NHCA/CAOHC Webinar Series

The National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) has coordinated with the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) to host a NHCA/CAOHC webinar series for 2025/2026.  The series offers high-level webinar content on hot topics and top-notch speakers!   

See pricing below. If you are a member of CAOHC or NHCA enjoy special member pricing and discounts.

Cancellation Policy: Webinar purchases are non-refundable. In the event a virtual webinar session is cancelled or rescheduled, CAOHC/NHCA will refund any fees that were collected directly by the respective organization prior to the date change.


2026 Webinars:

Topic: OSHA and the Occupational Noise Standard: Your Questions Answered

No credits of any kind will be offered for viewing this webinar. This webinar will be recorded.
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When: Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:00pm ET

CEUs: None

Pricing: Free

About the Webinar: Because OSHA’s noise standards address many of the most noise-hazardous operations in the United States, the agency brings unparalleled insight into high-risk exposures and strategies for effective hearing conservation. In this webinar, our speakers will tackle the key questions below and deliver practical guidance to help you confidently navigate regulatory requirements and strengthen your hearing conservation program.

ModeratorJohn (Andy) Merkley, AuD, CCC-A, CPS/A

Dr. John 'Andy' Merkley is an occupational audiologist with over 26 years of experience in both clinical and occupational audiology.  He currently works as a contract senior program manager with the Defense Health Agency Hearing Center of Excellence. He holds a Master of Science in Communicative Disorders from Utah State University and a Doctor of Audiology from Central Michigan University. Dr. Merkley is the Director of Education for the National Hearing Conservation Association and is the immediate past Chair of the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) where he represented the Military Audiology Association. He holds the certificate of clinical competence in Audiology (CCC-A), is a certified CAOHC Course Director (CD) and a CAOHC certified Professional Supervisor (CPS/A). 

PRESENTERS FROM OSHA:  

Melanie Hayes, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Dr. Melanie Hayes is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner working at the US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Office of Occupational Medicine and Nursing (OOMN). With 26 years of experience as a family nurse practitioner, she has dedicated half of her career to the field of occupational medicine and nursing. In 2021, Dr. Hayes was hired in OOMN as a nurse practitioner medical officer where she is recognized as a subject matter expert in occupational noise exposure, hearing loss prevention, and regulatory compliance within the federal policy landscape. Additionally, her work at OSHA addresses various physical and environmental hazards, including heat and cold stress, as well as ergonomic risks in warehousing and meatpacking facilities. Prior to joining OSHA, she managed a U.S. Navy occupational health clinic for nine years, providing care to workers across a wide array of industries, including shipbuilding, aviation, healthcare, first responders, construction, and childcare. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, she served as the occupational health program manager, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and advising executive leadership on occupational health issues.  

     She is a published author and frequently presents on occupational health topics including at the American Occupational Health Conference, American Association of Nurse Practitioners annual conferences, and the International Hearing Protector Fit Testing Symposium. Dr. Hayes also serves as adjunct faculty and is on the Executive Council for the National Hearing Conservation Association. She is also a member of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Fueled by a passion for improving worker health, she actively collaborates with fellow occupational health and safety professionals to drive meaningful advancements in the field.

Yasmine Daniels, PhD, M.Phil, CIH
Dr. Yasmine Daniels is a Certified Industrial Hygienist working at US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in the Directorate of Enforcement Programs, Office of Health Enforcement. Her work with OSHA includes both her former experience as a Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO), where she conducted occupational safety and health investigations and her current role at the National Office, developing federal policies, coordinating regional efforts and assisting CSHOs and Regional Staff with novel industrial hygiene cases. She has a BA in Chemistry and a Master of Philosophy and PhD in Analytical and 
Environmental Chemistry. She recently presented at the 50th Annual Conference of the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) this past February, on  OSHA's Recent Interpretative Guidance on the Occupational Noise Exposure Standard, 29 CFR 1910.95; and has also presented at other note-worthy Industrial Hygiene conferences including the American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC) sponsored by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), the quarterly Federal Agency Safety and Health Managers’ Roundtable Meeting hosted by OSHA’s Office of Federal Agency Programs, and webinars sponsored by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). Dr. Daniels is also an adjunct professor of Chemistry and a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Industrial Hygiene Association.

