What's the difference between an Audiologist and an Audiometrist?

What's the difference between an Audiologist and an Audiometrist?

In Australia, audiologists and audiometrists are both qualified hearing care professionals. Both test hearing. Both prescribe and fit hearing aids. The difference is the training pathway and scope. An audiologist completes a university master's degree and can manage complex and paediatric cases. An audiometrist completes accredited clinical qualifications focused on adult hearing assessment, hearing aid fitting and rehabilitation. For most adults seeking a hearing test or hearing aids, either practitioner is appropriate.

What is an audiometrist?

An audiometrist is a hearing care clinician. They are trained to assess adult hearing, and to prescribe, fit and adjust hearing aids. In Australia, audiometrists complete an accredited qualification such as the Diploma of Audiometry combined with supervised clinical practice, and many hold membership with a professional body such as the Australian College of Audiology (ACAud). Audiometrists work under the same advertising and conduct rules as other hearing service providers. Accredited audiometrists can also deliver services under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program.

"As a Qualified Audiometrist, my day-to-day work is adult hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings and ongoing hearing aid care — the services many adults over 50 come to us for," says Linda Whittaker, Qualified Audiometrist at Hearingcare in Caloundra.

Is an audiologist a doctor?

No. An audiologist is not a medical doctor. Audiologists in Australia hold a university master's degree in audiology, not a medical degree. The medical specialist for ear disease is an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist — a doctor you would usually see through a GP referral. Neither audiologists nor audiometrists diagnose or treat ear disease; both refer you to a GP or ENT when a medical problem is suspected.

Can an audiometrist do a full hearing test and fit hearing aids in Australia?

Yes. Audiometrists routinely perform comprehensive adult hearing assessments — including pure tone audiometry, speech testing and middle ear checks — and prescribe and fit hearing aids. Accredited audiometrists also deliver subsidised services to eligible pensioners and DVA card holders under the Hearing Services Program, alongside audiologists. According to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, both audiologists and audiometrists can be qualified practitioners under the program.

Are audiometrists regulated in Australia?

Audiometrists follow the same consumer and advertising laws as every Australian health service, and accredited audiometrists deliver government-subsidised services under the Hearing Services Program's practitioner standards. Professional bodies such as the Australian College of Audiology (ACAud) set membership, training and conduct requirements.

Do you need an audiologist rather than an audiometrist for a hearing test?

For a standard adult hearing test or hearing aid fitting, no — an audiometrist provides these services. An audiologist or ENT referral becomes relevant for children's hearing, suspected balance disorders, cochlear implant candidacy, or medically complex cases. A good practitioner of either kind will tell you plainly when your situation needs someone else, and refer you on.

At Hearingcare in Caloundra, every appointment is with Linda Whittaker, a Qualified Audiometrist with more than 20 years of clinical experience. If your hearing test suggests anything outside an audiometrist's scope, Linda refers you to your GP or an appropriate specialist and explains why. If you'd like your hearing checked, you can book a comprehensive adult hearing assessment at our Bulcock Street clinic in Caloundra, Queensland — serving Golden Beach and the wider Sunshine Coast.

How do you check a hearing practitioner's qualifications?

Ask directly — a qualified practitioner will answer plainly. Useful questions: What is your qualification? Are you a member of a professional body such as ACAud or Audiology Australia? Are you an accredited Hearing Services Program provider? You can also check the practitioner register on the professional body's website. Be cautious of any clinic that avoids the question, and of any "free hearing check" that moves straight to a hearing aid recommendation without a case history, otoscopy and full assessment first. An independent clinic should also tell you plainly who owns it, and whether its advice is tied to one hearing aid manufacturer.

The information on this page is general in nature, and hearing outcomes, results and experiences vary from person to person. It is not a substitute for professional advice about your individual hearing health. For advice specific to you, book an appointment with our Qualified Audiometrist.

Last reviewed July 2026 by Linda Whittaker, Qualified Audiometrist.

Take the next step

If anything in this guide reflects your own situation, a comprehensive hearing assessment is the most reliable next step. At Hearing Care on the Sunshine Coast, Linda Whittaker — a Senior Clinical Audiometrist with over 20 years of experience and ACAud accreditation — provides unhurried, individualised hearing care in a supportive environment.

We see clients from Caloundra, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Buderim, Noosa and across the wider Sunshine Coast region. Eligible patients can access fully funded hearing services through the Australian Government's Hearing Services Program.

Individual results vary. Professional hearing assessment is required to determine the most appropriate management approach for your specific situation.