Kansas Hearing Aid Dispensing Requirements

The profession of hearing aid dispenser is regulated at the state level and each state maintains its own standards for licensure or registration.

Initial Licensure Requirements

• Be 21 years of age or older
• Have graduated from an accredited high school, or its equivalent
• Have passed a written and practical examination

Reciprocity

The board may issue a license to a person who is currently licensed to practice fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments in another jurisdiction if the board determines that the applicant demonstrates, on forms provided by the board, compliance with the following standards as adopted by the board:

• Continuous licensure to practice fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments during the five years immediately preceding the application with at least the minimum professional experience as established by rules and regulations of the board.
• The absence of disciplinary actions of a serious nature brought by a licensing board or agency of another jurisdiction.

Continuing Education

Each licensee applying for the renewal or reinstatement of a license shall furnish to the executive officer of the board satisfactory evidence that such person has obtained the required number of hours of continuing education as established by rules and regulations of the board in the year just preceding such application for the renewal or reinstatement of the license.

Audiologist Dispensing

Audiologists must obtain an HAD license to dispense hearing aids.

A licensed audiologist employed by a publicly funded school district, a special education cooperative or an education service center while serving preschool through high school age students so long as such organization does not sell hearing aids or accessories thereto and such person performing the fitting in this section does not specifically charge the person fitted a fee for such services is exempt from obtaining an HAD license.

Board Composition

The governor shall appoint a board of examiners of hearing instrument dispensers, consisting of five persons. No person shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the board unless such person is a resident of Kansas. The governor shall appoint three members of such board who are licensed in this state as hearing instrument fitters and dispensers and shall have been engaged in the actual practice of fitting and dispensing hearing instruments in this state continuously for the last five years. The Kansas hearing aid association shall submit the names of three persons licensed in this state as hearing instrument fitters and dispensers and the Kansas speech-language and hearing association shall submit the names of three persons licensed in this state as hearing instrument fitters and dispensers to the governor who shall select at least one member from each list to be on the board with the third member being selected by the governor. The final composition of the board shall include one audiologist who is also licensed as a hearing instrument fitter and dispenser and one hearing instrument fitter and dispenser who is not licensed as an audiologist. The governor shall appoint two members of such board who are individuals not currently engaged in the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing instruments nor have any current or previous affiliation with a fitter and dispenser of hearing instruments. Each member shall be appointed by the governor for terms of three years.

Facilities, Procedures and Instrumentation

Calibration of Audiometric Equipment

• Any audiometric equipment that is used in connection with the sale or fitting of hearing aids in this state shall be calibrated at intervals not exceeding two years.
• Each licensee shall submit to the board written proof of each calibration required in subsection (a) of this rule and regulation within 30 days of the required dates of calibration. Written proof of calibration shall include the following:
  • The name of the owner;
  • The make, model, and serial number of the equipment;
  • The date of calibration;
  • The printed name of the person and company calibrating the equipment;
  • The signature of the person calibrating the equipment; and
  • The name of the licensee submitting proof of calibration.

Trial Period

A hearing aid trial period is not addressed in the law/regulations.

Mail Order

Selling through the mail, courier or delivery service, Internet, telephonically, or electronically hearing instruments without prior fitting and testing by a licensee except for a replacement of a hearing instrument that was previously fitted and tested by a licensee is prohibited.

Resources

The information contained herein was collected and summarized annually. For detailed information on hearing aid dispenser requirements, contact the state board and visit these websites:

Board of Examiners in Fitting and Dispensing Hearing Aids Statute

Board of Examiners in Fitting and Dispensing Hearing Aids Regulations [PDF]

Questions regarding this document? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.