License: Hearing Aid Specialist

MS State Dept. of Health Office of Licensure Professional Licensure Division external site

P.O. Box 1700

Jackson, MS 39215-1700

(601) 364-7360

General terms and definitions: 1. Board means the Mississippi State Board of Health. 2. License includes a temporary or regular license. 3. Hearing aid shall mean any wearable instrument or device designed for or offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing and any parts, attachments or accessories, including ear molds, but excluding such things as telephone devices, batteries and cords. 4. Hearing aid specialist means an individual licensed by the board to engage in the practice of dispensing and fitting hearing aids. 5. Practice of dispensing and fitting hearing aids means the evaluation or measurement of powers or range of human hearing by means of an audiometer and the consequent selection or adaptation or sale of hearing aids intended to compensate for hearing loss, including the making of an impression of the ear. 6. Sell or sale means any transfer of title or of the right to use by lease, bailment or any other contract, excluding wholesale transactions with distributors or dealers. 7. Abandonment: An application shall be deemed abandoned by the Department if, after six (6) months from the date of filing, the requirements for licensure have not been completed to the satisfaction of the Department. Licensure Requirements: An applicant for licensure shall submit to the Department written evidence in form and content satisfactory to the Department that the applicant: 1. is twenty-one (21) years of age or older; 2. minimally, has an education equivalent to a four-year course in an accredited high school; 3. has passed an examination approved by the Department; and 4. has paid the required fee(s). Examination: Examinations will be administered quarterly on the third Wednesday of January, April, July, and October. The exam consists of three (3) sections: a written exam, a practical exam, and a state law exam. Written exam scores from other jurisdictions are considered valid for twelve (12) months from the date of examination if the exam is the same as the one used by this jurisdiction. 1. Applicants who fail one or more sections of the initial exam are required to re-test failed sections on the subsequent exam in the following manner: a. Written examination section - Retake the entire section. b. Mississippi Law section - Retake the entire section. c. Practical examination section - requires retesting of each failed subsection only. 2. Applicants are limited to two (2) attempts (1 test and the subsequent re-test) to successfully complete the examination. After an unsuccessful retest to complete the licensure examination, the applicant must take the entire examination at his next sitting with the exception of those applicants who satisfy Rule 6.4.2(2)(a) of these regulations. 3. The examinations, written/oral/practical, under this section shall not include questions requiring a medical or surgical education. It is the intent of this section that the exams administered under this chapter be of such a level as to provide, that at a minimum, an individual having a high school level education or its equivalent, and with appropriate study, training and supervision under the direction of a licensee deemed qualified by Subchapter 10 of these regulations, should be able to pass. 4. The practical portion of the examination shall include the following areas of proficiency: a. Pre-test procedure b. Pure tone air conduction and masking c. Pure tone bone conduction and masking d. Speech audiometry and masking e. Ear Impressions f. Audiogram Interpretation and Fitting g. Trouble shooting hearing aids Licensure by Reciprocity: 1. An applicant for licensure by reciprocity shall submit to the Department written evidence in form and content satisfactory to the Department: a. That the applicant is currently licensed as a Hearing Aid Specialist under the laws of another state or the District of Columbia. b. That the requirements for said license are equivalent to or greater than those required in this state as set forth in Rule 6.4.2 of these regulations. c. That said license is in good standing and has not been suspended or revoked. d. verification of all licenses that have been issued are on file with the Department. e. the state issuing the current license has a current reciprocity agreement on file with the Department. 2. Applicants who have complaints pending against them in another state will not be granted a Mississippi license until such complaints are resolved and resolution validated by the initial licensing agency. 3. Any person making application for licensure under the provisions of this section may, at the discretion of the Department, be required to pass an examination selected by the Department. Temporary Licensure 1. A temporary license may be granted to an applicant for licensure meeting the requirements of the applicable regulations who has not previously applied to take the approved examination. 2. The Department may issue a temporary license to applicants meeting the requirements of the applicable regulations, which shall entitle the applicant to practice the fitting and dispensing of hearing aids for a period ending thirty (30) days after the conclusion of the next examination given after the minimum ninety (90) day training period has elapsed. 3. No temporary license shall be issued by the Department under this section unless the applicant shows to the satisfaction of the Department that he is or will be supervised and trained by a person who holds a current Mississippi license and meets the supervisory requirements of applicable regulations. 4. The first regularly scheduled examination after the minimum ninety (90) day training period must be taken by the temporary licensee or the temporary license shall not be renewed, except for good cause shown to the satisfaction of the Department. 5. If a person who holds a temporary license issued under this section fails to pass the next examination given after the minimum ninety (90) day training period, the Department may renew the temporary license for a period ending thirty (30) days after the date of renewal is announced. 6. In no event shall more than one (1) renewal be permitted. Out-of-State Licensure: 1. A person who holds a license or temporary license to practice as a hearing aid specialist in this state but whose principal place of business is not in this state shall certify to the Department that they will: a. display their Mississippi license while conducting business in Mississippi; b. and make all records regarding clients who are residents of Mississippi available to the licensing authority within seventy-two (72) hours of receiving such a request in writing; c. and retain all records of fittings by the dealer for a period of three (3) years. License Required: No person shall engage in the sale or practice of dispensing and fitting hearing aids or display a sign or in any other way advertise or hold himself out as a person who practices the dispensing and fitting of hearing aids unless he holds a current, unsuspended, unrevoked license issued by the Department, or is exempted pursuant to applicable regulations, or by statute. Production and Display of License: A person licensed as a Hearing Aid Specialist in Mississippi shall keep said license conspicuously posted in his office or place of business at all times. The licensee shall carry the "License Identification Card" at all times when providing services and show said identification card when requested. Renewal of License: The Department shall issue licenses which shall be renewed biennially. The licensure period shall be construed as July 1 through June 30.