By the end of this presentation, participants should be able to identify answers to the following questions:

1) Please summarize OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limit and Action Level as defined in the Noise Standard, and what are the employer obligations at each threshold?
2) What sorts of alternatives to hearing protection has OSHA seen, how do you detect these and what is your response? 
3) What is the OSHA minimum on periodic noise assessments or noise monitoring? OSHA is pretty specific on annual hearing testing, but not as specific on how often a noise hazardous environment needs to be re-evaluated. Do you have any recommendations?” 
4) What types of occupational noise exposures are most frequently identified by OSHA during inspections across regulated industries? And what sorts of violations has OSHA seen? 
5) How does OSHA evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of engineering and administrative controls when assessing compliance? Are there any simple sorts of controls that can be recommended. 
6) How should employers evaluate and document the adequacy of hearing protection devices to ensure compliance with attenuation requirements? Is this audited? Would OSHA look at an adequate PAR as evidence? 
7) Could you give a brief overview of what an OSHA inspection looks like and recommendations on how employers could best be prepared.  If deficiencies are identified, what corrective actions does OSHA generally expect employers to take to demonstrate abatement and ongoing compliance?
8) When assessing recordability, what supporting documentation should employers retain? 
9) Which sectors do you see and what are the most common citations? 
10) We recognized that the noise exposed population is also often hearing impaired; how does OSHA deal within the obligation of keeping employees safe? What is OSHAs recommendation for people who wear cochlear implants or hearing aids?

General disclosure: This webinar is not focused on a specific product or service and there will be no or limited information about similar products or services. The subject relates directly to training methods used in hearing conservation programs and does not endorse or recommend specific products.

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2025 Webinars:

Topic: Auracast 101: The Future of Audio Broadcasting

No credits of any kind will be offered for viewing the recorded version of this webinar. 

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When: Oct. 22, 2025 at 2:00pm ET

CEUs: 1-hour Continuing Education (AAA and 0.1 ASHA CEU)

Pricing:
$38 - CAOHC/NHCA members
$50 - Non-members

About the Webinar: In an increasingly connected world, Bluetooth technology plays a critical role in enhancing communication and accessibility for individuals with hearing loss. This comprehensive online course is designed for hearing care professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of Bluetooth’s evolution and its transformative impact on hearing aids.

Participants will explore the history and development of Bluetooth technology, gain insight into the key differences between Classic Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and examine how these protocols are currently used in hearing instruments. The course will culminate with an in-depth look at Auracast™, the next-generation broadcast audio technology poised to revolutionize assistive listening. Attendees will learn how Auracast enables seamless audio sharing in public and private spaces, offering greater inclusion and improved user experiences.

By the end of this course, hearing professionals will be equipped with the knowledge to better counsel patients, make informed technology recommendations, and prepare for the integration of Auracast in clinical and real-world environments.

Presenter: Brandon Rawlings, AuD

Presenter Bio: Dr. Brandon Rawlings has had clinical experience in ENT clinics, private practices, and VA hospitals. Throughout his career he has received multiple awards for his patient care, including being nationally recognized while working at the VA in Temple, Texas. Dr. Rawlings graduated in 2008 from Brigham Young University with his B.S. in Communication Disorders. He then went on to receive his Au.D. from Missouri State in 2012 after completing his externship with a renowned ENT in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Dr. Rawlings is an active member of the American Academy of Audiology as well as the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association. He currently resides in Utah.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:

1.  Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of Bluetooth
2.  Describe how Auracast differs from other types of Bluetooth
3.  Describe how to utilize Auracast
4.  List what manufacturers are currently Auracast compatible

Program Level: Introductory

Satisfactory completion requirement statement: Requirements to satisfactorily complete this webinar and qualify to obtain CEU credits are as follows: 1) learners must be present during the entire presentation. 2) learners must provide answers to the 6 assessment questions with satisfactory results; questions are based on the Learning Outcomes. 3) learners must provide answers to 3 verification questions and a password that will be provided during the presentation. 

