A QCTO-registered Occupational Skills Program titled Occupational Audiometric Screener is currently in development through the Health and Welfare SETA (HWSETA). This development comes in direct response to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act) and its Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) regulations, which require the proper training and registration of individuals conducting workplace hearing screenings.
The Department of Employment and Labour has highlighted the need for a nationally recognised skills program for audiometric screeners, aligned with QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations) standards. This program will ensure that screening is done by individuals who meet formal occupational health and safety training requirements, supporting compliance across a wide range of industries.
As part of this process, HWSETA has requested formal feedback from the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). It is important to note that this is not a request for endorsement or quality assurance, but rather to ensure the Council has no objections or reasons not to support the program’s registration.
A group of OHS stakeholders is involved in developing the program, including hearing specialists. Lime Green is providing non-subject matter expertise support for the project funded by Education for Health Africa.
Download the draft QCTO Audiometric Tester curriculum here.
This is a critical step toward formalising audiometric screening as a regulated skill within the broader occupational health and safety framework. Updates will be posted as the program progresses toward registration.
