Higher Training Scheme (HTS)

Current modules include:

Adult assessment and rehabilitation with additional needs (module summary)

Advanced adult assess and rehab (module summary)

Balance Assessment (module summary)

Balance Rehabilitation (module summary)

Paediatric assessment (6 months+) (module summary)

Paediatric assessment (newborn) (module summary)

Paediatric Habilitation (module summary)

Therapeutic skills (module summary)

Tinnitus and hyperacusis (module summary)

Cochlear implants (module summary)

Modules are under continuous review.

The scheme comprises a number of different clinical modules, listed above. Members can complete individual modules or a series, according to individual and / or service needs. Successful completion of a module results in the ‘Higher Training Scheme Award’ in the particular specialist area.

It is necessary for all candidates to broaden their knowledge base and to demonstrate the necessary underpinning theoretical knowledge together with critical appraisal and reasoning skills in order for them to operate at a specialist or advanced level. This knowledge and skills should be at Masters level. Each module specification gives the required knowledge and skills. The candidate is expected to gain the theoretical knowledge through academic study, tutorials, self study and discussion. Candidates must gain a minimum of 10 Masters level credits from a UK Higher Education Institute (or equivalent) covering the main areas required for the module, before taking the practical examination.

Each candidate must have an Accredited Supervisor who is a minimum of a Healthcare Scientist Career Framework level 7 (or equivalent ) and experienced in successfully training practitioners, ideally at UK masters level (i.e. has provided significant day to day clinical training at this level with a successful outcome for at least one individual, ideally more). Alternatively the Accredited Supervisor may have completed an M-level training programme themselves (e.g. CAC, STP, HTS) and have experience of supervision at an undergraduate level and / or M-level. Equivalent training and / or experience will be considered on an individual basis (see section 5.3 of the HTS Regulations). It is recommended that Accredited Supervisors undergo training in supervision / mentoring if not already completed.

Click through to read more about Kim’s experience with the HTS

Click through to read more about Lauren’s experience with the HTS so far:

University College Cork has announced a new range of M-level modules for audiologists to enhance their skill set. Each module can be used for audiologists wanting to complete specific elements of the BAA Higher Training Scheme, or they can be completed individually and standalone for those not wishing to do the HTS.

Range of credits per module: Credits dependent on module. 2 Day Module 10 credits, 3 Day Module 20 Credits

M level Modules that may be relevant to the HTS:

Mode of Delivery will vary depending on the module and content. Where possible in person attendance is recommended. If you cannot attend in person, we can offer attendance on a hybrid basis (online via MS Teams). For more information contact cmoloney@ucc.ie or cnilsson@ucc.ie 

Website details: MSc. Hearing, Balance and Communication | University College Cork (ucc.ie)

Contact information:

• General enquiries: info.hbc@ucc.ie
• Programme coordinator: cmoloney@ucc.ie
• Programme administrator: cnilsson@ucc.ie

Hearing Therapy Programme Director: h.pryce-cazalet@aston.ac.uk

Can modules be completed individually: On PGCert/Dip modules can be completed individually under our flexible credit accumulation scheme. Students have up to 5 years to complete MSc and 7-8 for PD.

Range of credits per module: We have one ‘anchor’ module at PGCert, Dip and MSc which is 30 credits and the other two are 15.

Hearing Therapy counselling and communication skills 30 credits; tinnitus module 15; adult rehabilitation 15; evidence-based practice 15; vestibular rehabilitation 15 and health behaviours and intervention development 30; research methods and proposal development 30.

• Adult Assessment and Rehabilitation: https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/adult-rehabilitation-standalone-module
• Hearing Therapy Counselling and Communications Skills: https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/hearing-therapy-counselling-and-communications-skills
• Tinnitus Management: https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/tinnitus-management-standalone-module
• Vestibular Rehabilitation: https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/vestibular-rehabilitation-standalone-module

Can modules be completed individually: YES

Range of credits per module: 15 or 30 credits

Contact person email: Saira Hussain, s.hussain14@aston.ac.uk

Contact person email: Dr Fei Zhao, fzhao@cardiffmet.ac.uk; 02920417290

Standalone module: YES

Credits per module: 20 credits

Contact person email: ear.admin@ucl.ac.uk

Can modules be completed individually: YES

Range of credits per module: all modules are 15 credits

Contact person email: Courses@maryhare.org.uk

Can modules be completed individually: Modules from the Educational Audiology MSc/PGDip can be taken individually

Range of credits per module: 15 credits each

https://www.maryhare.org.uk/professional-courses/postgraduate-courses

Contact person email:

Programme director: kai.uus@manchester.ac.uk

Programme administrator: pgt_hcdh@manchester.ac.uk or amelia.clark@manchester.ac.uk

Can modules be completed individually: Yes

Range of credits per module: 15 or 30 credits

Contact person email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk or audiology-enquiries@isvr.soton.ac.uk

Can modules be completed individually: YES

Range of credits per module: 15 CATS

M level Modules that may be relevant to the HTS:

• Rehabilitation of Auditory Disorders
• Assessment and Management of Vestibular Disorders
• Paediatric Audiology
• Fundamentals of Auditory Implants

Qualified Audiologists who wish to develop their skills and knowledge so they could work in a specialist clinical area, i.e. those with a BSc or equivalent. It can be done by those working in the NHS or private sector. You need to have an Accredited Supervisor to oversee your training. It can also be used by those who already work in a specialist area who wish to gain a qualification to demonstrate their competence.

