Hearing aid fitting is a career with a bright future. Whether young or old, more and more people are experiencing hearing problems and rely on professional hearing aid services. Students who enjoy technology, the natural sciences, and working with people are ideally suited to become hearing aid specialists—and can look forward to a training program that is as varied as it is challenging. The dual training program, which is completed on-site at a company and at the Academy for Hearing Science (AFH) and the State Vocational School for Hearing Scientists (LBS) in Lübeck, lasts three years. The program culminates in a journeyman’s examination, after which the trained hearing aid specialists have promising career prospects: either because they are hired directly by the company where they completed their training, or because they can further specialize and pursue continuing education, for example, to become a tinnitus specialist or a pediatric audiologist.

A high school diploma is not a mandatory requirement, but it has become common among many apprentices. More important are an interest in medical and physical topics, technical innovations, as well as manual dexterity and social skills. This is because hearing problems are a sensitive issue, and visiting a hearing care professional requires many affected individuals to overcome their reservations. One of the most important tasks of a hearing care professional is to give these individuals the confidence that their problems will be resolved and that, with custom-fitted hearing aids, they can once again participate fully in social and professional life. Equally central are the selection and fine-tuning of suitable hearing aids, maintenance and repair, as well as advising on hearing protection solutions and specialized accessories. To this end, hearing aid technician apprentices acquire theoretical knowledge in acoustics, audiology, psychology, and hearing aid technology, as well as numerous practical skills.

The Academy for Audiology and the State Vocational School for Audiologists (AFH) is located under the same roof as the State Vocational School for Audiologists (LBS), thereby offering a unique interdisciplinary education. Thanks to their forward-looking educational concept and state-of-the-art technical equipment, these training institutions enjoy a worldwide reputation. In addition to apprentice training, the scope of activities for the AFH and LBS includes preparation for master craftsman certification, continuing professional development—including programs leading to a degree at a university of applied sciences—as well as research and development for the hearing aid practitioner trade. They also support hearing aid specialists on fundamental issues in hearing aid science and in all matters related to training and continuing education.

The current start dates for the hearing aid specialist training program are August 1 and September 1.