Oklahoma 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 at least eighteen (18) years of age
• Be of good moral character
  A criminal record shall not in itself bar an applicant from licensing, but evidence of such record may be considered along with other information in determining whether or not the applicant is of good moral character.
• Have an education equivalent to a four-year course in an accredited high school
• Have passed a written and practical exam

Reciprocity

Whenever the Commissioner determines that another state or jurisdiction has requirements equivalent to or higher than those in effect pursuant to these regulations, and that such state or jurisdiction has a program equivalent to or stricter than the program for determining whether applicants pursuant to these regulations are qualified to dispense and fit hearing aids, the Commissioner may issue a license to applicants who hold current, unsuspended and unrevoked certificates or licenses to fit and sell hearing aids in such other state or jurisdiction.

Continuing Education

Each applicant for renewal of a hearing aid dealer or fitter license must submit written evidence showing he/she has completed ten (10) clock hours of continuing education, completed during the previous year and pertaining to the hearing sciences, as approved by the National Institute of Hearing Instruments Studies or an equivalent; or have had the curriculum approved by the Department.

Audiologist Dispensing

Audiologists may dispense under an audiology license.

Board Composition

The Hearing Aid Advisory Council shall consist of seven (7) members consisting of four hearing aid dealers and fitters, one otolaryngologist who is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology or is eligible for such certification, one audiologist and one lay member.

Facilities, Procedures and Instrumentation

All hearing tests shall include both air-conduction and bone conduction threshold measurements except in the case of a re-test when there is less than a fifteen (15) dB loss between the current air-conduction threshold and the previous air-conduction threshold and the previous tests showed the loss to be sensorineural.

All instruments used to measure thresholds shall be annually certified to meet American National Standard Specifications for Audiometer. In addition, some form of live voice or recorded voice testing must be made to obtain at least a subjective evaluation of the individual's ability to discriminate. In the case of live voice testing, the tests should be run without visual cue.

Hearing testing for the purpose of fitting hearing aids shall not be conducted where ambient noise levels exceed 45 dB measured on a slow weighted dB (a) scale. If the testing environment exceeds 45 dB, the testing shall be considered a "Hearing Screening" and shall not be utilized to determine the auditory thresholds in the selection of a hearing aid unless a qualified waiver is executed by the person supplied with a hearing aid.

Trial Period

30 days from date of delivery.

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 these websites:

Hearing Aid Dealer and Fitter Statute [PDF]

Hearing Aid Dealer and Fitter Regulations [PDF]

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