Pennsylvania 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
Reciprocity
Whenever the Department of Health determines that another state or jurisdiction has requirements equivalent to or higher than those in effect pursuant to Pennsylvania and that such state or jurisdiction has a program equivalent to or stricter than the program for determining whether applicants are qualified as a hearing aid dealer or fitter, the secretary may issue certificates of endorsement to applicants who hold current, unsuspended, and unrevoked certificates or licenses to sell or fit and sell hearing aids in such other state or jurisdiction.
Temporary Licensure
An applicant who has fulfilled the requirements and who proves to the satisfaction of the Department of Health that he will be supervised and trained by a person who holds a valid fitter's registration certificate may have an apprentice fitter's registration certificate issued to him which shall entitle him to be engaged, under such supervision, in the fitting and selling of hearing aids for the following periods:
Period 1. The trainee shall work for two months under the direct and personal supervision of, and in the same office as the sponsor fitter registrant. During this stage, the trainee may do testing for the proper selection and fitting of hearing aids and make ear impressions, but the final testing and final fitting for sale of a hearing aid must be approved by the sponsor fitter registrant.
Period 2. This training stage lasts for four months or until the time the next examination thereafter is given, whichever is longer. During this time, the trainee may engage in all the activities of a fitter registrant, but shall work under the direct supervision of the sponsor fitter registrant.
These two periods described above shall be completed with no time lapse between periods except as authorized by the Department of Health for justifiable cause shown by the trainee or sponsor or both. On completion of the two periods, the trainee shall take the qualifying examination given by the Department of Health and upon passing that examination, shall receive a fitter's certificate of registration.
If a person who holds an apprentice registration certificate takes and fails to pass the qualifying examination referred to in this section, the secretary may renew the fitter's temporary registration certificates for a period ending 30 days after the conclusion of the next qualifying examination given after the date of renewal.
Continuing Education
The continuing education requirement for renewal of a hearing aid fitter's registration certificate is 20 hours of continuing education credit in the two years.
Audiologist Dispensing
Audiologists who dispense hearing aids must obtain a hearing aid dispensers license, but are not required to take the qualifying examination.
Board Composition
The Advisory Council shall consist of eight individuals appointed by the governor, three of whom shall be hearing aid fitters registered under this act with at least three years' experience in the Commonwealth, one of whom shall be a hearing aid dealer registered under this act with at least three years' experience in the Commonwealth. The remaining four shall consist of a physician certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology specializing in disorders of the ear, an audiologist, and two public members who shall represent the interest of the general public.
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 this website:
Hearing Aid Registration Program Laws and Regulations
Questions regarding state advocacy issues? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.