Continuing Education Requirements for Licensees
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Hearing Instrument Fitters and Dispensers
To renew a hearing instrument fitter and dispenser license, you must complete 20 hours of continuing education during each 2-year license period.
- Continuing education credit is limited to only 10 hours from an online continuing education course
- Continuing education credit is limited to only 5 hours from a manufacturer continuing education provider
Acceptable Activities
Continuing education will be accepted if the education falls into one or more of the following categories:
- Participation in approved continuing education courses offered by approved continuing education providers
- Completion of academic courses at an accredited college or university in areas directly supporting development of skills and competence in the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments (transcripts required)
- Participation or teaching in programs directly related to the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments (e.g., institutes, seminars, workshops, or conferences), which are approved or offered by an accredited college or university
- Publishing a book or article that contributes to your professional competence or advances knowledge regarding the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments (departmental review required). No more than 5 contact hours per license term may be approved for preparation of a publication.
Unacceptable Activities
The department will not approve continuing education credit for the following activities:
- Education incidental to the regular professional activities of a license holder such as knowledge gained through experience or research
- Organization activity such as serving on committees or councils or as an officer in a professional organization
Apprentice Permit
An apprentice permit holder must complete 20 hours of classroom continuing education during the apprentice year. The apprentice must complete the continuing education in one or more of the following approved subjects relating to the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments:
- Basic physics of sound
- Structure and function of hearing instruments
- Fitting of hearing instruments
- Pure tone audiometry, including air conduction testing and bone conduction testing
- Live voice and recorded voice speech audiometry
- Masking when indicated for air conduction, bone conduction, and speech
- Recording and evaluation of audiogram and speech audiometry to determine the candidacy for hearing instruments
- Selection and adaption of hearing instruments, testing of hearing instruments, and verification of aided hearing instrument performance
- Taking of earmold impressions
- Verification of hearing instrument fitting and functional gain measurements using a calibrated system
- Anatomy and physiology of the ear
- Counseling and aural rehabilitation of an individual with a hearing impairment for the purpose of fitting and dispensing hearing instruments
- Use of an otoscope for the visual observation of the entire ear canal
- Laws, rules, and regulations of this state and the United States
- The proper procedures for sound level measurements
Exception: If you have recently taken and passed all three parts of the licensing examination, then you are exempt from the continuing education requirements for the renewal period in which the examination was taken.
Reporting Completed Courses
You do not need to report completed courses to the Deparment, unless requested to do so.
You are responsible for maintaining a record of your continuing education experiences or certificates until the next renewal is completed.
The Department will select a random sample of license holders for each renewal month. If selected for an audit, you will be notified at the time you receive your renewal notice. During an audit, you will be required to submit copies of certificates, transcripts or other documentation to verify your attendance, participation and completion of continuing education requirements.