No person shall be issued a hearing aid dealer's or fitter's license unless such person has successfully taken and passed a qualifying examination. The qualifying examination shall be a thorough testing of knowledge required for the proper selecting, fitting, and sale of hearing aids, but shall not be such that a medical or surgical education is required for successful completion. It shall consist of written and practical portions which shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas:

(A) Basic physics of sound;

(B) The anatomy and physiology of the human ear;

(C) The function and purpose of hearing aids;

(D) Pure tone audiometry, including air conduction and bone conduction testing;

(E) Live voice or recorded voice speech audiometry, including speech reception threshold testing and speech discrimination testing;

(F) Masking techniques;

(G) Recording and evaluation of audiograms and speech audiometry to determine proper selection and adaption of hearing aids;

(H) Earmold impression techniques.

The state speech and hearing professionals board shall establish the nature and scope of qualifying examinations that the board determines necessary under this chapter. It shall administer qualifying examinations and shall designate the time, place, and date the examinations are held. The board shall also furnish all materials and equipment necessary for the conducting of qualifying examinations.

Test materials, examinations, answer keys, or evaluation tools used in a qualifying examination under this chapter, whether administered by the board or by a private or government entity pursuant to a contract, are not public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 420, §1, eff. 4/5/2019.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 49, §130.11, eff. 1/21/2018.

Effective Date: 11-25-1969 .