Apprentice permit; hearing aid specialist license; supervision and training.

(a) An applicant who fulfills the requirements regarding age, character, education, and health, as set forth in subsection (a) of Section 34-14-4, may obtain an apprentice permit upon application to the board and payment of any required application and permit fees as prescribed by rule of the board.

(b) Upon receiving an application as provided under this section and accompanied by the required fees, the board shall issue an apprentice permit which shall entitle the applicant to engage in the fitting and sale of hearing instruments for a period of one year under the direct supervision of a person holding a valid Alabama dispenser license or hearing aid specialist license, when designated by the sponsor, provided the apprentice has successfully completed the International Institute for Hearing Instrument Studies distance learning program. A sponsoring dispenser is responsible for the actions and training of the apprentice. An apprentice permit may be renewed for an additional year, upon terms and conditions established by the board. An applicant may not be issued a second permit within a five-year period following the expiration date of the initial permit.

(c) An apprentice or applicant who successfully completes the hearing aid specialist examination may obtain a hearing aid specialist license upon application to the board, and payment of the required fees, which shall entitle the applicant to engage in the sale or fitting of hearing instruments until January 30th of the following year under the direct supervision of a person holding a current Alabama hearing aid dispenser's license. The licensed dispenser shall be totally responsible for the supervision of all activities of the hearing aid specialist pertaining to the sale and fitting of hearing instruments.

(d) The dispenser who is responsible for the supervision and training of an apprentice shall not have more than four apprentices under his or her supervision at any time. There shall be no limitations on the number of hearing aid specialists a dispenser may have under his or her supervision at any given time.

(e) The dispenser responsible for the supervision and training of any apprentice or hearing aid specialist shall be subject to administrative actions with respect to licensure and to civil liability for all actions of an apprentice or hearing aid specialist under his or her supervision when the apprentice or hearing aid specialist engages in unethical, prohibited, fraudulent, deceptive, and misleading conduct involving the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments.

(Acts 1971, No. 2425, p. 3858, §8; Acts 1982, No. 82-146, p. 173, §4; Acts 1985, No. 85-337, p. 274, §3; Acts 1989, No. 89-268, p. 408, §3; Acts 1991, No. 91-198, p. 365, §3; Acts 1994, No. 94-180, p. 224, §3; Act 2001-250, p. 301, §3; Act 2016-112, §1.)