Who can provide hearing services
Program services must be provided by an audiologist or audiometrist who is either a:
- qualified practitioner (QP)
- provisional practitioner under the supervision of a QP.
They must be a member of a recognised practitioner professional body (PPB) in an approved membership category.
They must also comply with the PPB scope of practice and code of conduct.
Recognised practitioner professional bodies (PPB)
We recognise these organisations as practitioner professional bodies (PPB):
Audiology Australia
Australian College of Audiology
Hearing Aid Audiology Society of Australia
Approved membership categories
These are the approved membership categories for each PPB.
Audiology Australia
- Full accredited member
- Fellow accredited member
Australian College of Audiology
- Full/ Ordinary member
- Fellow member
Hearing Aid Audiology Society of Australia
- Full member
- Fellow member
Qualified practitioners (QP)
All qualified practitioners must have both:
- a current approved membership with a PPB
- an active QP number.
QP audiologists and QP audiometrists must also meet the requirements below.
QP audiologists
QP audiologists must have an Australian university master’s degree in clinical audiology (or equivalent) and either:
- full accredited or fellow accredited membership with Audiology Australia
- Full/Ordinary or fellow membership with the Australian College of Audiology, with competency in hearing aid dispensary.
QP audiometrists
QP audiometrists must have either:
- an Australian university diploma in audiometry
- a bachelor’s degree in audiometry (or equivalent).
They must also have either:
- ordinary membership with the Australian College of Audiology, with competency in hearing aid dispensary
- full or fellow membership with the Hearing Aid Audiology Society of Australia.
Provisional practitioners
Provisional practitioners must have a supervision arrangement with a qualified practitioner and their PPB. Contact their PPB for details.
Provisional practitioner audiologists and audiometrists must also meet the requirements below.
They are not entitled to have a QP number under the program.
Provisional practitioner audiologists
A provisional practitioner audiologist must have an Australian university master’s degree in clinical audiology (or equivalent) and either:
- full membership with Audiology Australia
- associate membership with the Australian College of Audiology.
Provisional practitioner audiometrists
A provisional practitioner audiometrist must have either:
- an Australian university diploma in audiometry
- a bachelor’s degree in audiometry (or equivalent).
They must also have associate membership with either the:
QP numbers
Providers must only request QP numbers for practitioners:
- in approved membership categories
- that do not already have a QP number.
Providers must not request QP numbers for students or provisional practitioners.
Legislation allows us to share QP information with PPBs and program providers to check program compliance.
Requesting a QP number
If you do not already have one, your employer can request a QP number for you through the online portal. You must:
- meet all the QP requirements
- ensure the provider uses the same name as your PPB membership.
You only need one QP number for all the employers you work for. Your QP number stays with you even if you change employer.
If you are not sure you have a QP number, contact us before your employer requests a new QP number.
Linking to employers
Any employer you start working for must link your QP number to their business through the online portal. You can link to multiple employers.
Each time you finish working with any employer, they must unlink your QP number from their business through the portal.
Updating QP number records
Provide your employer with evidence of your new membership if:
- your qualification changes from audiometrist to audiologist
- you change PPB or membership category.
If you have changed your name, provide your employer with proof of identity. Your QP record in the portal should match your PPB record.
Your employer must email us the relevant documents to update QP records in the portal.
Reactivating your QP number
Your QP number only remains active while you are in an approved membership category of a PPB.
If you need to reactivate your QP number, you or your employer can email us evidence of your membership in an approved category. We will reactivate your QP number.
Employers can read our portal user guide on managing practitioners.
Hearing Services Program portal user guide – Manage practitioners
Using your QP number
Your employer uses your QP number to claim for program services:
- you provide
- the provisional practitioner you supervise provides.
They should also ensure any file notes for services record the QP number of the practitioner delivering or supervising the service.
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