Hearing Aid Dispenser is a highly demanding career in the coming years. Historically, our longevity has been expanding rapidly since 1950. In addition, baby boomers, who were born in 1945 to 1965, are now aged at 50 or more, and their numbers are more than 70 million.

As more people are getting older, their listening abilities are either decreasing or getting damaged by aging, internal, or external reasons. As more people need professional help for their hearing problems, more hearing related professionals are needed now and in the future.

Many people have hearing related problems, but the numbers of dispensers in the US are actually decreasing because recruitment is not effectively done by various government agencies. For example, the number of new Hearing Aid Dispensers in California is less than 70 compared to 4,300 new lawyers in 2010.

Hearing aid dispensing is a great medical related business in terms of income and business nature. Many positive aspects can be summarized such as no labor intensive work, flexible working hours, very minimal inventory or no inventory needed, advanced technology intensive business, career for all ages, and high profit margin expected.

Not many people have knowledge about the nature of this business, but if you pay attention to this, you will find very attractive aspects as your long-term career.

First of all, this career is a highly recognized career in society. It is an absolutely professional career. All government agencies acknowledge this career as a professional career and many people consider a HAD as an ear doctor.

Secondly, this will be a career for all ages. In many different medical sectors, age sometimes acts as a significant factor. However, in this area, age will be the smallest factor because the majority of your clients are elderly. So, age has small effect in hearing aids dispensing. If you are a household wife, health related employee, nurse, early retiree, young student, mid-aged office worker, man or woman; you can become a dispenser if you pass the written and practical exam.

Thirdly, this can be a long-term career. Hearing loss is not just a physical symptom or disorder; rather, it significantly affects an individual’s psychology. Many people who have hearing loss tend to express low self-esteem, rejection, avoid meeting new people, they simply withdraw from others. They live with a psychological burden from their hearing loss. Thus, the trust created between clients and dispenser can be a core element in your dispensing activities. If you care enough for your clients, they tend to be your lifetime customers. It will eventually lead to your long-term career.

Lastly, this career generates a stable income. All medical and health related jobs are very secure in income. The average income of a dispenser in the US is about 70K, and independent private dispensers as store owners make more than 100K.

Before you prepare anything for the examination, I strongly recommend you to call or visit the website of the Hearing Aid Dispenser bureau or any appropriate department in your state to make sure what kinds of requirement you need to fulfill.

Some states require you to have a certain training period under the supervision of an ENT doctor, Audiologist, or Hearing Aid Dispenser in a form of sponsor. However, some states do not require any training period such as Texas and California. Each state has different requirements. Also, many states accept the California license as a legitimate license to do any practice in that state, so you need to check that option, too. If you have a difficult time obtaining any sponsorship, this can be another option.

The minimum educational qualification for the test being the dispenser is only a high school diploma or equivalent degree.

After you finish the basic research for the requirement, you will need to download written exam application. Fill out all the required fields, finalize the procedure, and send it to the dept. with all fees. The approval process may take 4 to 6 weeks depending on the state.

In the mean time, you need to prepare and study for the written exam. For preparation of the written exam, you may do the following:

1. Find a medium level Audiology book in the internet or book store.

2. Find any written and practical exam material in the internet or book store.

3. Visit PSI website for any recommendation of the book with the related subjects.

You may spend 2 to 3 months to get ready for the first written exam. If you pass the exam, you will need to prepare for the practical exam. The practical exam in most states is composed of 3 parts, Audiometric testing, Ear impression, and Post-fitting care. There are more detailed sub-categories. Give at least 3 months to get used to the practical examination procedure.

For preparation of the practical examination, you may do following:

1. Call or visit a local Hearing Aid Dispenser office to ask for minimal training. You never know, sometimes a good person may help you.

2. Call reputed hearing aid manufacturers and find if they offer any practical exam training.

3. Buy a DVD made for the practical examination in the internet.

As soon as you pass the examination, you can work any in Audiologist office, private office, franchiser, or Costco hearing aid center.

Hearing Aid Dispenser will be your great career. We wish you pass the exam.