Current through April 3, 2024
All applicants for licensure as a hearing instrument specialist
or for registration as an apprentice hearing instrument specialist must
successfully complete the applicable examinations described in this rule. All
other requirements for licensure or registration must be successfully completed
before the Council will approve an applicant to take the examinations.
(1) Hearing Instrument Specialist
(a) Written Examination - The Council adopts
as its written licensure examination the International Hearing Society's
examination or its successor examination.
1.
The passing score shall be the overall passing score as determined by the
International Hearing Society.
2.
If the applicant is currently licensed or has been licensed in another state as
a hearing instrument specialist, the applicant shall direct the National Board
for Certification in Hearing Instruments Sciences to submit evidence that he is
currently certified by the NBC-HIS or the applicant shall direct the IHS to
submit documentation that he has passed the written examination as provided in
this rule.
(b) Practical
Skills Examination - Successful completion of the written examination
requirements must be accomplished before the Council will approve an applicant
to take the practical skills examination. The Council adopts as its practical
skills examination the International Hearing Society's practical skills
examination or its successor examination.
1.
All applicants will be required to demonstrate knowledge in audiogram
interpretation, advanced audiometric techniques, and earmold impression
technique.
2. Applicants may be
required to bring the following to the practical skills examination:
(i) An audiometer, audiogram forms, and proof
of the audiometer's current calibration; and
(ii) An otoscope; and
(iii) All materials needed to make an ear
impression; and
(iv) Equipment
needed to program, troubleshoot, or modify hearing instruments and ear molds;
and
(v) Red and blue ink pens;
and
(vi) An individual to be the
subject for the ear impression and the hearing test.
3. The passing score shall be the overall
passing score as determined by the International Hearing Society.
(c) Jurisprudence Examination
1. Applicants will be tested on their
knowledge of the HIS statute, Title 63, Chapter 17 of the T.C.A., and Council
rules and regulations.
2. The
passing score shall be a minimum of seventy percent (70%).
(2) Fees - Initial and retake
examination fees, pursuant to Rule
1370-02-.06, must be
received in the Council's Administrative Office prior to the examination date,
except as provided in Paragraph (4).
(3) Examination Retakes and Limitations
(a) An applicant who fails any section of
either the written examination or the practical skills examination will be
retested in the section(s) failed only.
(b) On or before the thirtieth
(30th) day from receipt of the examination results,
the applicant shall submit to the Council his retake fee. Failure to do so will
result in the application file being closed. If closed, no further Council
action will take place until a new application is received pursuant to the
rules governing the application process, including payment of all
fees.
(c) After three (3) failures
of the written or practical skills examinations, the applicant must wait for
twelve (12) months before sitting for a retake. During these twelve (12)
months, the applicant must receive training assistance from a Tennessee
licensed hearing instrument specialist. Within ninety (90) days of the
applicant's notification of the third (3rd)
examination failure, the applicant must notify the Council in writing of the
name of the Tennessee licensed hearing instrument specialist who will provide
the training.
(4)
Examination Proctors
(a) The Council, or its
designated representatives, shall administer all examinations. The Council
shall take any actions necessary to insure impartiality.
(b) Any Council member administering the
practical skills examination may elect to recuse himself from administering the
practical skills examination to a particular applicant.
(c) Any applicant taking the practical skills
examination may, upon written request, have a Council member recused from
administering such applicant's practical skills examination. The written
request of the applicant should be received in the Council's Administrative
Office at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled examination.
(5) Examination Dates and Sites -
The location of the examinations shall be designated in advance by the Council
and such shall be held not less than annually at such time and place as
specified by the Council, if there are applicants eligible for the
examinations. Examinations shall be given at other times as, in the opinion of
the Council, the number of applicants warrants.
(6) Examination Results - Examination results
will be mailed to the applicant. Results are not provided by telephone,
facsimile, or e-mail.
Authority: T.C.A. §§
4-5-202,
4-5-204,
63-17-105,
63-17-201, 63-17-203, 63-17-208, 63-17-209, and 63-17-210.
