Mississippi 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 twenty-one (21) years of age or older;
• Have an education equivalent to a four-year course in an accredited high school;
• Have passed a written, practical and state law exam

Reciprocity

An applicant for licensure by reciprocity shall submit to the Department written evidence in form and content satisfactory to the Department:

• That the applicant is currently licensed as a Hearing Aid Specialist under the laws of another state or the District of Columbia.
• That the requirements for said license are equivalent to or greater than those required in this state.
• That said license is in good standing and has not been suspended or revoked.
• That verification of all licenses that have been issued are on file with the Department.
• That the state issuing the current license has a current reciprocity agreement on file with the Department.

Continuing Education

Twenty (20) contact hours to be accrued during the licensing period (July 1 -June 30).

Audiologist Dispensing

Audiologists may dispense under an audiology license.

Board Composition

The Hearing Aid Specialist Council of Advisors shall consist of seven (7) members. The Council makes final licensing decisions and takes disciplinary actions against people who violate licensing laws.

Facilities, Procedures and Instrumentation

Documented evidence in each consumer's record should demonstrate:

• Establishment of consumer's needs for hearing aid amplification. This will include an accurate pure-tone air and bone audiogram and speech tests (SRT and SDS) with headphones.
• Evaluation of the consumer's hearing function after the dispensing of selected aid(s). This will usually be accomplished by aided tests, using speech material and/or other sound (free) field stimuli, or a customer satisfaction statement.

Trial Period

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

Mail Order

Mail order dispensing is not addressed in the law/regulations.

Resources

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

Hearing Aid Specialist Regulations [PDF]

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