New Jersey Licensing Requirements for Hearing Aid Dispensers

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 of good moral character
• be 18 years of age or older
• have received training
• proof of completion of a minimum of six months continuous or interrupted training within a 24-month period;
• proof of successful completion of a college curriculum in hearing aid selection and fitting approved by the Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee and/or the Commission on Higher Education; or
• proof of successful completion of a master's degree in audiology from an ASHA-accredited college or university after January 1, 1993.
• have passed a written and practical exam

Reciprocity

Whenever the Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee determines that another state or jurisdiction has requirements equivalent to or higher than those in this state for the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids, and that such state or jurisdiction has a program equivalent to or stricter than the program for determining whether applicants are qualified to dispense and fit hearing aids, the Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee may issue certificates of endorsement to applicants who hold current, unsuspended, and unrevoked certificates or licenses to dispense and fit hearing aids in such other state or jurisdiction. The holder of a certificate of endorsement shall be registered in the same manner as holders of a license.

Temporary Licensure

Training Permit

No trainee shall be permitted to sell, fit, or dispense hearing aids or to engage in the potential fitting or dispensing of hearing aids except in the same office or business location of his or her sponsor and in the physical presence of the sponsor.

The training shall consist of the following:

• 40 hours of training with an audiometer;
• 160 hours of hearing aid dispensing procedures, including the taking of earmold impressions, the alteration of earmolds and hearing aids, and application and fitting techniques;
• reading all the books and articles relating to hearing aid dispensing specified in a list formulated by the Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee.

Temporary License

The Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee may issue a temporary license to an applicant provided he or she has not previously held a training permit or has not previously taken the licensing examination. A temporary license shall not be renewed when an applicant has failed the licensing examination, except on showing of good cause (such as illness or emergency precluding the taking of the examination.)

A temporary licensee shall spend a minimum of 20 days in the office or business location of his or her sponsor within any 60-day period.

No temporary licensee shall complete a sale of hearing aids without the physical presence of his or her sponsor, and without obtaining the sponsor's signature on the purchase agreement.

Continuing Education

Evidence of 20 documented course hours of continuing education shall be required of each applicant as a condition of biennial license renewal.

Audiologist Dispensing

Audiologists who dispense hearing aids must obtain a hearing aid dispensers license.

Board Composition

The Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee consists of seven members, six of whom are to be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The seventh member shall be the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, ex officio, or his designated representative. Three members of the Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee shall be qualified hearing aid dispensers for a period of at least three years and shall hold certification from the National Hearing Aid Society or its equivalent. All hearing aid dispenser members shall be holders of a valid license. One member of the Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee shall be a physician and diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology. One member shall be a clinical audiologist and hold certification from ASHA and one member shall be a public member to represent the interests of the general public.

Trial Period

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

Mail Order/Internet Sales

Mail order dispensing and Internet sales are 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 these websites:

Hearing Aid Dispenser Laws [PDF]

Hearing Aid Dispenser Regulations [PDF]

Questions regarding state advocacy issues? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.