Hearing Aid Specialists, Board of

Hearing Aid Specialists, Board of

Chapter 3: Licensure, Temporary Permit, and Renewal Requirements and Application Procedures

Effective Date: 06/27/2019 to Current

Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations

Reference Number: 064.0001.3.06272019

Chapter 3

Licensure, Temporary Permit, and Renewal Requirements and Application Procedures

Section 1. Change of Name, Address, or Telephone Number. Each applicant, permittee, and licensee shall notify the Board in writing of any change to their legal name, home address, business address, or telephone number within thirty (30) days of the change.

Section 2. Application Status.

(a) For those applicants seeking licensure, all requirements shall be met during the timeframe identified immediately prior to submitting a completed application. (b) Applications shall be deemed "complete" when all necessary documentation has been received by the Board office. (c) Applications shall expire one year after submission. If an application expires, an applicant shall submit a new application, including payment of fee.

Section 3. Application Review Committee.

(a) Every application shall be reviewed by the ARC. (b) An applicant for licensure shall have committed no acts which are grounds for disciplinary action, or if the act was committed, the ARC has found after investigation that sufficient restitution has been made and the applicant no longer presents a threat to the public safety. (c) If the ARC is unable to ascertain from documents submitted by the applicant that the applicant is eligible for examination or licensure, the ARC may require the applicant to provide additional documentation, information, or meet informally with the ARC.

Section 4. Licensure by Examination.

(a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek licensure by examination if the applicant is not licensed to practice in another jurisdiction or that jurisdiction's licensure requirements are not as stringent as Wyoming. (b) Application Requirements. Applicant shall:

1. (i) Submit a completed application and payment of fee;
2. (ii) Submit references from three (3) individuals familiar with the applicant with whom the applicant has had contact within the past five (5) years. References shall:
3. (A) Be written within the last six (6) months;
4. (B) Not be from relatives of the applicant; and
5. (C) Contain an original signature and be submitted directly to the office of the Board from the respondent and not forwarded through the applicant.
6. (iii) Submit a certification of calibration of all audiometric equipment in use signed by a qualified person during the previous twelve (12) months; and
7. (iv) Successfully pass the written, practical, and jurisprudence examinations.(c) Application Review Committee Action. After reviewing the application, the ARC may:- (i) Recommend eligibility for the applicant sit for necessary examinations; or
8. (ii) Recommend denial of the license.(d) Examination Procedures. Based on the ARC's recommendation of eligibility, the Board office shall:- (i) Notify IHS that applicant is eligible to sit for the written examination; and
9. (ii) Schedule an appointment for the applicant to be administered the practical and jurisprudence examinations within one (1) calendar year. Failure to sit for these examinations shall result in the expiration of the application, and applicant shall reapply.(e) Passing Score. To successfully pass each examination, the applicant shall obtain a score of:- (i) Pass, as determined by IHS, on the IHS written examination;
10. (ii) Sixty-five percent (65%) on each section of the practical examination, with an overall average of seventy percent (70%) on the entire practical examination; and

(iii) Seventy percent (70%) on the jurisprudence examination.

(f) Reexamination. Any applicant that fails to successfully pass any or all examinations may be eligible for re-examination and shall pay the examination fee.

Section 5. Licensure by Endorsement.

(a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek licensure by endorsement if the applicant is licensed to practice in another jurisdiction with licensure requirements as stringent as Wyoming.

(b) Application Requirements. Applicant shall:

(i) Submit a completed application and payment of fee;

(ii) Submit references from three (3) individuals as defined in Section 4(b)(ii);

(iii) Submit a certification of calibration of all audiometric equipment in use signed by a qualified person during the previous twelve (12) months; and

(iv) Successfully pass the jurisprudence examination.

Section 6. Temporary Permit.

(a) Eligibility. After the ARC recommends eligibility to sit for examinations, an applicant may seek a temporary permit to practice pending administration of those examinations. Applicant shall take the first available examination.

(b) Without Supervision Application. Any applicant that meets the requirements established in W.S. 33-35-110 may apply for a temporary permit without supervision. The applicant shall submit a completed application and payment of fee.

(c) With Supervision Application. Applicant shall submit a completed application, an executed sponsorship agreement form, and payment of fee.

(d) Expiration of Temporary Permits. Any temporary permit granted by the Board shall expire within one (1) year from issuance or when the applicant is granted a license, whichever occurs first.

(e) Renewal of Temporary Permits. Applicant may renew a temporary permit with supervision once upon payment of a fee. A temporary permit without supervision shall not be renewed.

Section 7. Annual Licensure Renewal.

(a) Licensure Expiration. Licenses expire January 30 of each year. Licensees shall renew their license on or before January 30. Licensees that fail to timely renew shall forfeit the right to practice.

(b) Renewal Notice. On or before December 31, the Board shall send a renewal notice to each licensee at their last business address of record. Failure to receive notice shall not excuse a licensee from the requirement for renewal under the Act and these Board Rules.

(c) Renewal Procedure. A licensee seeking renewal shall:

(i) Submit a completed renewal application and payment of fee;

(ii) Verify audiometer calibration certification; and

(iii) Submit evidence of completion of ten (10) hours of continued education that complies with subsection (d).

(d) Continuing Education Requirements.

(i) Continuing education activity shall be completed during the twelve (12) months prior to the license expiration. The following continuing education programs shall be accepted by the Board:

(A) Programs approved or sponsored by IHS; and

(B) With ninety (90) days prior written approval of the Board, college credits and programs sponsored by the Wyoming Speech, Hearing, and Language Association; the American Speech, Hearing, and Language Association; and other relevant programs or courses.

(ii) Successful completion of the licensure examination shall be deemed fulfillment of the continuing education requirement for the initial renewal of a license.

(iii) If a licensee fails to meet the continuing education requirement, the licensee shall present satisfactory evidence of educational study of a standard and pay an additional fee.

Section 8. Failure to Timely Renew.

(a) Unlicensed Practice. Failure to timely renew may subject the licensee to disciplinary action for unlicensed practice.

(b) Administrative Grace Period.

(i) The administrative grace period shall be from January 31st to March 1st.

(ii) Licensees that failed to timely renew may apply for renewal during the administrative grace period. However, licensees shall not practice until the Board approves their license.

(iii) Licensees that failed to timely renew shall meet the renewal requirements under Section 9 (i)-(iii) including payment of additional fee.

(iv) On March 2nd, any license not renewed shall lapse

Section 9. Lapsed License and Relicensure.

(a) If a license lapses, the applicant shall apply for relicensure.

(b) Relicensure Requirements and Procedure.

(i) If the license lapsed for less than two (2) years, the applicant shall:

(A) Submit a completed relicensure application and payment of fee;

(B) Submit a certification of calibration of all audiometric equipment in use signed by a qualified person during the previous twelve (12) months; and

(C) Submit references from three (3) individuals as defined in Section 4(b)(ii).

(ii) If the license lapsed more than two (2) years, the applicant shall:

(A) Meet the requirements of Section 9(b)(i); and

(B) Jurisprudence and Competency (written and practical).

Section 10. Reinstatement of Licensure.

(a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek reinstatement of their license if that license has been revoked, surrendered, suspended, conditioned, or restricted.

(b) Application Requirements. Applicant shall:

(i) Submit a completed reinstatement application and payment of fee;

(ii) Submit evidence of complying with the requirements of a previous Board order;

(iii) Submit evidence of applicant's ability to safely and competently practice;

(iv) Submit evidence demonstrating just cause for reinstatement.