Utah 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 of good moral character
- Have successfully completed 4,000 hours of practice as a hearing instrument intern within the state under supervision by a supervising hearing instrument specialist or an equivalent as approved by the division; or demonstrate successful practice for the equivalent of two years of full-time practice as a licensed hearing instrument specialist in another state requiring licensure and practice in conformity with defined lawful and professional standards of practice
- Have qualified for and currently hold board certification by the National Board for Certification - Hearing Instrument Sciences, or an equivalent certification approved by the division in collaboration with the board
- Have passed a written and practical exam
Reciprocity
Licensing reciprocity is not addressed in the law/regulations.
Continuing Education
A minimum of 20 contact hours shall be obtained by a hearing instrument specialist in order to have the license renewed every two years.
Audiologist Dispensing
Audiologists may dispense under an audiology license
Board Composition
The Hearing Instrument Specialist Licensing Board consisting of three licensed hearing instrument specialists and two members of the general public.
Facilities, Procedures and Instrumentation
The minimum components of a hearing aid examination are the following:
- Air conduction tests at frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hertz;
- Appropriate masking if the air conduction threshold at any one frequency differs from the bone conduction threshold of the contralateral or nontest ear by 40 decibels at the same frequency;
- Bone conduction tests at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hertz on every client with proper masking;
- Speech audiometry by live voice or recorded voice, including speech discrimination testing, most comfortable loudness (MCL) measurements and measurements of uncomfortable levels of loudness (UCL); and
- Recording and interpretation of audiograms and speech audiometry and other appropriate tests for the sole purpose of determining proper selection and adaptation of a hearing aid.
Any audiometer used in the fitting of hearing aids shall be calibrated when necessary, but not less than annually; the calibration shall include to ANSI standards calibration of frequency accuracy, acoustic output, attenuator linearity, and harmonic distortion; and calibration shall be accomplished by the manufacturer, or a properly trained person, or an institution of higher learning equipped with proper instruments for calibration of an audiometer.
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 Instrument Specialist Law [PDF]
Hearing Instrument Specialist Regulations [PDF]
Questions regarding this document? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.