Under 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(3), audiometric tests must be performed by a licensed or certified audiologist, otolaryngologist or other physician, or by a technician (CAOHC-certified or with demonstrated competence) responsible to one of those professionals. A technician who operates a microprocessor audiometer does not need federal certification.
The microprocessor exemption makes it possible to conduct in-house testing with your existing safety or occupational health staff. Two separate requirements still apply: the technician must be responsible to an audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician under (g)(3), and problem audiograms must be reviewed by one of those professionals under (g)(7)(iii). Some states, such as Oregon, Washington, Texas, and Ohio, add their own certification or registration requirements. The routine comparison of an annual audiogram against baseline is required but unassigned: (g)(7)(i) says only that it “may be done by a technician,” which is why it usually falls to whoever ran the test.
