Intended Level of Study
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
180 credits
Duration
3 years
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Language(s) of Instruction
French
Overview
The hearing aid specialist program is designed to teach the techniques involved in fitting hearing aids for people with hearing loss, covering the selection, fitting, delivery, and effectiveness monitoring of hearing aids, as well as providing hearing aid user education.
The program lasts three years and is open to applicants who hold a high school diploma or a credential recognized as an exemption or equivalent to the high school diploma, with the aim of pursuing university studies, following admission through Parcoursup.
The degree program is available through continuing education and work-study programs.
The Benefits of the Training Program
Recognized for its high-quality education
Founded in 1967, the Montpellier School of Audiology is one of the oldest in France and enjoys a solid reputation.
The program is offered within the School of Pharmacy, providing a rigorous and interdisciplinary academic environment.
A vocational training program
The three-year program alternates between theoretical instruction, hands-on work, and internships in professional settings, allowing for a gradual immersion in the field.
Modern facilities at the Audiocampus
Opened in October 2024, the Audiocampus is a center dedicated to training and research in audiology, equipped with state-of-the-art technology:
- Audiometric and functional testing booths.
- 3D printing technology for the manufacture of hearing aid ear molds.
- Research laboratories collaborating with partners such as Inserm.
An opportunity to pursue a work-study program starting in the 2nd year
Montpellier is one of the few schools to offer a work-study program starting in the second year, allowing students to combine academic study with professional experience.
In this case, tuition is covered by the employer.
An environment conducive to studying
Located near downtown Montpellier, the university offers a pleasant living environment with many amenities.
The city is also a dynamic academic hub that fosters networking and professional opportunities.
Objectives
To teach hearing aid fitting techniques for people with hearing loss, covering the selection, fitting, delivery, and effectiveness monitoring of hearing aids, as well as providing hearing aid user education.
Expertise and Skills
Conducting hearing screenings (non-medical):
- Audiometric tests (tone, speech) to assess hearing loss;
- Interpretation of results in conjunction with an ENT prescription,
Hearing Aid Selection and Fitting:
-Selecting the hearing aid best suited to the patient’s type of hearing loss and lifestyle;
-Precise adjustment of the hearing aid (digital settings, calibration).
Ear impression:
- For the production of custom ear tips;
Monitoring and evaluating hearing aid effectiveness:
- Auditory rehabilitation.
- Subsequent adjustments after the adaptation phase.
Maintenance and Repair:
- Cleaning, replacement of parts, routine repairs.
Organization
Knowledge Assessment
Continuous Assessment and End-of-Semester Exam
Open on an alternating basis
Contract Type | Apprenticeship Contract |
|---|
The work-study program is available in the second and third years.
In the first semester: students alternate between two weeks at the company and two weeks at the training center.
Work-study programs are available starting in the second year of study.
Internships, supervised projects
Internship | Required |
|---|
First year:
-Internship at a hearing aid laboratory: 4 weeks, equivalent to 140 hours
-Internship at a gerontology institution: 2 weeks, equivalent to 70 hours
-Internship in a hospital department (care for the deaf, audiometric testing): 10 weeks, equivalent to 350 hours.
Second year:
- Internship at a hearing aid laboratory: 16 weeks, equivalent to 560 hours.
In the third year:
- Internship at a hearing aid laboratory: 16 weeks, equivalent to 560 hours
- Applied technology internship at a manufacturer: 1 week, equivalent to 35 hours
- 2 months dedicated to writing the thesis
Thesis to be defended before a committee
Program
A 3-year full-time program leading to the State Diploma in Audiology
Select a program
First year of the state-certified hearing aid specialist program
Theoretical Exams
30 creditsClinical Audiology
5 creditsHumanities and Social Sciences
2.5 creditsMathematics and Signals
5 creditsProsthetic Audiology
5 creditsMechanics and Acoustics
5 creditsLanguage Sciences
2.5 creditsElectronics
5 credits
Practical Exams
10 credits
Internship
20 credits
Second year of the state-certified hearing aid specialist program
Practical Exams
10 creditsHearing Aid Practice
5 creditsManufacturing of End Caps
5 credits
Theoretical Exams
25 creditsElectroacoustics
5 creditsSignal Processing
5 creditsHumanities and Social Sciences
3 creditsProsthetic Technology
5 creditsClinical Audiology
5 creditsLanguage Sciences
2 credits
Internship
25 credits
3rd year of the state-certified hearing aid specialist program
Clinical Audiology
6 creditsAcoustic Measurements
6 creditsProsthetic Audio
8 creditsHumanities and Social Sciences
5 credits
Oral
3 creditsThesis
9 creditsInternship
18 creditsHearing Aid Practice
5 credits
Admission
Admission Requirements
- Applicants who are French citizens or EU nationals, and who have earned or are expected to earn one of the following:
French Baccalauréat, European Baccalauréat, or a high school diploma issued by an EU member state. - Foreign diploma from outside the UEE.
International Baccalaureate. - International applicant who is not an EU citizen and who has graduated or is about to graduate from one of the following:
French or European Baccalaureate
External and internal UM program changes
Please note: Applicants who are nationals of a country where French is neither an official language nor an administrative language, and who have not obtained or are not in the process of obtaining a French Baccalaureate, must provide proof of a minimum B2 level in French (DALF, DELF, etc.) by the registration deadline at the latest.
Registration Procedures
Applications for admission are submitted through the Parcoursup platform
Target Audience
Recent high school graduates and individuals seeking a career change
Mandatory Prerequisites
And then
Continuing Education
Opportunity to continue studies at the master's level
Transition Programs and Reorientation
The Validation of Personal and Professional Experience (VAPP) may, in exceptional cases, allow direct admission to the second year of the program leading to the state-certified hearing aid specialist diploma.
There are no transfer options from the hearing aid specialist training program.
Employment Placement
The employment rate for hearing aid specialists upon graduation is very high in France. According to available data, approximately 90 to 95 percent of graduates find a job within six months of graduating.