Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 8-1-4 - Issuance of Licenses and Permits4.1. The Board shall issue to each applicant, within thirty (30) days of receipt of a properly completed application and payment of one hundred and twenty dollars ($120.00) a hearing aid dealer's or fitter's license if the applicant is an individual who: 4.1.a. Meets the standards set forth in W. Va. Code §§ 30-26-5(1)-(5); and 4.1.b. Has successfully taken and passed a qualifying examination as specified and administered by the Board. 4.2. If the applicant is a firm, partnership, trust, corporation, association or other like organization, the application, in addition to information required by the Board, shall be accompanied by an application for license for each person who engages in the dealing in or fitting of hearing aids. No licensed partnership, trust, association or corporation shall permit any unlicensed person to sell or fit hearing aids. 4.3. Each license expires on the first day of July each year. Each licensee engaged in the practice of dealing in or fitting hearing aids shall apply annually to the Board for renewal of the license. The Board shall issue to the applicant a renewal license. The renewal fee is one hundred and twenty dollars ($120.00). A person who applies for renewal of a hearing aid dealer's or fitter's license which has expired is not required to take any examination as a condition for renewal: Provided, that application for renewal is made within two (2) years of the date the license expired. If application for renewal is made within thirty (30) days of expiration of a person's license, the Board may renew such license upon payment of the renewal fee of one hundred and twenty dollars ($120.00) plus a penalty of one hundred and twenty dollars ($120.00) for late filing. If application for renewal is made after expiration of such thirty (30) day period, the Board may renew such license upon payment of twice the renewal fee of one hundred and twenty dollars ($120.00). 4.4. The licensee or permittee is responsible for filing and paying fees for renewals. If reminders of the renewals are sent by the secretary it is a courtesy only and shall not be considered a responsibility by the Board.4.5. Each licensee shall display his or her license in a conspicuous place in his or her office or place of business at all times. The Board shall issue duplicate copies of a license upon receipt of a properly completed application and payment of ten dollars ($10.00) for each copy requested.4.6. Each person engaged in training to become a licensed hearing aid dealer or fitter shall apply to the Board for a hearing aid dealer's or fitter's trainee permit. The Board shall issue to each applicant, within thirty (30) days of receipt of a properly executed application and payment one hundred and twenty dollars ($120.00), a trainee permit if the applicant is: 4.6.a. A person of good moral character and has never been convicted nor is presently under indictment for a crime involving moral turpitude; 4.6.b. Is eighteen (18) years of age or older;4.6.c. Has an education equivalent to a four (4) year course in an accredited high school; 4.6.d. Is free of any chronic infectious or contagious disease; and 4.6.e. Will engage in training to become a hearing aid dealer or fitter on a full time basis. 4.7. Each trainee permit issued by the Board expires one (1) year from the date it was first issued, and may be renewed once if the trainee has not successfully completed the qualifying examination for licensing as a hearing aid dealer or fitter before the expiration date of the permit. The Board shall issue a renewal permit to each applicant upon the receipt of a properly completed application and the payment of one hundred and twenty dollars ($120.00); Provided, That the trainee applying for the renewal permit has taken the qualifying examination at least once during the first year the permit was issued and attained a grade of at least fifty percent (50%) in the written portion of the examination and at least seventy percent (70%) in the performance test. If application for renewal is made after expiration of a person's trainee permit, the Board may renew such trainee permit upon payment of twice the renewal fee of one hundred and twenty dollars ($120.00). 4.8. A person holding a trainee permit shall not engage in the practice of dealing in or fitting of hearing aids except while under the direct supervision of a specified licensed hearing aid dealer or fitter. The supervisor and the holder of the temporary trainee permit shall work in the same office for the duration of the temporary trainee permit. A licensed hearing aid dealer or fitter may not supervise more than one (1) trainee at a time. The supervisor may be held responsible to the Board for any violations of the law regulating hearing aid dealers and fitters, or the rules of the Board. 4.9. Each trainee permit is valid only for the trainee in whose name it is issued and for his or her specific supervisor unless otherwise approved by the Board. 4.10. A trainee shall present himself or herself for examination within twelve (12) months from the date of the issuance of his or her trainee permit. 4.11. The Board shall require any applicant for license or a trainee's permit to appear before it in person for further examination before the issuance of the license or trainee permit, unless the Board waives the personal appearance.