Disclosures: Brandon Rawlings, Au.D has no relevant financial or nonfinancial information to disclose.

General disclosure: This webinar is not focused on a specific product or service and there will be no or limited information about similar products or services. The subject relates directly to training methods used in hearing conservation programs and does not endorse or recommend specific products. CAOHC shares the nominal proceeds of this webinar with NHCA. 

Cancellation Policy: Webinar purchases are non-refundable.

Register Here!

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Topic: Tools for Teaching Awareness from the Intersection of Music, Audio and Audiology

No credits of any kind will be offered for viewing the recorded version of this webinar. 

Register Here!
 

When: July 9, 2025 at 2:00pm ET

Continuing Education: 1-hour Continuing Education (AAA and 0.1 ASHA credits)

Pricing:
$38 - CAOHC/NHCA members
$50 - Non-members

About the Webinar: The newly emerging hearing conservation sub-specialty known as “music audiology” addresses the unique needs of musicians and sound engineers as they rely on their highly developed hearing acuity to successfully practice their art/craft. This presentation will introduce attendees to the language, knowledge and mindset of the music and audio industries. By understanding how musicians and audio engineers work with and think about music and sound, hearing science professionals can develop a new set of “tools” for teaching hearing awareness to their patients and clients.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:

1.  Discuss sound and hearing in the language used by practitioners in audio and music.
2.  Describe how modern audiology AND modern audio evolved together, out of the collaborative work of musicians and scientists.
3.  Describe sound and audio systems as they relate to principles of hearing physiology.
4.  List strategies for discussing or presenting about lifestyle and workplace issues related to audiology, audio and music.

Satisfactory completion requirement statement: 

Requirements to satisfactorily complete this webinar and qualify to obtain continuing education credits are as follows: 1) learners must be present during the entire presentation. 2) Learners must provide answers to the 6 assessment questions provided with satisfactory results. 3) To qualify for AAA credits, Learners must provide answers to 3 verification questions and a password that will be provided during the presentation.

Program Level: Introductory

Presenters: Benjamin Kanters 

(Benjamin Kanters, BS/MM, has no relevant financial or nonfinancial information to disclose.)

Presenter Bio: Benj Kanters (BS/MM Northwestern University) is associate professor emeritus of audio, Columbia College Chicago, where he was on the faculty from 1993 to 2022. Prior to Columbia, Benj spent twenty years in the Chicago music scene. He was partner and sound engineer at the concert-club Amazingrace, and later partner and chief managing engineer of Studiomedia Recording in Evanston. In 2007, he founded HearTomorrow and The Hearing Conservation Workshop, teaching his unique flavor of hearing awareness and conservation to students and professionals in audio, music and the hearing sciences. He has presented over 100 workshops in the US, Mexico and Europe and in recognition of his work received the NIOSH Safe in Sound award in 2014.

General disclosure: This webinar is not focused on a specific product or service and there will be no or limited information about similar products or services. The subject relates directly to training methods used in hearing conservation programs and does not endorse or recommend specific products. 

Cancellation Policy: Webinar purchases are non-refundable.

Register Here!

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Topic: Auditory Fitness for Duty

No CEU credits of any kind will be offered for viewing the recorded version of this webinar. 

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When: May 21, 2025 at 2:00pm ET

CEUs: 1-hour CEU (AAA and 0.1 ASHA CEU)

Pricing:
$38 - CAOHC/NHCA members
$50 - Non-members

About the Webinar: Three researchers will review strategies that have been used to assess hearing fitness for duty in occupational and military populations. Presenters will discuss job task analysis as it relates to communication and auditory signals, test development and the concept of functional hearing assessment and how that may differ from tests typically used in hearing conservation programs.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this presentation, the user should be able to:

1.    Describe what constitutes a hearing-critical task.
2.    Discriminate between a hearing threshold test and a functional hearing test.
3.    Identify at least one hearing test that has been used to assess functional hearing performance.

