Virginia Administrative Code
Title 18 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING
Agency 80 - BOARD FOR HEARING AID SPECIALISTS AND OPTICIANS
Chapter 20 - HEARING AID SPECIALISTS REGULATIONS
Part II - Entry Requirements
Section 18VAC80-20-30 - Basic qualifications for licensure
Universal Citation: 8 VA Admin Code 80-20-30
Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024
A. Every applicant for a license shall provide information on his application establishing that:
1. The applicant is at least 18 years of
age.
2. The applicant has
successfully completed high school or a high school equivalency
course.
3. The applicant has
training and experience that covers the following subjects as they pertain to
hearing aid fitting and the sale of hearing aids, accessories, and services:
a. Basic physics of sound;
b. Basic maintenance and repair of hearing
aids;
c. The anatomy and physiology
of the ear;
d. Introduction to
psychological aspects of hearing loss;
e. The function of hearing aids and
amplification;
f. Visible disorders
of the ear requiring medical referrals;
g. Practical tests utilized for selection or
modification of hearing aids;
h.
Pure tone audiometry, including air conduction, bone conduction, and related
tests;
i. Live voice or recorded
voice speech audiometry, including speech reception threshold testing and
speech discrimination testing;
j.
Masking when indicated;
k.
Recording and evaluating audiograms and speech audiometry to determine the
proper selection and adaptation of hearing aids;
l. Taking earmold impressions;
m. Proper earmold selection;
n. Adequate instruction in proper hearing aid
orientation;
o. Necessity of proper
procedures in after-fitting checkup; and
p. Availability of social service resources
and other special resources for the hearing impaired.
4. The applicant has provided one of the
following as verification of completion of training and experience as described
in subdivision 3 of this subsection:
a. A
statement on a form provided by the board signed by the licensed sponsor
certifying that the requirements have been met; or
b. A certified true copy of a transcript of
courses completed at an accredited college or university, or other notarized
documentation of completion of the required experience and training.
5. The applicant has not been
convicted or found guilty of any crime directly related to the practice of
fitting or dealing in hearing aids, regardless of the manner of adjudication,
in any jurisdiction of the United States. Except for misdemeanor marijuana
convictions and misdemeanor convictions that occurred five or more years prior
to the date of application, with no subsequent convictions, all criminal
convictions shall be considered as part of the totality of the circumstances of
each applicant. The applicant review of prior convictions shall be subject to
the requirements of §
54.1-204
of the Code of Virginia. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a
conviction for purposes of this subdivision. The record of a conviction
authenticated in such form as to be admissible in evidence under the laws of
the jurisdiction where convicted shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of
such conviction or guilt.
6. The
applicant is in good standing as a licensed hearing aid specialist in every
jurisdiction where licensed. The applicant must disclose if he has had a
license as a hearing aid specialist that was suspended, revoked, or surrendered
in connection with a disciplinary action or that has been the subject of
discipline in any jurisdiction prior to applying for licensure in Virginia. At
the time of application for licensure, the applicant must also disclose any
disciplinary action taken in another jurisdiction in connection with the
applicant's practice as a hearing aid specialist. The applicant must also
disclose whether he has been previously licensed in Virginia as a hearing aid
specialist.
7. The applicant has
disclosed his physical address. A post office box is not acceptable.
8. The nonresident applicant for a license
has filed and maintained with the department an irrevocable consent for the
department to serve as service agent for all actions filed in any court in
Virginia.
9. The applicant has
submitted the required application with the proper fee as referenced in
18VAC80-20-70 and
signed, as part of the application, a statement that the applicant has read and
understands Chapter 15 (§
54.1-1500 et seq.) of
Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia and this chapter.
B. The board may make further inquiries and investigations with respect to the qualifications of the applicant or require a personal interview or both. The board may refuse initial licensure due to the applicant's failure to comply with entry requirements. The licensee is entitled to a review of such action. Appeals from such actions shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Process Act, Chapter 40 (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Statutory Authority: § 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Virginia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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