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Audiologist

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Audiologists are healthcare professionals specialising in identifying, diagnosing, and treating hearing and balance disorders. They work with people of all ages, from newborn babies to the elderly. In the UK, audiologists are often employed by the NHS, private health providers, or educational institutions. Their duties include conducting hearing tests, fitting and maintaining hearing aids, counselling patients, and sometimes working with other specialists to support people with complex needs. Audiologists play a key role in improving communication and quality of life for individuals with hearing difficulties.

Audiologist

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📊 Statistics

Average Starting Salary

Newly qualified audiologists in the NHS typically earn between £28,407 and £34,581 per year (Band 5).

Experienced Salary Range

With experience, audiologists can earn between £35,392 and £42,618 per year (Band 6), and advanced specialists can earn up to £50,056 (Band 7).

Workforce Numbers

There are over 3,000 registered audiologists working in the UK, primarily within the NHS, private clinics, and educational settings.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Paediatric Audiologist

Specialises in diagnosing and managing hearing issues in babies, children, and teenagers, often working in hospitals or community clinics.

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Hearing Aid Audiologist

Focuses on assessing hearing loss and fitting hearing aids for adults and older adults, providing support and advice on hearing technology.

Educational Audiologist

Works with schools and educational settings to support children and young people with hearing difficulties, ensuring they have the right equipment and support for learning.

Achieve Academic Qualifications

Complete GCSEs

Obtain at least five GCSEs at grades 4 to 9 including English, Maths, and Science.

Strong performance in sciences, particularly Biology, will help lay the foundation for further study in healthcare fields. Consider choosing additional science subjects if available.

Progress to A Levels or Equivalent

Study A levels, typically including Biology and another science, or an equivalent Level 3 qualification.

A levels in Biology, Physics, or Psychology are particularly relevant for audiology. Alternatively, a BTEC in Health and Social Care with science units may be accepted by some universities.

Earn a Relevant Degree

Apply for and complete an NHS-approved degree in Audiology or Healthcare Science (Audiology).

These degree courses are usually three or four years full-time and include both academic study and practical placements in NHS clinics or hospitals. Entry requirements may vary, so check individual university criteria.

Gain Practical Experience

Undertake Clinical Placements

Complete mandatory clinical placements as part of your degree programme.

Placements typically occur in NHS audiology departments or private clinics, giving you hands-on experience with patients and equipment. This is vital for developing your practical skills and understanding of daily audiology work.

Seek Voluntary Experience

Look for opportunities to volunteer in healthcare settings, especially with hearing or disability charities.

Volunteering can help you build communication skills, gain insight into patient care, and show commitment to the field when applying for jobs or further study.

Obtain Professional Registration and Start Work

Register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Apply for registration with the HCPC to work as an audiologist in the UK.

Registration ensures you meet professional standards for practice and is legally required for most audiology roles in the NHS and some private settings.

Apply for Audiologist Positions

Search and apply for entry-level audiologist roles in the NHS, private clinics, or hearing aid companies.

You may begin as a trainee or newly qualified audiologist, with opportunities for further training and specialisation as you gain experience.

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Audiologist. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

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Career Progressions

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Sample Qualifications

How to become

You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.

University

You can complete the NHS Practitioner Training Programme leading to a degree in healthcare science (audiology). This is a 3-year training scheme and includes a mix of on the job training and study.

To work as an audiologist or hearing aid dispenser in the private sector, you'll need to do an audiology or hearing aid dispensing foundation degree approved by the Health and Care Professions Council.

Postgraduate course

If you already have a science degree, you could join the postgraduate NHS Scientist Training Programme. This is a 3-year course in clinical science, specialising in neurosensory sciences.

You could study for the MSc in Audiology with the option to include a clinical placement depending on where you study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including a science, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

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Apprenticeship

You might be able to do a Hearing Aid Dispenser Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship usually takes 2 years to complete and is a mix of learning on the job and study. This will qualify you to work independently to test people's hearing and fit hearing aids.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

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Work

You could start as an audiology practitioner or a hearing care assistant and take further study to qualify as an audiologist or hearing aid dispenser.

Volunteering

You'll find it helpful to get some voluntary experience in healthcare before you apply for a course.

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Professional and industry bodies

To keep up to date with developments in audiology or to find training, you could register with the British Academy of Audiology or the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists.

Further information

You can find out more about how to become an audiologist from:

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