Application and Licensing

(1) Application. (a) Application for licensure must be made on forms furnished by the Board. (b) No application shall be acted upon by the Board unless said application is made on forms furnished by the Board, and unless said application is completely and properly filled out, signed under the penalties of perjury, and accompanied by such information as the Board requires. (2) Licensure. In order to be licensed as a hearing instrument specialist applicants must meet the following requirements for licensure set by M.G.L. c. 112, § 197: (a) be 18 years of age or older; (b) have a high school diploma or its equivalent; (c) be of good moral character; (d) have successfully completed a board approved apprenticeship of a minimum of 12 months, including completion of the apprentice training program and supervised work experience, and meet one of the following criteria: 1. hold current certification as a hearing instrument specialist from a board approved, nationally recognized body certifying hearing instrument specialists; or 2. pass a written or electronic examination approved by the board and designed to test competencies and knowledge needed in hearing aid fitting and dispensing; and (e) pay the appropriate fee set by the secretary of administration and finance. These requirements are subject to the exceptions provided in 265 CMR 3.01(3). (3) Licensure by Reciprocity. An individual who holds a license as a hearing instrument specialist or the equivalent thereof as determined by the board from a state which is deemed by the board to have substantially equivalent or higher licensure requirements than those of the commonwealth may be licensed as a hearing instrument specialist without satisfying the requirements of M.G.L. c. 112, § 197(f)(4) or the requirements 265 CMR 3.01(2)(d). The word “state” as used in 265 CMR 3.01(3), shall include a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a foreign country, state or province.