Choosing a Practitioner
What To Look For In A Hearing Aid Practitioner
Once you have located a Hearing Aid Clinic, you may have some questions regarding what to look for when engaging the services of a Hearing Aid Practitioner.
Ensure that the Hearing Aid Practitioner is a member in good standing with the College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta. Members in good standing are issued a Practice Permit annually which must be displayed in their office. The Registrar of the College can also verify that the individual who you are considering engaging the services of is a member in good standing with the College and qualified to assist you.
Individuals who have been granted a Practice Permit by the College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta (CHAPA) have undergone an extensive course of training and have passed several exams. There are several 2 to 3 year Hearing Aid Practitioner Programs offered in Canada. Many Alberta Hearing Aid Practitioners will have a diploma from Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton. After the successful completion of a Diploma Program of studies, Hearing Aid Practitioners will have joined a Provincial Regulatory body called The College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta (CHAPA), and have successfully completed CHAPA competency exams. In Alberta, many Hearing Aid Practitioners are also certified by the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences and carry the initials NBC-HIS after their names. This provides them with the designation of Registered Hearing Aid Practitioner.
Those who meet the above requirements and belong to the College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta are dedicated to providing excellence in this profession and will be able to assist you from start to completion in the process of defining and providing for your hearing needs.