CAOHC Certification: What Employers Need to Know

The Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) certifies Occupational Hearing Conservationists (OHCs) who are qualified to administer audiometric tests under OSHA 1910.95. According to CDC/NIOSH, approximately 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous occupational noise annually.

What OSHA 1910.95 Actually Requires

OSHA 1910.95(g)(3) requires audiometric tests to be performed by: (1) a licensed audiologist, otolaryngologist, or other physician; or (2) a technician who is CAOHC-certified or has demonstrated competence in occupational audiometric testing. The Professional Supervisor — a licensed audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician — must also review all audiograms, identify STSs, and make clinical and referral decisions.

CAOHC Certification Process

CAOHC certification requires completing an approved training course (typically 20 contact hours), passing a written and practical examination, and maintaining certification with continuing education every 5 years. CAOHC-certified OHCs can administer pure-tone air conduction audiometric tests and perform noise surveys. They cannot serve as Professional Supervisor — that requires a professional clinical license.

Automated Testing and CAOHC Requirements

Automated audiometric testing systems that guide workers through tests without a human technician present alter the CAOHC question. OSHA's position is that the qualified technician requirement applies to systems where a human technician is involved in test administration. For fully automated systems, the Professional Supervisor review requirement is the critical clinical oversight mechanism — the audiologist reviewing each result provides the clinical quality control that a CAOHC technician would otherwise provide in real time. See: automated audiometric testing: employer guide.