and someone has to select and fit them.

What students learn

A programme combines health science, acoustics and electronics with practical work on patients. The Spanish vocational diploma, as described by the Ministry of Education's TodoFP portal, gives a good picture of the content:

  • Anatomy and function of the ear, and hearing tests (audiometry)
  • Acoustics and protection against noise
  • Electronics applied to hearing devices
  • Making ear moulds and hearing protectors
  • Selecting and fitting hearing aids, and adjusting implanted devices
  • Care of people with hearing loss, and hearing and spoken communication

Qualifications and levels

The route into the profession differs a great deal from one country to another, so check the rules of the country where you want to work before you choose a course.

  • Spain: higher vocational training (FP). The qualification is the Técnico Superior en Audiología Protésica, a grado superior in the health family with 2,000 hours of training, taken over two academic years and including a training period in a company. It replaced the earlier Técnico Superior en Audioprótesis. Entry is with the Bachillerato, another vocational diploma or an entrance test, and the diploma sits at level 5A of the Spanish qualifications framework.
  • United States: doctorate. Audiologists need a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree, which typically takes four years after a bachelor's degree, and all states require a licence, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The usual first step is a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology.
  • United Kingdom: regulated title. "Hearing aid dispenser" is a protected title regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which describes dispensers as professionals who assess, fit and provide aftercare for hearing aids in private practice.

A qualification obtained in one country does not automatically allow you to practise in another. Ask the school what recognition its qualification has, and ask the regulator of the country where you plan to work what it requires.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 2 active schools under this subject, one in the United States and one in Russia.

Ithaca College, in Ithaca, New York, teaches the undergraduate stage. Its Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology offers a B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology with a minimum of 37 credits in communication processes and disorders. The 2026-27 catalogue includes courses in Basic Audiology, Aural Rehabilitation and Advanced Clinical Audiology, and the college states that the degree prepares students for graduate study in speech-language pathology or in audiology, for which a doctoral degree is required.

Rostov State Medical University, in Rostov-on-Don, is a state medical university. Ask the university directly which programmes it currently offers in this field and in which language they are taught.

In Spain the vocational diploma is taught in Spanish (or a co-official language) at authorised FP centres; TodoFP publishes the list of centres that offer it.

Careers

According to TodoFP, holders of the Spanish diploma work as hearing aid specialists (audioprotesistas), makers of ear moulds and hearing protectors, sound level measurement technicians and audiometrists. They work in the health sector, in hearing aid centres and in the prevention of the effects of environmental noise.

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 14,200 audiologist jobs in 2025 and projects employment growth of 11% from 2025 to 2035, which it rates as much faster than the average for all occupations. Most audiologists work in healthcare facilities such as physicians' offices, audiology clinics and hospitals.

Frequently asked questions

Is audioprosthesis the same as audiology?

Not exactly. Audiology covers the diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance problems in general. Audioprosthesis concentrates on hearing devices: testing hearing, choosing and fitting the device and adjusting it over time.

How long does it take to qualify?

It depends on the country. The Spanish higher vocational diploma has 2,000 hours over two academic years. In the United States an audiologist needs a bachelor's degree followed by a Doctor of Audiology degree that typically takes four years.

Do I need a licence to work?

In many countries, yes. All US states require audiologists to be licensed, and in the United Kingdom the title of hearing aid dispenser is protected and regulated by the HCPC. Check the rules of the country where you want to work.

Can I enter the Spanish programme without the Bachillerato?

Yes, there are other routes. TodoFP lists, among others, an intermediate or higher vocational diploma and an entrance test for higher vocational training.