Apply for a Hearing Instrument Fitter and Dispenser License
Eligibility
To apply for a Hearing Instrument Fitter and Dispenser License, you must first have completed an apprenticeship under the supervision of a licensed individual.
You must also have completed 20 hours of classroom continuing education in approved subject matter during the one year apprentice permit timeframe.
Out-of-State Applicants
If you currently hold a Hearing Instrument Fitters and Dispensers License in good standing from another state, please see the information for out-of-state applicants page.
Apply for a Hearing Instrument Fitter and Dispenser License
Complete and submit a license application (Apply Online or see Hearing Instrument Fitter and Dispenser Application PDF) with the $205 fee, and submit all additional required documentation (see below), including completing the fingerprinting process.
A hearing instrument fitter and dispenser license is valid for two years from the date of issuance and may be renewed every two years.
Required Documentation
Please include the following documents with your application:
- Employer’s Surety Bond or Other Acceptable Form of Financial Security
- A sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity engaged in the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments shall file with TDLR a surety bond or other acceptable form of financial security in the amount of $10,000.
- The detailed requirements regarding the surety bond and the other acceptable forms of financial security are found in the statute at Occupations Code §402.404, Surety Bonding and in the rules at 16 TAC §112.60, Filing Surety Bond or Other Form of Financial Security. Additional information is found in the Frequently Asked Questions.
- The surety bond must be completed using TDLR’s Surety Bond Formor it must contain the required obligations and conditions included in TDLR’s Surety Bond Form.
- The applicant’s employer (the entity engaged in the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments) may submit a surety bond or other acceptable form of financial security to TDLR directly or may provide the applicant with a surety bond or other acceptable form of financial security to be submitted with the license application.
- A Certificate Of Calibration, completed within the last year, for each audiometer used by the licensee, both portable and stationary
Fingerprinting
All new applicants must submit fingerprints for a national criminal history record review. The applicant is responsible for paying the fee associated with this review to the fingerprint service vendor used by Texas Department of Public Safety.
Once your completed application is received by TDLR, instructions on how to schedule an appointment to be fingerprinted will be emailed to you. Be sure your email address is current and legible to receive the fingerprinting information.
To be eligible for licensing, you must successfully pass a criminal history background check.
Applicants with Criminal Convictions
If you have ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor (other than a minor traffic violation) or pleaded guilty or no contest (resulting in a deferred adjudication) to any in-state, out-of-state or federal criminal offense, you must provide a completed Criminal History Questionnaire (PDF) along with your application materials.
The department will conduct a criminal history background check on all persons who apply for a hearing instrument fitter and dispenser license. Criminal convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Licenses may be denied based on the nature of the conviction and how long prior to the application the conviction occurred. Depending on your criminal history, a review can take from one to six weeks to complete.
Individuals may request TDLR review their criminal background before actually applying for a license. TDLR uses the same process for this pre-application evaluation as the process described below. See the Criminal History Evaluation Letter page for more information.
Please see the Guidelines for License Applicants with Criminal Convictions, which describe the process that TDLR uses to determine whether a criminal conviction renders an applicant an unsuitable candidate for the license, or whether a conviction warrants revocation or suspension of a license previously granted.
