CAOHC Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the CAOHC exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

📋 CAOHC Exam Format at a Glance

Questions

75 min

Time Limit

70%

Passing Score

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📚 CAOHC Topics to Study (61)

Medical Referral Criteria and Follow-up · 7 cards Medical Referral Criteria and Follow-up · 7 cards Medical Referral Criteria and Follow-up · 7 cards Audiogram Review and STS · 6 cards Audiogram Review and STS · 6 cards CAOHC Audiometric Booth and Equipment Calibration · 6 cards CAOHC Audiometric Booth and Equipment Calibration · 6 cards Audiometric Testing Procedures · 6 cards Audiometric Testing Procedures · 6 cards CAOHC Communication Strategies for Hearing-Impaired Workers · 6 cards CAOHC Communication Strategies for Hearing-Impaired Workers · 6 cards Physics of Sound and Anatomy 1 · 6 cards Federal Regulations and Standards · 6 cards Federal Regulations and Standards · 6 cards CAOHC - Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation Hearing Conservation Program Administration Questions and Answers · 6 cards CAOHC - Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation Hearing Conservation Program Administration Questions and Answers · 6 cards Hearing Conservation Programs · 6 cards Hearing Conservation Programs · 6 cards Hearing Protection Device Fitting · 6 cards Hearing Protection Device Fitting · 6 cards Hearing Protection Devices · 6 cards Hearing Protection Devices · 6 cards Noise Measurement and Control · 6 cards Noise Measurement and Control · 6 cards Occupational Hearing Loss · 6 cards Occupational Hearing Loss · 6 cards CAOHC OSHA Noise Standard Compliance · 6 cards CAOHC OSHA Noise Standard Compliance · 6 cards CAOHC Ototoxic Agents and Chemical Exposures · 6 cards CAOHC Ototoxic Agents and Chemical Exposures · 6 cards

See all 61 topics as flashcards →

✍️ Sample CAOHC Questions & Answers

1. What is the purpose of masking in audiometric testing?

✓ To prevent the non-test ear from responding to signals presented to the test ear

Masking introduces noise to the non-test ear to eliminate cross-hearing, ensuring that thresholds measured truly represent the test ear sensitivity.

2. A company is acquired by a new owner. What is the successor employer's responsibility regarding the audiometric records and baseline audiograms from the previous owner?

✓ They must receive and retain the records, continuing to use the established baselines for STS comparison.

According to OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.95(m)(5), when an employer ceases business, they must transfer all required records to the successor employer. The successor employer is then required to retain these records and should continue to use the established baseline audiograms for comparison unless there is a valid reason to question their accuracy.

3. What is the primary role of a CAOHC-certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (OHC)?

✓ To conduct audiometric testing and assist in administering hearing conservation programs

OHCs conduct pure tone audiometric testing and assist with HCP administration under the supervision of a licensed audiologist or physician.

4. What is the OSHA-defined standard threshold shift (STS)?

✓ An average shift of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz in either ear

OSHA defines STS as an average change of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz in either ear compared to the baseline audiogram.

5. Under OSHA, how must hearing loss be recorded on the OSHA 300 Log?

✓ When an STS is confirmed and the average hearing level at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz reaches 25 dB or more

OSHA recording criteria require both a confirmed STS AND an average hearing level of 25 dB HL or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz.

6. What is OSHA's definition of a Standard Threshold Shift (STS)?

✓ An average change of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz in either ear

OSHA defines STS as an average shift of 10 dB or more at the frequencies of 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz in either ear relative to the baseline audiogram. This specific definition focuses on the frequencies most affected by occupational noise.

🎯 Free CAOHC Practice Tests

Medical Referral Criteria and Follow-up · 7 questions Medical Referral Criteria and Follow-up · 7 questions Medical Referral Criteria and Follow-up · 7 questions Federal Regulations and Standards · 6 questions Federal Regulations and Standards · 6 questions Recordkeeping and Program Management · 6 questions Noise Measurement and Control · 6 questions Hearing Conservation Programs · 6 questions Hearing Protection Devices · 6 questions Worker Training and Education · 6 questions

📖 CAOHC Guides & Articles

Your CAOHC Study Path

1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation

🃏 CAOHC Flashcards (365)🏆 CAOHC Exam Simulation

What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for CAOHC

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A timed, full-length CAOHC mock exam — 50 questions in 75 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
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Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
A printable CAOHC cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
CAOHC flashcards built from the same question bank.
Free CAOHC practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.

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