Akademie für Hörakustik

What Akademie für Hörakustik does

Akademie für Hörakustik (Academy of Hearing Acoustics) is Germany's central education facility for hearing aid professionals, jointly operating Campus Hörakustik in Lübeck with the Federal Vocational School for Hearing Aid Professionals (Bundesoffene Landesberufsschule) since 1972. Operated by the Bundesinnung der Hörakustiker KdöR — a public-law corporation (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) under German craft law supervised by Handwerkskammer Rheinhessen in Mainz — the institution delivers the full hearing acoustics training pathway from vocational apprenticeship through journeyman examination preparation to Master Craftsman certification, alongside continuing professional education. It serves apprentices, journeymen, practicing hearing aid professionals, and international hearing care specialists.

Core offerings include industry-wide dual vocational training (Ausbildung), Master Craftsman preparation courses (full-time 10-month intensive plus part-time online, hybrid, and in-person formats across Lübeck, Cologne, Munich, and Würzburg), continuing education seminars in pediatric acoustics, otoplasty, and CI provision, and the annual International Summer Academy conducted in English under partnership with the Swiss International Hearing Academy (SIHA) of the Sonova Group. Technical infrastructure comprises 12 CARL ear simulators (Germany's first educational deployment, including six pediatric CARLchen units), digital 3D ear scanning via Otoscan, CAD/3D printing for custom earmolds, video otoscopes, and a digital reporting platform. Supporting facilities include a Hearing Aid Museum, on-campus boarding houses, a canteen, and a digital e-learning environment (afh.oncampus.de).

Revenue is generated through course fees for vocational and continuing education programs, with Master Craftsman preparation courses eligible for state-subsidized Meister-BAföG funding contingent on LQW certification (recertified June 2025). The institution also receives public grants, most notably approximately €400,000 over three years from the BMBFSFJ under the INex-ÜBA initiative for the Exzellenz-Campus Hörakustik (ECHA) project developing digital hearing measurement simulators and international cooperation concepts. Distribution occurs through the main Lübeck campus, regional hybrid locations, the e-learning platform, and an online booking portal. Customer segments are primarily horizontal across the German hearing acoustics trade, with international and pediatric-acoustics specializations serving narrower growth niches.

Name

Akademie für Hörakustik

Legal name

Bundesinnung der Hörakustiker KdöR

Website

https://afh-luebeck.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Germany's central public-law educational facility for hearing aid professionals, delivering industry-wide vocational training, Master Craftsman preparation, and continuing education in Lübeck since 1972, with international programs and government-backed digital development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lübeck

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Vocational Training and Education Services: Industry-wide vocational training for hearing aid professionals including inter-company apprenticeship training, journeyman examination preparation, and ongoing professional education.
2. Master Craftsman Preparation Courses: Full-time and part-time courses preparing journeymen for the Master Craftsman examination in hearing acoustics. State-subsidized through Meister-BAföG funding eligibility.
3. Continuing Education Seminars and Workshops: Seminars, workshops, and specialized training programs for hearing acoustics professionals including pediatric acoustics, otoplasty, CI provision, and cerumen management.
4. International Training Programs: English-language training courses for international hearing care professionals, including the International Summer Academy as part of Swiss International Hearing Academy (SIHA) global program.
5. Government Funding and Subsidies: Public funding received from federal and state sources including BMBF funding for Exzellenz-Campus Hörakustik (ECHA) project (nearly 400,000 Euro over three years) and INex-ÜBA initiative for excellent inter-company training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Akademie für Hörakustik is Germany's central vocational education institution for hearing aid acousticians (Hörakustiker), located in Lübeck and operated by the Bundesinnung der Hörakustiker KdöR. Founded in 1972, it delivers the formal apprenticeship training (Ausbildung), Master Craftsman preparation courses (Meistervorbereitung), and continuing professional development (Fortbildungen) required for the regulated hearing aid acoustics trade.

Product overview

Akademie für Hörakustik (Academy of Hearing Acoustics) operates as Germany's central education facility for hearing aid professionals, jointly operated with the Federal Vocational School since 1972. The institution offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational products organized around four core pillars: (1) Vocational Training (Ausbildung) providing industry-wide dual apprenticeship programs with inter-company training and journeyman examination administration; (2) Master Craftsman Preparation (Meistervorbereitung) offering full-time intensive courses (10 months) and flexible part-time formats including online, hybrid, and in-person options across multiple German cities; (3) Advanced Training (Fort- und Weiterbildung) encompassing seminars, workshops, lateral entry programs, and pediatric acoustics specialization; and (4) International Programs including the annual International Summer Academy conducted in English as part of the Swiss International Hearing Academy (SIHA) partnership. Supporting infrastructure includes e-learning via afh.oncampus.de, digital reporting tools, on-site boarding facilities, a hearing aid museum, and the HörHanse research consortium. The institution was recertified under LQW standards in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ausbildung zum Hörakustiker (Hearing Aid Acoustician Apprenticeship Training) Formal dual vocational apprenticeship training for prospective hearing aid acousticians (Hörakustiker), delivered at the academy in Lübeck. The programme combines on-site theoretical and practical instruction with on-the-job training at member Hörakustiker businesses, and prepares candidates for the regulated journeyman examination under the German Handwerksordnung.
• Meistervorbereitung (Master Craftsman Preparation Course) Preparation course for the Master Craftsman examination (Meisterprüfung) in hearing aid acoustics, covering advanced technical, business-management, and pedagogical modules required for the Meisterbrief in the Hörakustikerhandwerk. Designed for qualified journeyman hearing aid acousticians (Hörakustiker-Gesellen) who intend to establish or lead a master hearing aid retail business.
• Fortbildungen (Continuing Professional Development Courses)