Program Level: Intermediate

Satisfactory completion requirement statement: Requirements to satisfactorily complete this webinar and qualify to obtain CEU credits are as follows: 1) learners must be present during the entire presentation. 2) Learners must provide answers to the 5 assessment questions provided with satisfactory results. 3) To qualify for AAA CEUs, Learners must provide the password that will be provided during the presentation.

Presenters: Douglas Brungart, Ph.D., Odile Clavier, Ph.D., Christian Giguère, Ph.D.

Douglas Brungart, Ph.D.
Dr. Brungart is the Chief Scientist of the National Military Audiology and Speech Pathology Center at Walter Reed. From 1993 to 2009, he was a research engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory with research focusing on advanced auditory displays for spatial and speech information. Since 2009, he has been at Walter Reed focusing on the application of advanced technology to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss and other hearing and speech disorders. He holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Odile Clavier, Ph.D.
Dr. Odile Clavier received her master’s and Ph.D. from Stanford University in the department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Since joining Creare, she has been the Principal Investigator for several biomedical applications. She has led the development of innovative hearing assessment systems, such as the Wireless Automated Hearing Test System for boothless audiometry as well as the open-source TabSINT software which was designed to enable distributed studies of hearing across multiple or remote sites. Dr Clavier continues to innovate in the field of hearing research.

Christian Giguère, Ph.D.
Christian Giguère is Professor in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Ottawa. His research interests include speech communication and warning sound perception, hearing loss prevention, and auditory fitness for duty. Professor Giguère is active in standardization with several national (CSA, ANSI) and international (ISO) technical workgroups on topics related to occupational hearing loss, hearing protection and audiology. He is past president of the Canadian Acoustical Association (CAA) and former co-chair of the International Commission on the Biological Effects of Noise (ICBEN).

Financial Disclosures: None of the three presenters have relevant financial or non-financial information to disclose.

General disclosure: This webinar is not focused on a specific product or service and there will be no or limited information about similar products or services. The subject relates directly to training methods used in hearing conservation programs and does not endorse or recommend specific products. 

Cancellation Policy: Webinar purchases are non-refundable.

Register Here!

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Topic: Silent Solutions: Effective Strategies for Noise Abatement

No CEU credits of any kind will be offered for viewing the recorded version of this webinar. 

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When: March 12, 2025 at 2:00pm ET

CEUs: 1-hour CEU (AAA and 0.1 ASHA CEU)

Pricing:
$38 - CAOHC/NHCA members
$50 - Non-members

About the Webinar: In this webinar, two board certified noise control engineers will discuss effective strategies for evaluating noise sources and reducing noise in the workplace through effective engineering controls. Presenters will discuss:

  1. Hierarchy of noise abatement
  2. Effective noise abatement at the source, pathway, and receiver
  3. Potential costs and cost savings associated with implementing noise abatement strategies in the design phase
  4. Noise abatement materials, what works and what doesn’t
  5. Common errors made when controlling noise and effective remedies.

Moderator: LTC (Ret) J. Andrew Merkley, AuD CCC-A CPS/A

Presenters: Terry Tyson, P.E., INCE Bd. Cert. and David M. Jones, P.E., INCE Bd. Cert.

Terry Tyson is a Principal acoustician with over 30 years of consulting experience in architectural acoustics, mechanical systems noise and vibration control, and environmental noise control. He collaborates with mechanical and electrical engineers on the control of noise from HVAC and other systems in sound critical facilities ranging from concert halls, performing arts centers, and recording studios, to commercial offices and manufacturing facilities. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois, and Board Certified by the Institute of Noise Control Engineers (INCE). 

David Jones is an acoustical engineer who has more than 25 years experience in assisting a wide variety of clients in solving complex technical problems involving noise, sound, and vibration in the environmental, occupational, and architectural sectors. He is board certified by the Institute for Noise Control Engineering and a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.

Learning Objectives: 

  1. Discuss the hierarchy of noise abatement.
  2. Describe effective noise abatement strategies.
  3. Discriminate between effective and non-effective noise abatement strategies.
  4. List effective noise abatement remedies for common noise abatement errors.  

Cancellation Policy: Webinar purchases are non-refundable.

Register Here!

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Additional Past Webinars