Hear Smarter: Get Certified with EarAware Core & Pro

Welcome to the EarAware Learning Page

The ear is incredible — let’s protect it.

Whether you're a music lover, performer, or sound tech, everyone deserves to know how to keep their hearing safe. That’s why we created two certification levels:

  • EarAware Core – For the general public

  • EarAware Pro – For professionals

EarAware Core Certification

This free, beginner-friendly course (about 1 hour) teaches how your ears work, how loud sound can cause harm, and simple ways to stay protected. Learn through quick videos, short lessons, and a quiz—or try our EarAware Game to earn points, ranks, and badges while you learn!

EarAware Pro Certification

For Professionals: Musicians, Sound Engineers, Audiologists, Venue Staff

The Pro track is a deeper dive designed for those who manage sound for others or who need to be technical advocates for hearing safety. Includes content that may be eligible for CME or CEU credits.

We are working with several educational bodies to offer formal accreditation. Stay tuned 

    • How the ear works (basic anatomy and physiology)

    • Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and the "4K Notch"

    • Hidden Hearing Loss: what it is, why it matters

    • Cochlear Synaptopathy: hearing loss without threshold shift

    • Decibels 101: understanding loudness on a logarithmic scale

    • The Bath Tub Analogy – doubling volume halves the time it takes to “fill” your damage bucket

    • OSHA vs. NIOSH vs. EarAware limits: understanding the 5 dB vs. 3 dB exchange rate

    • What can go wrong: tinnitus, hyperacusis, vertigo, and more

    • Earplugs: how and when to use them

    • How to protect your ears—and others’

    • Why owning and using your own earplugs matters

    • Watch the Core teaching videos or play the game.

    • Read the educational material

    • Pass the EarAware Core Quiz

    • Celebrate—you’re now EarAware Certified!

    • Earn a badge and a NCO Sergeant rank

Partner Spotlight Introducing HELA Certification

Healthy Ears, Limited Annoyance is a major hearing safety initiative based in Europe, focused on music events.
HELA brings together sound engineers, musicians, venue staff, and hearing experts to create a standard for safe listening. They offer two certifications:

HELA Core

For: Venue staff & security
Focus: Simple practices to manage sound levels, reduce complaints, and protect hearing at events. helainitiative.com+11helainitiative.com+11derby.ac.uk+11.

HELA Complete

For: Sound engineers, performers & venue managers
Focus: Deeper training in acoustics, sound safety guidelines, and how to create safer experiences for everyone.

We are working with several educational bodies to offer formal accreditation. Stay tuned!

What You’ll Learn in Pro:

  • How the hearing system works in depth

  • Early signs of hearing damage

  • Sound safety standards and exposure limits

  • How hearing risk varies by age and gender

  • Tools for measuring and managing sound levels

  • How to run sound-safe events and venues

  • Legal and ethical responsibilities in sound management

  • Ways to educate and influence public awareness

  • How to build partnerships for safer soundspaces

  • Insights from the HELA Initiative (UK)

    1. Complete all professional learning modules

    2. Pass the EarAware Pro Quiz

    3. Apply for CME/CEU credit (optional, when available)

    4. Be recognized as an EarAware Pro!

    5. Earn a badge and a Lieutenant Officer rank