Wisconsin 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 18 years of age or older
• Does not have an arrest or conviction record
• Have an education equivalent to a 4-year course in an accredited high school
• Have passed a written and practical exam.

Reciprocity

Whenever the examining board determines that another state or jurisdiction has requirements equivalent to or higher than those in effect in the state for the practice of fitting and selling hearing aids, and that such state or jurisdiction has a program equivalent to or stricter than the program for determining whether applicants in this state are qualified to fit and sell hearing aids, the department may issue a license by reciprocity to applicants who hold valid licenses to deal in or fit hearing aids in such other state or jurisdiction.

Continuing Education

A licensee shall submit with the renewal application proof that he or she completed, within the 2 years immediately preceding the date of his or her application, 20 hours of continuing education programs.

Audiologist Dispensing

Audiologists may dispense under an audiology license.

Board Composition

The Hearing and Speech Examining Board shall consist of three hearing instrument specialists, one otolaryngologist, two audiologists, and two speech-language pathologists.

Facilities, Procedures and Instrumentation

Audiometric equipment used in the evaluation of hearing sensitivity for the fitting and sale of hearing aids shall be calibrated periodically.

The procedures accepted by the board for the measurement of human hearing by licensees and trainees comprise:

• Pure tone audiometry, including air conduction testing and bone conduction testing.
• Speech audiometry by live voice, or recorded voice, including speech reception threshold, speech discrimination testing, and most comfortable loudness measurements and loudness discomfort levels.
• Appropriate masking when indicated.
• Recording and interpretation of audiograms and speech audiometry to determine proper selection and adaptation of hearing instruments.

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 these websites:

Hearing Instrument Specialist Law

Hearing Instrument Specialist Regulations

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