PURPOSE: This rule clarifies the license renewal requirements and procedures.

1. (1) Every licensed hearing instrument specialist must notify the Board of Examiners for Hearing Instrument Specialists of every change in their office address(es) within fifteen (15) working days.
2. (2) Every licensed hearing instrument specialist shall display his/her current license in a conspicuous place in his/her office. A hearing instrument specialist working outside of the office shall have available for review his/her current official wallet license at all times.
3. (3) Each person who engages in the fitting and selling of hearing instruments shall, on or before the renewal date, pay the required fees, present annual receipts of calibration of all audiometers, and obtain satisfactory evidence that continuing education requirements have been completed pursuant to 20 CSR 2165-2.050.
4. (4) When an organization owns or leases all or a portion of the audiometers utilized by the hearing instrument specialist employed, the organization must submit annual receipt of calibration pursuant to 20 CSR 2165-2.060(3). A hearing instrument specialist employed with such an organization who utilizes only this equipment may reference this annual receipt as evidence of compliance with his/her annual calibration requirements.

5. (5) Reactivation of Non-Current License.

   1. (A) Any hearing instrument specialist license that is not renewed prior to the expiration date of the license shall become non-current. Persons with non-current licenses shall not engage in the fitting of hearing instruments.

   2. (B) In order to reactivate a non-current license the hearing instrument specialist must submit the following:

      1. 1. Renewal application;
      2. 2. Renewal fee;
      3. 3. Reactivation fee;
      4. 4. Annual calibration receipt;
      5. 5. Proof of the required continuing education hours

pursuant to 20 CSR 2165-2.050. These hours must have been obtained during the preceding twenty-four (24) months from the date of application for reactivation.

1. (C) Hearing instrument specialists may reactivate a noncurrent license within two (2) years of its expiration date without submitting to an examination. Any hearing instrument specialist license not reactivated within two (2) years of the expiration date must complete a new application for licensure, submit all required documentation, and pay all applicable fees.

1. (6) Inactive License.

   1. (A) A hearing instrument specialist may choose to place his/ her license on an inactive status by signing an affidavit stating that s/he will not engage in the practice of fitting hearing instruments in Missouri, which would include serving as a supervisor of a hearing instrument specialist in training, and submitting that affidavit with the renewal application and the appropriate fee to the board office. The license issued to all these applicants shall be stamped “inactive.”

   2. (B) In order for a hearing instrument specialist to activate an inactive license, the licensee shall submit to the board office—

      1. 1. The renewal application;
      2. 2. The balance of the active renewal fee. No fee will be

prorated;

1. 3. Evidence that the licensee has completed the required

continuing education credits pursuant to 20 CSR 2165-2.050 for each renewal cycle that the license is inactive;

1. 4. Annual calibration receipt;
2. 5. The license stamped “inactive”; and
3. 6. Registered supervisors must submit proof of current

board certification.

1. (C) The board will issue an inactive license, which shall be effective until the next regular renewal date. No penalty fee shall apply.

AUTHORITY: sections 346.095 and 346.125, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 165-2.060. Emergency rule filed Oct. 28, 1996, effective Nov. 7, 1996, expired May 5, 1997. Original rule filed Nov. 6, 1996, effective May 30, 1997. Amended: Filed July 30, 2001, effective March 30, 2002. Amended: Filed April 1, 2003, effective Sept. 30, 2003. Moved to 20 CSR 2165-2.060, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed June 27, 2008, effective Jan. 30, 2009. Amended: Filed May 18, 2022, effective Nov. 30, 2022. *Original authority: 346.095, RSMo 1973, amended 1981, 1995, 2009, and 346.125, RSMo 1973, amended 1981, 1995, 2009.