Frequently Asked Questions

Our 3-day course on audiometry and hearing conservation teaches you how to conduct forced-whisper tests, audiometric screening tests, and pure-tone threshold tests. You’ll also learn how to compare audiograms, revise baselines, fit hearing protection, and conduct the OSHA required worker hearing conservation training sessions. In addition, the course will teach you how to implement the hearing conservation strategies required by OSHA . Even if you don’t plan on conducting audiometric testing, the overall knowledge gained from this course will be invaluable in the success of your program.

Essentially, the 1½-day seminar is the first day and a half of the 3-day training seminar. This seminar should be considered a basic refresher seminar and is intended for those who have done little testing since their original 3-day course. The 1-day refresher seminar is an advanced class intended to update students on changes in the law, regulations, and techniques. Since you are not mixed in with the beginning students in a 3-day training course (as most seminars do), our 1-day refresher allows the time to discuss advanced concepts, student experiences, and any problems or concerns that may have come up in the last five years.

Yes. But in 1995, Dr. Tom Thunder took over as course director. Dr. Thunder has an audiology practice based in Palatine, Illinois, and is on the faculty at Rush University where he teaches courses on acoustics, hearing science, and the effects of noise. Dr. Thunder has updated the seminar materials, acquired additional CEUs, introduced advanced learning techniques, and added a 4th speaker. In 2002, he moved the seminar series to the Woodfield Shopping Mall area in Schaumburg, Illinois to improve hotel access, parking, shopping, dining, and entertainment for his students. Those returning for their 5-year recertification training have commented on how much better the new location is over the Oakbrook area.

Our seminars have consistently ranked as the #1 course in the Midwest by the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation ( CAOHC). Offered every other month for over 30-years, this seminar series has a proven track record and, unlike out-of-town providers or newcomers, the course has never been cancelled. This is important if you need to have your certification on time or wish to make hotel reservations well in advance. We also have four guest speakers to keep the seminar interesting and moving rapidly. We have an audiologist, a noise control engineer, an occupational nurse, and an otolaryngologist. Other courses will have fewer speakers or show videotapes on ear anatomy and physiology. Drawing on 15 years of teaching excellence, Dr. Thunder has implemented advanced learning techniques in this seminar and creates a fun and interactive atmosphere. A continental breakfast and a chef prepared lunch are also provided. Instead of a laborious 3-days (as is common with these type of courses), Dr. Thunder delivers an engaging and fun seminar that quickly energizes students.

Certainly a CAOHC certified technician can and should participate in training other technicians – especially when it comes to site-specific problems. However, there is a lot more to audiometry than applying the right threshold finding technique or pushing the right buttons on a microprocessor. Ultimately, according to OSHA, a technician will need to demonstrate their competence and skill to a professional supervisor, which OSHA defines as either an audiologist or a physician. In this regard, an audiologist or physician should oversee the training to ensure that the technician understands the depth and scope of audiometry and their responsibilities under OSHA. Since many physicians have minimal training in conducting pure-tone audiometry, comparing test results, and revising baseline audiograms, it is important that the training physician have experience in these areas. Regardless as explained below, CAOHC certification is required in certain circumstances.

It depends … but if you practice in Illinois, the short answer is YES. This is because the professional licensure laws under the Department of Professional Regulations [225 ILCS 110/3.5, Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act] indicate that you cannot conduct audiometric testing for industrial purposes unless you are an audiologist, a physician, or a CAOHC technician. Check to see if this applies in your particular state.

As far as OSHA is concerned, under its Noise Exposure Regulation, technicians must have CAOHC certification, equivalent training, or demonstrated competence in "…administering audiometric examinations, obtaining valid audiograms, and properly, using, maintaining and checking calibration and proper functioning of the audiometers being used" [29 CFR 1910.95(g)(3)]. So technically, under OSHA, you don’t need CAOHC certification. But you need to demonstrate the proper manual technique and other test proficiencies to an audiologist or a physician with training or experience in pure-tone audiometry. By the way, even if you use a microprocessor audiometer, you still need to be trained in a 3-day course or demonstrate your competence as specified above.

Some states have their own OSHA program and require CAOHC certification. Twenty-three states have their own program. In order for these programs to operate independently of the federal OSHA, they must meet or exceed the federal OSHA regulations. In some states, such as Oregon and California, CAOHC certification is required, a condition that exceeds the federal regulations.

If you conduct testing for companies that must meet the new noise exposure regulations under the Mining Safety and Health Administration ( MSHA), CAOHC certification is required. Under the new Health Standards for Occupational Noise Exposure, which became effective in September 2000, technicians that conduct audiometry must "… be certified by CAOHC or by another recognized organization offering equivalent certification."

Finally, if your company or any of your clients are following the guidelines established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), you will need CAOHC certification. NIOSH is a federal agency that researches and monitors safety and health in the workplace. Recently, it published its "Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Noise Exposure" which states "Audiometry shall be conducted by an audiologist, a physician, or an occupational hearing conservationist certified by the CAOHC or the equivalent. ... Use of microprocessor-based or self-recording audiometers should not waive the qualification requirements for the tester."