Best institutions to study Hearing Instrument Specialist
A program that prepares individuals to test the hearing of, and to select, fit and dispense appropriate hearing aids for, patients.
1 U.S. institutions graduated 4 Hearing Instrument Specialist students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.0918, a specialization of Allied Health Diagnostic (CIP 51.09), and leads most directly to the Hearing Aid Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 29-2092).
About Hearing Instrument Specialist programs
A program that prepares individuals to test the hearing of, and to select, fit and dispense appropriate hearing aids for, patients. Includes instruction in acoustics, anatomy and physiology of the ear, hearing testing, hearing aid fitting and technology, health promotion and rehabilitation, counseling and communication, business management, and professional ethics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Hearing Instrument Specialist program, part of the Allied Health Diagnostic field, prepares individuals to assess hearing and provide suitable hearing aids to patients. This program is ideal for those interested in helping others improve their quality of life through better hearing and communication. Students will gain the necessary skills to fit, dispense, and maintain hearing aids while also learning about patient care and support.
Students in this program will acquire knowledge in acoustics, anatomy of the ear, hearing testing, and hearing aid technology. Core skills include active listening, counseling, and critical thinking, alongside coursework in health promotion and business management.
Credentials awarded
What Hearing Instrument Specialist graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree4 graduates / yr · 1 institution100%
Graduates over time
Hearing Instrument Specialist completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 24 |
| 2013 | 30 |
| 2014 | 63 |
| 2015 | 53 |
| 2016 | 39 |
| 2017 | 31 |
| 2018 | 29 |
| 2019 | 39 |
| 2020 | 25 |
| 2021 | 32 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 4 |
Top 1 institutions for Hearing Instrument Specialist, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane Falls Community College Spokane, WAPublicAssociate's | 4 | 32% | — |
Offered in 1 states
Where Hearing Instrument Specialist graduates come from. Each state links to all Allied Health Diagnostic programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 1 | 4 | Spokane Falls Community College4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-2092, Hearing Aid Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as Hearing Aid Specialists, a role experiencing much faster than average growth at 18.4%. With about 1,000 annual openings and a median wage of $61,560, this field offers promising opportunities for those with a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.0918
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hearing Aid Specialistsprimary SOC 29-2092 | $65,160 | +18.4% Much faster than average | ~1,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Hearing Instrument Specialist programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Train clients to use hearing aids or other augmentative communication devices.
- Counsel patients and families on communication strategies and the effects of hearing loss.
- Select and administer tests to evaluate hearing or related disabilities.
- Administer basic hearing tests including air conduction, bone conduction, or speech audiometry tests.
- Maintain or repair hearing aids or other communication devices.
- Perform basic screening procedures, such as pure tone screening, otoacoustic screening, immittance screening, and screening of ear canal status using otoscope.
Tools and technology used
Other Allied Health Diagnostic specializations
The 23 other 6-digit CIP codes under Allied Health Diagnostic (CIP 51.09).
- Emergency Medical Technology/CIP 51.0904
Technician (EMT Paramedic) 32,524 graduates / yr662 institutions - Physician Associate/CIP 51.0912
Assistant 13,740 graduates / yr277 institutions - Radiologic Technology/CIP 51.0911
Science - Radiographer 13,035 graduates / yr502 institutions - Surgical Technology/CIP 51.0909
Technologist 8,514 graduates / yr460 institutions - Diagnostic Medical Sonography/CIP 51.0910
Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician 7,984 graduates / yr330 institutions - Respiratory Care Therapy/CIP 51.0908
Therapist 6,816 graduates / yr389 institutions - Medical Radiologic Technology/CIP 51.0907
Science - Radiation Therapist 4,302 graduates / yr212 institutions - Athletic Training/CIP 51.0913
Trainer 3,326 graduates / yr302 institutions - Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsCIP 51.09992,359 graduates / yr80 institutions
- Cardiovascular Technology/CIP 51.0901
Technologist 1,902 graduates / yr91 institutions - Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology/CIP 51.0920
Technician 1,327 graduates / yr62 institutions - Electrocardiograph Technology/CIP 51.0902
Technician 858 graduates / yr43 institutions - Nuclear Medical Technology/CIP 51.0905
Technologist 707 graduates / yr69 institutions - Electroneurodiagnostic/CIP 51.0903
Electroencephalographic Technology/ Technologist 302 graduates / yr31 institutions - PolysomnographyCIP 51.0917242 graduates / yr25 institutions
- Perfusion Technology/CIP 51.0906
Perfusionist 171 graduates / yr14 institutions - Gene/CIP 51.0914
Genetic Therapy partial data92 graduates / yr3 institutions - Mammography Technology/CIP 51.0919
Technician 87 graduates / yr18 institutions - Radiation Protection/CIP 51.0916
Health Physics Technician partial data62 graduates / yr5 institutions - Cardiopulmonary Technology/CIP 51.0915
Technologist partial data51 graduates / yr4 institutions - Orthopedic Technology/CIP 51.0923
Technician limited data22 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Hyperbaric Medicine Technology/
Technician51.0921 - Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Technology/
Technician51.0922
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degree do I earn from this program?+
You will earn an Associate's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, counseling, and critical thinking.
What is the job outlook for Hearing Aid Specialists?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 18.4%.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
Currently, there is one college offering this program.
What is the CIP code for Hearing Instrument Specialist?+
Hearing Instrument Specialist is CIP 51.0918 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Allied Health Diagnostic (CIP 51.09). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to test the hearing of, and to select, fit and dispense appropriate hearing aids for, patients. Includes instruction in acoustics, anatomy and physiology of the ear, hearing testing, hearing aid fitting and technology, health promotion and rehabilitation, counseling and communication, business management, and professional ethics.
How many institutions offer Hearing Instrument Specialist programs?+
1 U.S. institutions reported Hearing Instrument Specialist graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 4 credentials in the year. That is 0.0% of all Allied Health Diagnostic graduates.
How much do Hearing Instrument Specialist graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Hearing Aid Specialists occupation, which Hearing Instrument Specialist most directly leads to, pays a median of $65,160 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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