Why join the Apprenticeship Program?
HearingLife pays you while you train for a new, exciting career
Flexible schedule
Career mobility
Side-by-side, hands-on learning with a licensed Hearing Care Provider
Virtual and in-person learning
Access to job opportunities once the program is completed and you obtain your state license
How the program works:
The Apprenticeship Program will provide you with the skills necessary to become a Hearing Care Provider and obtain the required state licenses.
The Program includes both virtual and in-person classroom learning, hands-on lab, and side-by-side learning with a licensed Hearing Care Provider. The Apprentice will follow an established curriculum and adhere to coaching and guidance provided by an assigned Preceptor.
The Apprentice Program takes on average six months to one year to complete, depending on state licensing requirements.
Program Overview
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Complete the application for the Program. We will contact you to discuss the Program and answer any questions you may have.
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This begins to build a foundation of clinical skills and includes instruction, live demonstrations, self-guided labs and Preceptor-guided labs. At the completion of this week, a hands-on Clinical Introduction Certification will be conducted to verify skills learned.
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Hands-on, in-clinic experience with guidance and mentorship from the Preceptor. Through this experience, Apprentices can increase confidence and feel more competent with their skill set. Throughout this period, the Apprentice’s clinical skills will be tracked monthly, and weekly hour logs and summaries of learning and clinical experiences will be submitted. Bi-weekly meetings will be held with the Clinical Training Team to ensure continued progress.
This In-Clinic Practice with Direct Supervision continues until the Apprentice passes the HearingLife Clinical Certification. -
12-week coursework to learn concepts and principles, building a foundation to become a Hearing Care Provider. Each week a different set of topics and learning is validated through weekly exams.
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This is conducted after the Apprentice completes hands-on learning and masters proficiency in each clinical skill. After passing this Certification, the Apprentice will be eligible to see patients independently, as allowed by state licensing laws.
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After completing the HearingLife Clinical Certification, the Apprentice may take state and/or national licensing exams as required by his/her own state. Each exam may be attempted two times. Transitioning to a permanent Hearing Care Provider role is contingent upon obtaining the necessary licenses.
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This is a series of classes to help support learning of business principles that form the building blocks for the best-in-class patient care.
At the conclusion of the training program and upon obtaining state licenses, you will perform at the full capacity of a Hearing Care Provider who acts in accordance with required industry and state professional licensing standards and local practice scope, and is responsible for growing and maintaining the practice. This includes achieving all financial goals, as well as offering assessment audiology services. The Hearing Care Provider is responsible for creating an exceptional patient journey through patient care and appropriate treatment options.
Requirements for the Apprenticeship Program
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- Associate degree or equivalent hours of study and a valid driver’s license (some states require an associate degree as a minimum)
- At least 1 year of general full-time work experience, preferably in a patient care or other related hearing- or healthcare-focused setting involving direct contact with patients
- Understanding of HIPAA privacy obligations relating to patient information and records
- Functional use of Microsoft Office Suite and some familiarity with customer/patient relationship management tracking systems
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- Exhibits friendly and courteous behavior in all customer interactions. Continuously strives to build rapport and develop relationship with the customer
- Maintains schedule and regular touch points with customers and prospects
- Maintains active management schedule necessary to prioritize actions and people interactions with timelines. Consistently meets expectations of the role
- Conduct tympanometry examinations (where within the scope of practice) and otoscopic examinations
- Conduct pure tone air and bone conduction tests with and without masking
- Conduct speech recognition threshold and word recognition tests, with and without masking
- Makes recommendations for amplification
- Conduct patient custom earmold impressions
- Handle fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments
- Provides follow-up care for amplification, including adjustments, troubleshooting and repairs
- Provides counseling regarding hearing loss through positive patient experience
- Perform other duties as assigned by Management
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- Self-motivated
- Business acumen
- Technical ability
- Collaboration skills
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- May have overnight travel up to 25% of the time to different markets across the HearingLife Network, based on specific training needs.
“Start a career where
‘tears of joy’
can be a daily
occurrence”
– Christi Clark, BC-HIS,
Audiology Apprentice
Here's what our Team Members have to say
"I became a preceptor because I believe good training is essential to helping future clinicians be prepared with the proper skills to succeed. I was a student not so long ago and I am so grateful to those that helped me along the way and provided me with tips and tricks so that I had the confidence I needed. I wanted to be able to pass along my knowledge and provide mentorship to someone else so that I am helping HearingLife have well-trained, empathetic, and knowledgeable clinicians that put their patients first."
– Courtney Palmiere, North Carolina
"In my opinion, there is nothing better than being a preceptor. You get a chance to be a part of and make an impact on the apprentice’s journey as they become a professional in the hearing healthcare field. From my experience as a student, the preceptor really made the experience what it was and had a positive impact on my journey. The best part about being a preceptor is being able to watch the growth that happens throughout the apprentice’s time at your clinic and to see the moments when things really start to all come together. The memories created with the students and apprentices are memories I will cherish forever."
– Chelsea Holloway, Arizona
"I became a preceptor to help others. Watching the growth and experiencing the excitement with the apprentice when things click for them provides a great sense of satisfaction. Our conversations about patient experiences together begin to change and can go more in depth once they reach a certain point in the learning journey. I enjoy taking part in molding someone into a great provider who will help to change the lives of our patients and loved ones. That alone is an experience I will never forget."
– Amber McCarthy, Oklahoma
We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.