implementation of a new profession, here to be called "General Audiologist”. This
professional is seen as the primary contact person for the hearing impaired individuals,
supported by other professional groups already engaged in the provision of audiological
services. It is realised that the conditions for establishing training programs according to the
model proposed in this document may vary considerably among different countries in
Europe, depending on how audiological services are organised within the public health
system and by private organisations. This may obviously effect both the time course of
implementation and the exact curriculum. However, the model described and the contents of
the curriculum presented illustrate the totality of professional competence required to provide
good service for hearing-impaired patients and which need to be provided.

At the meeting in Giessen it was decided to develop a specification, including a description of
professional skills and the contents of a curriculum for a four year training programme for the
General Audiologist. By the end of the Workshop a first draft was ready. Since then it has
been circulated to the EFAS members and revised according to comments received from
national audiology societies. At the EFAS General Assembly in Bordeaux Sept 16, 2001, it
was agreed to accept the proposal in its present shape to be considered as a working model
for the long-term development of the profession of General Audiologists in Europe.

The Council of EFAS and the participants of the workshop are aware that the implementation
of the General Audiologist (GA)
(1) shall not replace but supplement the services of existing hearing health care providers.
(2) has to be accomplished nationally according to the special situation and needs of the
     various European countries. This process may well lead to different realisations of the
     profession in different countries. Either the GA may be developed as a completely new
     profession, or the GA curriculum may be adopted for one of the professional groups
     already active in this field to broaden its scope.
(3) has a long term perspective. For many European countries it is unlikely that it will be
     possible to implement the GA right away, but there is a strong commitment to have the
     GA implemented on a long term run in the European countries for the sake of the hearing
     impaired population.