Licensing guide · British Columbia

How to Become a Hearing Aid Practitioner in British Columbia

Last checked 3 sources checkedNOC 32109

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC to work as a hearing aid practitioner in British Columbia or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
Hearing Instrument Practitioner
Show the source
“To practise as a Hearing Instrument Practitioner (HIP) in British Columbia, you must hold a licence with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC).”

From chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing, checked October 11, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 6 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $1,215

  1. You must first apply for a Provisional licence, which lets you practise under approved supervision while completing practical training and examination requirements.

    Source
    “A Canadian-educated applicant seeking licensure as a HIP in British Columbia must first apply for a Provisional licence.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

  2. After your credential is awarded, have your program's official transcripts sent directly from the institution to the College.

    Source
    “After your credential has been awarded, arrange to have your hearing instrument dispensing program’s official transcripts sent directly from the institution to CHCPBC”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

  3. Create an account on the College's Licensee Portal and submit your application with the required information and documents.

    Source
    “A graduate of a recognized Canadian hearing instrument dispensing program, as outlined in the College bylaws, may apply for Provisional licensure as a HIP by having the information and documents listed below ready, and creating an account on the CHCPBC”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

  4. While holding the Provisional licence, complete the practical training under approved supervision.

    Source
    “A Provisional licence allows you to practise under approved supervision while completing the practical training and entry-to-practice examination requirements for Full licensure.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

  5. Complete the entry-to-practice examination requirement for Full licensure.

    Source
    “A Provisional licence allows you to practise under approved supervision while completing the practical training and entry-to-practice examination requirements for Full licensure.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

  6. After completing the practical training program and the required examinations, apply for a Full Licence and meet all other applicable licensure requirements.

    Source
    “A Provisional licensee may apply for a Full Licence after completing the practical training program under supervision (unless exempted by the Licence Committee), successfully completing the required entry-to-practice examinations, and meeting all other applicable licensure requirements.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CHCPBC

6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $1,215 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 3 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $1,215

  1. If you hold an equivalent licensure status in an accepted Canadian jurisdiction and are in good standing, you may be granted Full licensure to practise in BC.

    Source
    “Full licensure to practise in BC to hearing instrument practitioners (HIPs) with an equivalent licensure status in another Canadian jurisdiction, who are in good standing with the relevant regulatory body in that jurisdiction and who meet the licensure requirements set out below.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

  2. Follow the application process outlined for hearing instrument dispensing applicants and select the licence class you are applying for in the Licensee Portal.

    Source
    “Follow the application process and requirements outlined on the For Hearing Instrument Dispensing Applicants page. When completing your application in the Licensee Portal, select Provisional as the licence class you are applying for.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

  3. If you meet all requirements except passing the entry-to-practice examination, you may hold a Provisional licence and practise under supervision while completing the examination requirement.

    Source
    “A Provisional licence allows eligible individuals who meet the applicable licensure requirements, except for passing the required entry-to-practice examination, to practise in British Columbia under supervision while completing the examination requirement for Full licensure.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CHCPBC

3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $1,215 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $1,215
  • Listed time: 1.4 to 1.8 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)

  1. Submit the assessment fee and required documentation, and the Licence Committee will review your education, clinical training, and professional practice experience.

    Time: 6 to 8 weeks
    Time source
    “Estimated timeline: Approximately 6–8 weeks after all required documentation and fees have been received.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing
    Source
    “Once the assessment fee and required supporting documentation have been received, your education, clinical training, and/or professional practice experience will be reviewed by the Licence Committee.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

  2. If the Licence Committee finds you substantially equivalent, apply for a Provisional HIP licence.

    Source
    “Internationally educated applicants seeking licensure as a HIP in British Columbia must first apply for a Provisional Licence.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

  3. Complete the supervised practical training program (unless exempted) and successfully complete the required entry-to-practice examinations.

    Source
    “A Provisional licensee may apply for a Full Licence after completing the practical training program under supervision (unless exempted by the Licence Committee), successfully completing the required entry-to-practice examinations, and meeting all other applicable licensure requirements.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

  4. After meeting all requirements, apply for a Full Licence.

    Source
    “A Provisional licensee may apply for a Full Licence after completing the practical training program under supervision (unless exempted by the Licence Committee), successfully completing the required entry-to-practice examinations, and meeting all other applicable licensure requirements.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CHCPBC

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $1,215 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • Canadian-educated audiology graduates must have completed a recognized Canadian Audiology program within three years immediately preceding their application.

    Source
    “completed a recognized Canadian program in Audiology within three years immediately preceding your application; and”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

Good character

  • Labour mobility applicants must be in good standing with the regulatory body in their jurisdiction.

    Source
    “Full licensure to practise in BC to hearing instrument practitioners (HIPs) with an equivalent licensure status in another Canadian jurisdiction, who are in good standing with the relevant regulatory body in that jurisdiction and who meet the licensure requirements set out below.”
    chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

Other

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

The College grants Full licensure to HIPs with an equivalent licensure status in another Canadian jurisdiction who are in good standing, based on their current licence without requiring them to retake the entry-to-practice examination.

Source
“Full licensure to practise in BC to hearing instrument practitioners (HIPs) with an equivalent licensure status in another Canadian jurisdiction, who are in good standing with the relevant regulatory body in that jurisdiction and who meet the licensure requirements set out below.”
chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Exams

Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with CHCPBC

Supervised practice

Required · 660 hours

Provisional HIP licensees must complete a 660-hour practical training program under supervision, unless exempted by the Licence Committee.

Source
“The Licence Committee will also consider whether you may be eligible for an exemption from the 660-hour practical training program required for Provisional HIP licensees.”
chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 32109, Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in British Columbia and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
British Columbia $22.00 $30.00 $39.56 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $17.62 $26.85 $36.71 —

Wages by region and job outlook in British Columbia

Wages in every province and territory

Hearing aid practitioners in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 6 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

  • Alberta Licence required
  • Saskatchewan Licence required
  • Manitoba Licence required
  • Ontario Not confirmed yet
  • Quebec Licence required
  • New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
  • Nova Scotia Licence required
  • Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Licence required
  • Yukon Not confirmed yet
  • Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
  • Nunavut Not confirmed yet

Compare hearing aid practitioner licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 11, 2026.

  1. Hearing Instrument Dispensing | CHCPBC chcpbc.org/applicants/hearing-instrument-dispensing · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Questions and answers about the CHCPBC Fee Restructuring Project | CHCPBC chcpbc.org/2025/10/23/questions-and-answers-about-the-chcpbc-fee-re... · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Certified Practices | CHCPBC chcpbc.org/licensees/certified-practices · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

1

Do you need a licence to work as a hearing aid practitioner in British Columbia?

Yes. Registration with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC is required to practise in British Columbia, and to use the title Hearing Instrument Practitioner.

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