North Carolina 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 a person of good moral character
• Be 18 years of age or older
• Have an education equivalent to a four-year course in an accredited high school
• Have passed a written and practical exam.

Reciprocity

Whenever the Board determines that another state or jurisdiction has requirements at least equivalent to those in this state for the fitting and selling of hearing aids, and that such state or jurisdiction has a program at least equivalent to the program for determining whether applicants pursuant to this Chapter are qualified to sell and fit hearing aids, the Board may issue, but is not compelled to issue, licenses to applicants therefor who hold current, unsuspended and unrevoked certificates or licenses to fit and sell hearing aids in such other state or jurisdiction.

Continuing Education

Each licensee shall be required to obtain 10 clock hours of approved continuing education, on an annual basis, as a requirement for license renewal.

Audiologist Dispensing

Audiologists who dispense must obtain an hearing aid dispensers license.

Board Composition

The Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Board shall be composed of seven members. Four members who have been licensed as a Hearing Aid Specialist for at least the preceding three years prior to appointment by the Governor. One member shall be appointed by the Governor who shall be a physician practicing in North Carolina, preferably specializing in the field of otolaryngology. One member, who shall be a person with hearing loss, shall be appointed by the Governor to represent the interest of hearing aid consumers. One member shall be appointed by the Governor to represent the interest of the public at large. This member shall have no ties to the hearing aid business nor shall he be an audiologist.

Facilities, Procedures and Instrumentation

• All audiometers used in the fitting and selling of hearing aids shall have an annual calibration check and be recalibrated, if necessary.
• Whenever any individual applies for issuance or renewal of a license or an apprentice registration certificate, the Board shall require proof of audiometer calibration within the 12 consecutive months preceding such application.

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 Dealers and Fitters Board Laws and Rules

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