How to Become a Licensed Hearing Aid Dispenser
Hearing aid dispensing has evolved---since the early 1900's---and is now practiced around the world as the demand for better hearing increases. The combination of, multiple hearing aid manufacturing companies, advancing technology, and millions of hearing impaired people makes for a multi-billion dollar industry with great career growth potential. Most companies offer on the job training---as long as you meet your state or province requirements. Those in the hearing aid industry enjoy some job security, due to the rising number of people affected by hearing loss in the world. The need for experienced licensed hearing aid dispensers is growing, and with a median salary range of about $50,000.00, this may be a career worth looking into.
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Instructions
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Find a licensed hearing aid dispenser to sponsor you. Licenses to dispense hearing aids are awarded by state or province license boards. All hearing aid dispensing boards require you to apply for a temporary license under a sponsor and complete a designated period of training before you're eligible to take the license examination.
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Get hired by a hearing aid company or by a dispenser's office---offering on the job training. Use the resource link below, "Audiology Online: Job Opportunities Around the World", to look for an office in your area hiring Hearing Instrument Specialists (HIS) or Hearing Aid Dispensers (HAD) with no experience.
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Contact your State or Province license board to find out when the next hearing aid dispenser license examination is being held. You can also find out what the requirements are for your state and how much the fees are for licensing. Use the resource link below, "International Hearing Society: List of State and Province License Boards", to find the phone number and address you'll need.
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Obtain a copy of your birth certificate, high school diploma, and your current immunization record. Most license boards require at least a high school education, proof of citizenship, current medical records showing immunizations and certain blood tests for contagious diseases. You will have to submit copies of these documents with your application for a temporary hearing aid dispensing license.
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Decide what date you want to take your examination and request a study guide from your state's licensing board. Most boards offer an exam 1 to 3 times per year. Some employers also offer license examination study materials.
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Have your sponsor sign off on your training before taking your state examination. Boards that require a training period also require a signed statement from your sponsor confirming the completion of your required training.
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Pass the state examination and you're now a licensed hearing aid dispenser.
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Tips & Warnings
You are required to re-new your license annually.
Each license board requires a certain amount of annual continuing education hours to be completed before they'll except your renewal application.
You can only legally dispense hearing aids in the state you're licensed in, however, most states and provinces offer reciprocity once you have your license, but you have to apply for licenses in those other states.
Dispensing hearing aids with-out a license or while your license is suspended, is illegal, the fines---if caught---can exceed $25,000.00.
