Ala. Admin. Code r. 445-X-1-.05

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 445-X-1-.05 - Continuing Education

(1) Each person whose qualification to hold a license for the purpose of dealing in and fitting hearing instruments is subject to Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-14-1, et seq. and shall attend, or complete an approved substitute for attendance, a minimum of ten (10) hours of approved continuing professional education each calendar year.

(a) Credit shall be given only for continuing education approved by the board. Such approval shall be sought at least thirty days prior to the commencement of the continuing education course, but such credit may be given retroactively.

(b) Beginning January 1, 2022, the number of hours required means that the licensee must actually attend twenty (20) instructional hours of continuing education every two (2) years with no credit given for introductory remarks, meal breaks even when the instruction occurs during meal periods, or business meetings unless business meetings are being used as instructional opportunities by the Board. An instructional hour will in all events contain no less than sixty (60) minutes of actual instruction. Notwithstanding, annual renewals continue as per 445-X-1-.03(5) Renewal of Licenses.

(2) The following standards shall govern the approval of continuing education credits by the board.

(a) The activity's primary objective shall be to increase the professional competence of hearing instrument dealers, dispensers, and fitters. It shall not be designed primarily for those outside the profession.

(b) The activity shall deal primarily with areas necessary to the professional competence of licensees, or the professional responsibility and ethical obligations of licensees.

(c) Unless the Board gives written notice to each licensed dispenser prior to the date thereof, courses offered by the following are recognized by the Board as means of acquiring hours to meet the requirement of continuing education for license renewal provided the courses are directly related to the professional growth and development of hearing aid dispensers.

1. International Institute for Hearing Instrument Studies.

2. International Hearing Society.

3. Alabama Society of Hearing Healthcare Providers.

4. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

5. Alabama Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

6. American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inc.

7. Alabama Academy of Audiology.

8. College courses taken for credit or through official audit or seminars sponsored by such colleges.

(d) All educational opportunities other than those offered by various state approved/sanctioned academies, societies and associations require prior approval from the Board prior to the scheduled date of such program. Applications for approval must include sponsor, date, location, subjects, scope, instructors, qualifications of instructors, and classroom hours for each subject.

(3) A hearing aid dispenser or hearing aid specialist must obtain a minimum of twenty (20) hours of continuing education. Beginning January 1, 2022, six (6) mandatory directed hours are required to be submitted as part of the two (2) year reporting cycle. Mandatory continuing education hours must include: two (2) hours must be in the medical/hearing healthcare, two (2) hours must be in jurisprudence (Alabama laws and rules) and ethics, two (2) hours must be in patient care/management. These hours must be resident in-person hours, or Board approved video/virtual live hours with no credit given for non-resident training (e-learning or online courses). These hours must be included as part of the twenty (20) hour requirement in the two (2) year reporting period in which they are obtained. The remainder of hours may be obtained as product specific, hearing healthcare related or on the topic of practice building and may be obtained either through residence or nonresident training.

(a) Approved areas of study to satisfy the two (2) hours in the medical/hearing healthcare area are:

1. Anatomy and physiology

2. Diseases of the ear

3. Disease control

4. Otoscopy

(b) Approved areas of study to satisfy the two (2) hours in patient care/management are:

1. Audiometric Testing and Real Ear Measurements

2. Verification/Validation

3. Counseling/Rehabilitation

4. Impressions of the ear

5. Fitting/Dispensing

(c) Approved areas of study to satisfy the two (2) hours in jurisprudence must include:

1.Code of Ala. 1975, Chapter 14 Title 34 (Alabama Laws)

2. Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 445-X-1 (Alabama Rules)

3. Business and Personal Ethics and/or Contract Law and/or HIPPA

(4) The method of reporting continuing education shall be as follows:

(a) Each licensed hearing aid dispenser or hearing aid specialist shall be responsible for maintaining certificates of attendance or International Hearing Society (IHS) official transcripts (and supporting documentation as appropriate) for continuing education courses taken to satisfy the requirements for continuing education for a period of four (4) years from the date of attendance;

(b) Prior to January 30 of each, two (2) year reporting cycle, originals or official transcripts of required continuing education credit hours must be forwarded to the Alabama Board of Hearing Instrument Dealers Board for review.

(c) In the event a licensee fails to submit proper certification of completed continuing education requirements or other documentation required for license renewal, the application will not be processed until all continuing education requirements are met.

(d) A licensee who fails to meet the continuing education requirements shall be subject to disciplinary actions by the Board. Notwithstanding, in the event of unforeseen catastrophic events, whether acts of God, societal or health crises, the Board reserves the right, as it deems necessary, to extend the deadline for any reporting cycle with proper notifications as required to the State as well as hearing aid dispensers and hearing aid specialists.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 445-X-1-.05

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIII, Issue No. 01, October 31, 2014, eff. 11/24/2014.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIV, Issue No. 10, July 29, 2016, eff. 8/26/2016.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVII, Issue No. 01, October 31, 2018, eff. 12/1/2018.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 01, October 29, 2021, eff. 12/13/2021.

Author: Hearing Instrument Dealers Board

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-14-11(4).