Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1370-02-.05 - PROCEDURES FOR LICENSURE

(1) Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist.

(a) An applicant shall obtain a current application packet from the Council's Administrative Office, respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the form, and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the Council's Administrative Office. It is the intent of this rule that all steps necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing an application and that all materials be filed simultaneously.

(b) Applications will be accepted throughout the year and processed in the Council's Administrative Office. Supporting documents, if requested by the Council, must be received by the Council's Administrative Office within sixty (60) days of receipt of the request or the application file shall be closed.

(c) Proof of Education or NBC-HIS Certification.

1. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide evidence that he has fulfilled the educational requirements by instructing his college to submit an official transcript directly to the Council's Administrative Office. The transcript must carry the official seal of the school and reference the name under which the applicant has applied for licensure. If the name under which the transcript is issued differs from the applicant's current name, documentation must be submitted which supports such applicant's name change; or

2. The applicant shall direct the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences to submit evidence that he is currently certified by the NBC-HIS.

(d) An applicant shall pay the nonrefundable application fee as provided in Rule 1370-02.06 and submit the fee with the application.

(e) An applicant shall pay, at the time of application, the examination fees pursuant to Rule 1370-02-.06.

(f) Every person desiring to engage in fitting and dispensing hearing instruments shall be required to pass the examination pursuant to Rule 1370-02-.08.

(g) An applicant shall submit with his application a "passport" style photograph taken within the preceding twelve (12) months and attach it to the appropriate page of the application.

(h) An applicant shall submit with his application a certified photocopy of his birth certificate.

(i) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:

1. Conviction of any crime in any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations.

2. The denial of a license, certification, or registration or the previous or pending discipline of a license, certification, or registration by any other state or country.

(j) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Council's Administrative Office directly from the vendor identified in the Council's licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check.

(2) Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist by Upgrade from Apprentice Licensure Status to HIS Licensure by Examination.

(a) An individual who holds a Tennessee apprentice HIS license may, after ninety (90) days from the date of issuance of such license, submit to the Council's Administrative Office a request to upgrade to HIS licensure status by examination.

(b) Applications for upgrade will be accepted throughout the year and processed in the Council's Administrative Office.

(c) An applicant for upgrade shall obtain an application form from the Council's Administrative Office; however, an applicant will not be required to provide duplicates of documents which were submitted to support his application for apprentice.

(d) An applicant for upgrade shall submit the nonrefundable HIS application fee as provided in Rule 1370-02-.06 with his application for upgrade.

(e) An applicant for upgrade shall, at the time of application, pay the HIS examination fees as provided in Rule 1370-02-.06.

(f) An applicant for upgrade shall provide proof of sixty (60) classroom hours of approved instructions in Hearing Evaluations and/or Hearing Aid Fitting.

(g) An applicant for upgrade shall provide a photocopy of his apprentice license along with the application.

(h) An applicant for upgrade shall be required to pass the examinations pursuant to Rule 1370-02-.08 as a prerequisite to licensure.

(3) Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist by Reciprocity for Applicants with NBC-HIS Certification:

(a) Applications will be accepted throughout the year and processed in the Council's Administrative Office.

(b) An applicant shall obtain a current application form from the Council's Administrative Office, respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the form, and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the Council's Administrative Office. It is the intent of this rule that all steps necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing an application and that all documentation be filed simultaneously.

(c) An applicant shall pay the nonrefundable application fee as provided in Rule 1370-02.06 and submit the fee with the application.

(d) An applicant shall submit with his application a "passport" style photograph taken within the preceding twelve (12) months and attach it to the appropriate page of the application.

(e) An applicant shall submit with his application a certified photocopy of his birth certificate.

(f) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:

1. Conviction of any crime in any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations.

2. The denial of a license, certification, or registration or the previous or pending discipline of a license, certification, or registration by any other state or country.

(g) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Council's Administrative Office directly from the vendor identified in the Council's licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check.

(h) The applicant shall direct the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instruments Sciences to submit evidence that he is currently certified by the NBC-HIS.

(i) The applicant shall direct the appropriate licensing Council in each state in which he holds a license to send an official statement which indicates that such license is in effect and in good standing.

(j) Only those persons who hold, at the time of application, a current unsuspended or unrevoked license from the state in which they are engaged in business may apply for licensure by reciprocity.

(k) If it is determined by the Council or the Board that an applicant does not meet the reciprocity requirements, he must file an application for licensure by examination.

(4) Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist by Reciprocity for Applicants without NBC-HIS Certification:

(a) Applications will be accepted throughout the year and processed in the Council's Administrative Office.

