Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
(1) In order to apply for a hearing aid apprentice permit, the applicant shall:
(a) Submit an Application for a Hearing Aid Apprenticeship Permit and the required fee;
(b) Submit a "Statement of Supervision" from the licensed Georgia hearing aid dispenser who will supervise the apprentice permit holder's practice;
(c) Submit a "Statement of Supervision" from the licensed Georgia hearing aid dealer who will employ the apprentice permit holder, supervise the apprentice permit holder and who can attest that the applicant is capable of making the tests and applying the techniques required to dispense hearing aids in accordance with OCGA 43-20;
(d) Submit proof of age as confirmed in a secure and verifiable document, as defined in Code Section 50-36-2;
(e) Submit proof of passage of the practical portion of the examination required for a license to dispense hearing aids.
(2) Upon approval of the application, a non-renewable apprentice permit will be issued for a period of one (1) year. A non-renewable, one-year apprentice permit allows the permit holder to practice while in an apprenticeship and under the supervision of a licensed dispenser.
(a) The applicant may request delay in issuance of the apprentice permit for good cause shown, and the granting, or denial, of such request is within the discretion of the Board. The holder of an apprentice permit may request a stay of the effective period of the permit for good cause shown, and the granting, or denial, of such request is within the discretion of the Board.
(b) Every apprentice permit holder shall be approved to sit for the next available written exam and every subsequent scheduled examination until all sections of the written exam are passed, or the permit expires or is revoked by the Board. The board shall have the power to revoke a permit without a hearing if the holder of an apprentice dispenser permit fails to pass the written portion of the examination on two occasions.
(3) An apprentice permit holder shall be at all times the permit is in force in an "apprenticeship" under the indirect supervision of a Georgia licensed hearing aid dispenser. Adequate supervision by a Georgia licensed hearing aid dispenser shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Indirect supervision means the Georgia licensed hearing aid dispenser responsible for the apprentice permit holder's supervision is, at a minimum, accessible by telephone during working hours and must be readily available to the apprentice permit holder for direction, guidance and instruction;
(b) The supervising Georgia licensed hearing aid dispenser shall be in face-to-face contact for a minimum of eight (8) hours during the apprentice permit holder's work week. The onsite contacts shall include, but are not be limited to, a documented review by the supervisor of all paperwork prepared, and the direct observation of testing procedures by the apprentice permit holder;
(c) Both supervisors and supervisees are required to maintain a contemporaneous record of the date, duration and a brief summary of the pertinent activity for each supervision session to be submitted to the Board upon request. At any time the Board has the right to request documentation of supervision.
(d) While under indirect supervision of a Georgia licensed hearing aid dispenser, an apprentice permit holder may engage in the practice of dispensing of hearing aid devices.
(4) There may be no more than two (2) apprentice permit holders under a supervising Georgia licensed hearing aid dispenser at any given time. Apprentice permit holders must cause a current supervising Georgia licensed hearing aid dispenser to submit to the Board in writing that they are no longer the apprentice permit holder's supervisor, and the reason for the disassociation in order for an apprentice permit holder to obtain a new supervising Georgia licensed hearing aid dispenser.
(5) All apprentice permit holders must be identified as such by name tags. Dealers employing apprentice permit holders shall post office signage indicating apprentice permit holders are present and may be involved in the fitting and dispensing of hearing aid devices.
O.C.G.A. §§
43-20-3, 43-20-6, 43-20-9 and 43-20-11.