Quantifiable outcome

• 531 new hearing aid professionals graduated in summer 2026 (largest graduation in healthcare craft)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• HörHanse e.V.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2025Network of Lübeck institutions pooling expertise in hearing. Founding members: University of Lübeck, TH Lübeck, Musikhochschule Lübeck, UKSH, DHI, hearconcept, Bundesinnung der Hörakustiker, and Campus Hörakustik. Aims to promote hearing health nationally and internationally. Reflects exemplary cooperation between craftsmanship, research, training, and patient care.
• Swiss International Hearing Academy (SIHA) of Sonova GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2025Longstanding cooperation partner. SIHA's global training and advanced education program includes the International Summer Academy at Campus Hörakustik, attracting professionals from multiple countries annually to Lübeck for hearing care training.
• Advanced Arab Academy of Audiovestibular (4A)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 20255 partners: Jordanian Al-Ahliyya Amman University, British Academy of Audiology, Egyptian Audio-Vestibular Medicine Association Group, American Salus University, and Lübeck Academy of Hearing Acoustics. Academy participates in Arab Hearing Health Conference annually, conducting workshops on ear impressions and cerumen management.
• World Health Organization (WHO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024WHO partner organization. Campus Hearing Acoustics contributes to global hearing health goals, sharing expertise internationally. Academy commitment to global knowledge exchange aligns with WHO's hearing care objectives.
• Saudi Arabia PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2022Partnership agreement for professional qualification with Saudi Arabia, promoting international education exchange in hearing acoustics.
• PRYVIT – Hilfe für Tschernobyl-Kinder e.V.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Charity organization inviting Ukrainian children from Chernobyl region for recuperative stays with health checks. Academy provides free hearing screenings annually for approximately 20 children as part of community outreach.
• Bundesoffene Landesberufsschule für Hörakustiker (LBS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1972Federal Vocational School for Hearing Aid Professionals. Since 1972, jointly operates Campus Hörakustik with Academy, organizing industry-wide vocational training through this inter-campus cooperation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bundesoffene Landesberufsschule für Hörakustiker (LBS): LBS is the federal vocational school jointly operating Campus Hörakustik in Lübeck with the Academy since 1972. It delivers the school-based component of hearing aid apprenticeships and is the most directly comparable peer — same profession, same campus, same apprentice cohort.
• Swiss International Hearing Academy (SIHA) — Sonova Group: SIHA is Sonova's global hearing care education program and the Academy's longstanding cooperation partner for the International Summer Academy. SIHA offers comparable international training for hearing care professionals, making it a direct peer in cross-border hearing acoustics education.

Broad incumbents

• GN Hearing (ReSound): GN Hearing operates the ReSound brand and runs its own professional training and certification programs for audiologists and hearing aid dispensers. As a broader incumbent with manufacturer-led education programs, it is a partial substitute/competitor in continuing education.
• Demant A/S (Oticon): Demant is a major global hearing aid manufacturer (Oticon, Bernafon, Sonic) that runs manufacturer-led training programs for hearing care professionals. As a broader incumbent with overlapping educational offerings, it competes for continuing-education mindshare.

Others

• Bundesinnung der Hörakustiker KdöR (biha): The Academy's parent organization and Federal Guild of Hearing Acousticians. As the industry body and operator, biha sets professional standards, advocates for the trade, and funds the Academy — a closely linked but organizationally distinct peer.
• Technische Hochschule (TH) Lübeck: TH Lübeck is a HörHanse e.V. founding member and contributes engineering/technology expertise to the hearing cluster. It represents an adjacent higher-education peer within the same institutional network, with overlapping interest in hearing device technology and training.
• Jade Hochschule — Hearing Technology/Audiology Programs: Jade Hochschule offers applied hearing technology and audiology degree programs in Germany. It represents an alternative university-based pathway into hearing care professions and a partial substitute/competitor for advanced training.
• Universität zu Lübeck — HörHanse e.V. Founder member of HörHanse e.V. alongside the Academy. The university's audiology/medical programs represent an alternative academic pathway into hearing care and a research collaboration peer within the same Lübeck ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Advanced Arab Academy of Audiovestibular (4A): 4A is a consortium including Al-Ahliyya Amman University, the British Academy of Audiology, and the Academy itself. It is an emerging regional training provider in the MENA region with overlapping hearing care curriculum and conference participation, representing both a competitor and partner in international hearing education.

Regional players

• Handwerkskammer Rheinhessen: The supervisory Handwerkskammer for the Academy's parent guild. It administers Meisterprüfung procedures and craft-trade qualifications across the Rheinhessen region, making it a regional institutional peer in the German Handwerk vocational education ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/akademie-f%C3%BCr-h%C3%B6rakustik
• Instagraminstagram.com/afh_luebeck

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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