The Therapeutic Skills module is also accessible to those holding a Post-Graduate Certificate in Hearing Therapy.

There is an online form you need to complete, accessed from the HTS pages in the members’ section of this website.

In-house training can vary in scope and quality and doesn’t result in a recognised qualification. The HTS content has been reviewed and agreed by subject experts as the range of skills and knowledge required when working in a particular specialist area and is a highly regarded training scheme. It includes external verification of your skills, and a qualification you can add to your CV to demonstrate your achievement.

On successful completion of a module, you will be awarded the ‘BAA Higher Training Scheme Certificate’ in the particular specialist area. This is a recognised and highly regarded qualification within the profession.

Yes. It can be used for personal development and / or to fill a service need.

No, it is only the supervisor who needs to be accredited. Prior to 2019 departments did need to be accredited, but this is no longer the case. You can be supervised by an Accredited Supervisor in another department if one isn’t available locally but would recommend finding a supervisor who has previous experience of supervising people through the scheme if providing remote supervision.

M-level credits are awarded by Higher Education Institutes on successful completion of an M-level module or course. Each module or course will have a certain number of credits associated with it, and this will be included in course information. Modules usually have 10 – 60 credits each, and in order to be awarded a full Master’s degree, usually 240 credits are needed.

M-level is short for Master’s level, and refers to Master’s level postgraduate level education and qualifications. For a more detailed description, please see section 4.17 of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education; Setting and Maintaining Academic Standards: PART A The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies, (https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf).

Qualification levels are explained at: https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels

For each module you need to have a minimum of 10 credits covering the main subject area. It may be that one university module covers more than one HTS module, e.g., both Balance Assessment and Balance Rehabilitation. In such cases you could use this module just to do one of the HTS modules, or both.

No, although it is important to ensure your knowledge remains up to date, covers the theoretical knowledge requirements of the module, and is at M-level for the examination. If you completed an M-level module some time ago, it is your responsibility to make sure you meet the requirements prior to examination.

You may be able to use overseas M-level credits towards the HTS. To do this, you first need to have proof that the credits are equivalent to UK M-level, and this can be done by ECCTIS. For more information, see https://enic.org.uk/Qualifications/SOC/Default.aspx. There is a fee for this assessment, and we advise you to check on their website for current fees. You would also need to submit this formal proof of equivalence, with a transcript from the course showing the course covered the majority of the theoretical content required, as outlined in the module specification.

Each person completing a HTS module needs an Accredited Supervisor. This may be your line manager, the Head of Department, or another senior member of staff. They need to be aware of what the training involves and commit to enabling the time to complete it.

Yes. However, we would encourage careful consideration before enrolling in more than one module at a time. Some modules are small and complement other modules. For example, some candidates may choose to complete the two paediatric assessment or two balance modules together, and these can be examined simultaneously.

Funding needs to be found locally for both the HTS scheme fees and M-level course fees. This may be possible from a departmental budget, or other training fund. Some people choose to self-fund the costs involved, recognising that they are investing in a qualification which could assist in career progression.

There is a fee to register on a module, and a separate fee to pay once you have completed your training prior to the final examination. There is also a fee for any re-sits. Fees are usually reviewed annually.

As of 1st April 2023, HTS fees are as follows:

Registration (per module)                                   £295.00

Examination (per clinical exam session)       £495.00

Re-sit fee for online viva                                       £100.00

You are assessed by your Accredited Supervisor and clinic supervisors throughout training, and progress is documented in the online portfolio. Once you are consistently demonstrating you can work at the required level you can submit your completed portfolio and once checked it and found satisfactory, external examiners will be arranged to assess you seeing patients in your department.

You can start a module at any time. You need to complete the application form and will receive confirmation of registration. You need to have an Accredited Supervisor in order to register, so if your proposed supervisor is not yet accredited, they will need to apply for this in advance.

This varies on the size of the module, whether you have previous experience in the area or not, and how often you are able to train. One of the main requirements is to complete a minimum number of clinical sessions (at 3.5 hours each). Small modules require a minimum of 15 supervised clinical training sessions whereas large modules require a minimum of 40 sessions. However, most people complete modules alongside carrying out other work, so may have, for example, two training sessions a week so it would take several months to complete the minimum number. However, it is not uncommon to require more training than this to reach the required standard, particularly if you are new to the area. In addition, you need to complete a number of additional activities such as your M-level credits, tutorials, case studies and self-study.