(b) An applicant shall obtain a current application form from the Council's Administrative Office, respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the form, and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the Council's Administrative Office. It is the intent of this rule that all steps necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing an application and that all documentation be filed simultaneously.

(c) It is the applicant's responsibility to provide evidence that he has fulfilled the educational requirements by instructing his college to submit an official transcript directly to the Council's Administrative Office. The transcript must carry the official seal of the school and reference the name under which the applicant has applied for licensure. If the name under which the transcript is issued differs from the applicant's current name, documentation must be submitted which supports such applicant's name change.

(d) An applicant shall pay the nonrefundable application fee as provided in Rule 1370-02.06 and submit the fee with the application.

(e) An applicant shall pay the examination fee, at the time of application, pursuant to Rule 1370-02-.06.

(f) Passage of required examination(s) pursuant to Rule 1370-02-.08 is a prerequisite to licensure by reciprocity.

(g) An applicant shall submit with his application a "passport" style photograph taken within the preceding twelve (12) months and attach it to the appropriate page of the application.

(h) An applicant shall submit with his application a certified photocopy of his birth certificate.

(i) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:

1. Conviction of any crime in any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations.

2. The denial of a license, certification, or registration or the previous or pending discipline of a license, certification, or registration by any other state or country.

(j) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Council's Administrative Office directly from the vendor identified in the Council's licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check.

(k) An applicant must submit a copy of his current certificate or license with certificate or license number from the other state.

(l) An applicant must submit a copy of his renewal certificate with the expiration date and certificate number from the other state.

(m) The applicant shall direct the IHS to submit documentation that he has passed the written examination, pursuant to Rule 1370-02-.08.

(n) The applicant shall direct the appropriate licensing Council in each state in which he holds or has held a license to send an official statement which indicates that such license is in effect and in good standing and under what provision such license was issued (i.e., examination, reciprocity, grandfathering, etc.). Such documentation must specify that the written examination was proctored by a state board member, or their designee.

(o) Only those persons who hold, at the time of application, a current unsuspended or unrevoked license from the state in which they are engaged in business may apply for licensure by reciprocity.

(p) If it is determined by the Council or the Board that an applicant does not meet the reciprocity requirements, he must file an application for licensure by examination.

(5) Apprentice Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist.

(a) Applications will be accepted throughout the year and processed in the Council's Administrative Office.

(b) An applicant shall obtain a current application form from the Council's Administrative Office, respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the form, and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the Council's Administrative Office. It is the intent of this Rule that all steps necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing an application and that all documentation be filed simultaneously.

(c) It is the applicant's responsibility to:

1. Provide evidence that he has fulfilled the educational requirements by instructing his college to submit an official transcript to the Council's Administrative Office. The transcript must carry the official seal of the school and reference the name under which the applicant has applied for licensure. If the name under which the transcript is issued differs from the applicant's current name, documentation must be submitted which supports such applicant's name change; or

2. Direct the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences to submit evidence that he is currently certified by the NBC-HIS.

(d) An applicant shall pay, at the time of application, the nonrefundable application fee provided in Rule 1370-02-.06.

(e) An applicant shall submit with his application a "passport" style photograph taken within the preceding twelve (12) months and attach it to the appropriate page of the application.

(f) An applicant shall submit with his application, a certified photocopy of his birth certificate.

(g) An applicant shall provide evidence, in the form of a letter from a sponsor, that he has obtained a sponsor to provide training, direct supervision, and an outline of training.

(h) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:

1. Conviction of any crime in any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations.

2. The denial of a license, certification, or registration or the previous or pending discipline of a license, certification, or registration by any other state or country.

(i) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Council's Administrative Office directly from the vendor identified in the Council's licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1370-02-.05

Original rule filed November 22, 1978; effective January 8, 1979. Repeal and new rule filed September 24, 1987; effective November 8, 1987. Amendment filed March 1, 1990; effective April 15, 1990. Amendment filed January 24, 1991; effective March 10, 1991. Repeal and new rule filed April 29, 1992; effective June 13, 1992. Repeal and new rule renumbered from 0760-01-.05 filed December 28, 1999; effective March 12, 2000. Amendment filed February 10, 2000; effective April 25, 2000. Amendment filed March 17, 2006; effective May 31, 2006. Amendment filed June 29, 2007; effective September 12, 2007. Amendments filed May 14, 2018; effective August 12, 2018. Amendments filed March 8, 2022; effective 6/6/2022.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-17-105, 63-17-203, 63-17-207, and 63-17-208 and 2019 Public Chapter 323.