(a) An applicant applying for reciprocal licensure shall meet the following requirements:

1. (1)

   1. (A) The applicant shall hold a substantially similar license in another United States jurisdiction.
   2. (B) A license from another state is substantially similar to an Arkansas hearing instrument dispenser license if the other state’s licensure qualifications require or the applicant otherwise has obtained:

(i) Two (2) or more years of college education from a regionally accredited college or university, graduation from an American Conference of Audioprosthology (ACA) program, or a National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBCHIS) certificate; and

1. (ii) Passage of the written examination administered by the International Hearing Society;
2. (2) The applicant shall hold his or her occupational licensure in good standing;

3. (3) The applicant shall not have had a license revoked for:

   1. (A) An act of bad faith; or

   2. (B) A violation of:

      1. (i) Law;
      2. (ii) Rule; or
      3. (iii) Ethics;
4. (4) The applicant shall not hold a suspended or probationary license in a United States jurisdiction;
5. (5) The applicant shall be sufficiently competent in the field of dispensing hearing instruments; and
6. (6) The applicant must be at least twenty (20) years of age.

(b)

1. (1) An applicant shall submit:

   1. (A) A fully-executed application;
   2. (B) The required fee; and
   3. (C) The documentation described below.

2. (2) As evidence that the applicant’s license from another jurisdiction is substantially similar to Arkansas’s, the applicant shall submit the following information:

   1. (A) Evidence of current and active licensure in that state. The Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers may verify this information online if the jurisdiction at issue provides primary source verification on its website or by telephone to the other state’s licensing board; and
   2. (B) Evidence that the other state’s licensure requirements match those listed in subdivision (a)(1) of this section. The Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers may verify this information online or by telephone to the other state’s licensing board.

3. (3) To demonstrate that the applicant meets the requirements in subdivisions (a)(2) – (4) of this section, the applicant shall provide the Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers with:

   1. (A) The names of all states in which the applicant is currently licensed or has been previously licensed; and
   2. (B) Letters of good standing or other information from each state in which the applicant is currently or has ever been licensed showing that the applicant not had his or her license revoked for the reasons listed in subdivision (a)(3) of this section and does not hold a license on suspended or probationary status as described in subdivision (a)(4) of this section. The Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers may verify this information:

(b) (b) By telephone to the other state’s licensing board.

1. (4) As evidence that the applicant is sufficiently competent in the field of dispensing hearing instruments, an applicant shall:

   1. (A) Pass the practical application examination listed in 17 CAR § 80-107(b) and (c); and
   2. (B) Submit three (3) letters of recommendation from licensed hearing instrument dispensers in the applicant’s home state attesting to the applicant’s skills and competence.

2. (5) The applicant shall also provide proof of completion of the education requirements referenced in subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) of this section by submitting:

   1. (A) A certified college transcript;
   2. (B) Proof of graduation from an ACA program; or

   3. (C) Certification from NBCHIS.

      1. (c) Temporary and provisional licenses.

3. (1) The Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers shall issue a temporary and provisional license immediately upon receipt of the:

   1. (A) Application;
   2. (B) Required fee; and
   3. (C) Documentation required under subdivision (b)(2) of this section.
4. (2) The temporary and provisional license shall be effective for ninety (90) days or until the Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers makes a decision on the application, unless the Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers determines that the applicant does not meet the requirements in subsection (a) of this section, in which case the provisional and temporary license shall be immediately revoked.

5. (3) An applicant may provide the rest of the documentation required above in order to receive a license, or the applicant may only provide the information necessary for the issuance of a temporary and provisional license.

   1. (d) Licensure for an individual from a state that does not license hearing instrument dispensers.

6. (1) An applicant from a state that does not license hearing instrument dispensers shall meet the following requirements:

   1. (A) The applicant shall be sufficiently competent in the field of dispensing hearing instruments;

   2. (B) The applicant shall have obtained:

      1. (i) Two (2) or more years of college education from a regionally accredited college or university;
      2. (ii) Graduation from an American Conference of Audioprosthology program; or
      3. (iii) A National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences certificate; and
   3. (C) The applicant must be at least twenty (20) years of age.

7. (2)

   1. (A) An applicant shall submit:

      1. (i) A fully executed application;
      2. (ii) The required fee; and
      3. (iii) The documentation described below.

   2. (B) As evidence that the applicant is sufficiently competent in the field of dispensing hearing instruments, the applicant shall:

      1. (i) Pass the written examination administered by the International Hearing Society;
      2. (ii) Pass the practical application examination listed in 17 CAR § 80-107(b) and (c); and
      3. (iii) Submit three (3) letters of recommendation from hearing instrument dispensers in the applicant’s home state attesting to the applicant’s skills and competence.

   3. (C) The applicant shall also provide proof of completion of the education requirements referenced in subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) of this section by submitting:

      1. (i) A certified college transcript;
      2. (ii) Proof of graduation from an ACA program; or
      3. (iii) Certification from NBCHIS.