Supervisors must apply for accreditation by completing the supervisor’s training module (available on the HTS pages of the BAA website) and then completing the application form. If you meet all the criteria, you will become an Accredited Supervisor.

The main criteria are that you need to be working at Healthcare Scientist Career Framework level 7, ideally have been involved in supervising at this level before and have completed HTS Supervisor’s training. The HTS Committee recognise that not all potential supervisors have had experience of supervising at this level, so other experience can be taken into consideration. For more information see the HTS Regulations, section 5.

No, supervisors do not need to be members. However, if not a BAA member, they will not have independent access to the candidates log book, and will have to rely on the candidate to log in to their log book and allow them access. Non-member supervisors will also have to sign to confirm they will abide by the BAA code of conduct in this role. They will also have to ensure the candidate passes on any relevant information or updates communicated to members or in the members area of the BAA website.

No. There are a number of reasons for this: Currently as the need for supervisor accreditation is quite new, there are few people accredited as supervisors are tending to apply for accreditation when they are about to start supervising someone. Therefore, if such a list existed it would not represent those able to be an accredited supervisor, and may suggest there is just a limited pool of people able to do this. In addition, when applying for accreditation we do not currently ask supervisors to share their contact details in this way.

Firstly, we would recommend you widen your search to look for someone who could apply for accreditation to become an Accredited Supervisor, rather than limiting your search to someone who is already accredited, as this process is quite new. You need to speak to your line manager initially, to find out if there is someone who has the potential to become an Accredited Supervisor within your own department. This is the ideal situation as it will be easy to have frequent contact with them. If this is not possible you should first look to neighbouring departments, as the closer your Accredited Supervisor is, the easier it will be as you need to do clinics with them on a regular basis. If you can’t find anyone suitable you may then need to look further field. Please don’t assume that someone who could become an Accredited Supervisor is willing and able to do this. Supervising someone takes time and effort and will depend on the individual’s workload and priorities within their own department.

You have three years from registration to complete your portfolio and request your examination. If you don’t complete your portfolio within three years you will have to re-register on the scheme if you wish to continue.

If you have a BSc in Audiology, or MSc plus CCC, or equivalent, you can access any module, with the exception of the Paediatric Habilitation module, which requires you to complete the HTS Paediatric Assessment (6 months +) or equivalent first. Those who do not hold a BSc in Audiology but do have a Post-Graduate Certificate in Hearing Therapy, can access the Therapeutic Skills module.

There are currently ten modules available:

Adult Assessment and Rehabilitation with Additional Needs

Advanced Adult Auditory Assessment & Rehabilitation

Therapeutic Skills

Tinnitus and Hyperacusis

Paediatric Assessment Newborn

Paediatric assessment 6mths+

Paediatric Habilitation

Balance Assessment

Balance Rehabilitation

Cochlear Implants

Modules are under continuous review.

Training involves a number of elements to include:

• Supervised clinical sessions
• M-level credits
• Tutorials
• Secondments & placements
• Self-study
• Case studies

Everyone who registered on 1^st April 2021 will complete an online portfolio. Those who registered before this have the option of transferring across to the updated scheme and would then complete their portfolio online.

The clinic supervisors also need to meet certain criteria, which are given in section 6 of the regulations. This includes being a minimum of a Healthcare Scientist Career framework level 6 and either holds the HTS module themselves or is considered equivalent to this. This may include your accredited supervisor or other staff.

The first step would be to speak to your line manager and discuss options. It is the responsibility of prospective candidates to find an Accredited Supervisor, funding, and a suitable M-level course.

We would encourage all prospective candidates and supervisors to read the HTS Handbook, and HTS regulations, prior to applying to join the scheme.

The HTS can be used to up-skill a member of staff to fill a gap in service needs, or for succession planning if you know a member of staff may be leaving. Rather than having to plan training in house, to include working out what needs to be learnt / covered, you will have the confidence that the scheme will cover what is expected of someone working in a specialist area. You also don’t need to worry about how to document any in house training to meet quality assurance standards, as the HTS scheme includes a comprehensive online portfolio to record all training.

Most staff enjoy expanding their knowledge and skills, working in a specialist area, so being a department, which does the HTS can aid recruitment and retention. Having staff holding HTS modules positively reflects on the quality of the clinical service offered.

HTS modules can be used to demonstrate competencies required for registration as a Clinical Scientist via the Association of Clinical Scientists (ACS). For more information, please see the ACS website. The HTS Therapeutic skills module is also being considered as a pre-requisite to registration as a new Hearing Therapist, and these FAQs will be updated as soon as there is any news on this.