Continuing Education Requirements

PURPOSE: This rule provides the requirements for continuing education for a licensed hearing instrument specialist. (1) The following guidelines govern the attendance and approval of educational programs for biennial license renewal: (A) The licensee shall provide certificates of completion upon request of the board. Every licensee shall maintain full and complete records of all approved continuing education hours earned for the two (2) previous reporting periods in addition to the current reporting period. Such records shall include all certificates of completion of approved continuing education hours. The board may conduct an audit of licensees to verify compliance with the continuing education requirements. Licensees shall provide all approved continuing education certificates to the board within fifteen (15) days of the board’s request of such documentation; (B) Certificates of completion must demonstrate that the licensee attended a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of approved educational hearing instrument programs during the current reporting period; and (C) The continuing education reporting period shall consist of a two- (2-) year period. It shall begin on January 1 of evennumbered years and end on December 31 of the following year. (2) The first twelve (12) hours of the continuing education requirements will be waived during the initial year of licensure as a hearing instrument specialist. The new licensee will be required to obtain the remaining twelve (12) hours of the twentyfour- (24-) hour continuing education requirement should the licensee become licensed in the first year of the continuing education reporting period. If the new licensee becomes licensed in the second year of the continuing education reporting period, the continuing education requirement shall be waived for that reporting period. (3) The board may approve individual educational programs whose curriculum provides training which enhances the licensee’s ability to dispense hearing instruments and which benefits the hearing impaired. Documentation supporting the educational program’s relevance is required. The board will automatically approve continuing education programs that are approved by the following organizations without requiring documentation supporting the educational program’s relevance: (A) International Institute for Hearing Instrument Studies (IIHIS); (B) American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA); and (C) American Academy of Audiology (AAA); (4) Any group or individual that wishes to sponsor an educational program to meet the standard for annual license renewal in Missouri that is not approved by the organizations listed in section (3) of this rule shall submit a copy of the program schedule and outline to the board. The outline shall indicate the program subject, the number of hours required for its presentation, and the identity and qualifications of the speakers and instructors and shall be submitted to the board no less than thirty (30) days prior to the presentation of the program. (5) The licensee may submit the information outlined in 20 CSR 2165-2.050(4) to the board for review and approval of a particular class. AND INSURANCE (6) The board, for good cause shown, may approve continuing education hours or waive continuing education hours required for an individual licensee in lieu of satisfying the requirements of 20 CSR 2165-2.050(3) and 20 CSR 2165-2.060. The board may make such approval or waiver conditional. A request for approval or waiver of continuing education hours shall be submitted in writing to the board no less than thirty (30) days prior to the continuing education requirement deadline for which the approval or waiver is sought. (7) Each licensee shall be provided with evidence of attendance from the sponsoring organization. This evidence shall be in the form of documentation received from the sponsoring organization, showing the name of the course, date, place, and hours of attendance. All licensees shall maintain full and complete records of all approved continuing education hours earned for the two (2) previous reporting periods in addition to the current reporting period. AUTHORITY: sections 346.095 and 346.115, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 165-2.050. Original rule filed Oct. 16, 1996, effective May 30, 1997. Amended: Filed June 22, 1999, effective Dec. 30, 1999. Amended: Filed July 30, 2001, effective March 30, 2002. Amended: Filed June 28, 2002, effective Dec. 30, 2002. Moved to 20 CSR 2165-2.050, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed June 27, 2008, effective Dec. 30, 2008. Amended: Filed Dec. 2, 2011, effective June 30, 2012. Amended: Filed Dec. 26, 2023, effective June 30, 2024. *Original authority: 346.095, RSMo 1973, amended 1981, 1995, 2009, and 346.115, RSMo 1973, amended 1981, 1993, 1995, 2009.