A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT authorizing hearing aid fitting and dispensing by licensed audiologists, authorizing the board of examiners for speech and language pathologists and audiologists to establish a fee for licensees offering to fit and dispense hearing aids, and making technical changes to the laws pertaining to hearing aid dealers and fitters to allow audiologists to fit and dispense hearing aids.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 90‑293(6) reads as rewritten:
"As used in this Article, unless the context otherwise requires:
…
(6)	"The practice of audiology" means the application of principles, methods, and procedures of measurement, testing, evaluation, prediction, consultation, counseling, instruction, habilitation, or rehabilitation related to hearing and disorders of hearing for the purpose of identifying, preventing, ameliorating, or modifying such disorders and conditions in individuals and/or groups of individuals. For the purpose of this subdivision, the words "habilitation" and "rehabilitation" shall include auditory training, speech reading, hearing aid use evaluation and recommendations, which shall include fitting and dispensing hearing aids, and fabrication of earmolds and similar accessories.
…."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 90‑305 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90‑305.  Fees.
Persons subject to licensure under this Article shall pay fees to the Board not to exceed the following:
(1)	Application fee	$30.00
(2)	Examination fee	30.00
(3)	Initial license fee	100.00
(4)	Renewal license fee	100.00
(4a)	Fee for fitting and dispensing hearing aids	150.00
(5)	Temporary license	40.00
(6)	Delinquency fee	25.00."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 93D‑2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93D‑2.  Fitting and selling without license unlawful.
It shall be unlawful for any person to fit or sell hearing aids unless the person has first obtained a license from the North Carolina State Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Board, is an apprentice working under the supervision of a Board licensee, or is licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Speech and Language Pathologists and Audiologists to fit or sell hearing aids."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 93D‑5 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93D‑5.  Requirements for registration; examinations; apprentice licenses.
(a)	No person shall begin the fitting and selling of hearing aids in this State unless the person has been issued a license by the Board, is an apprentice working under the supervision of a licensee, or is licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Speech and Language Pathologists and Audiologists to fit or sell hearing aids. Except as hereinafter provided, each applicant for a license shall pay a fee set by the Board, not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00), and shall show to the satisfaction of the Board that the applicant:
(1)	Is a person of good moral character,
(2)	Is 18 years of age or older,
(3)	Has an education equivalent to a four‑year course in an accredited high school,
(4)	Is free of contagious or infectious disease.
(b)	Except as hereinafter provided, no license shall be issued to a person until he has successfully passed a qualifying examination administered by the Board.
(c)	No license shall be issued to any person until the person has served as an apprentice as set forth in G.S. 93D‑9 for a period of at least one year; provided, that this subsection shall not apply to those persons qualified under  G.S. 93D‑6 or who have met the licensure requirements under Article 22 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 5.  G.S. 93D‑14 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93D‑14.  Persons not affected.
This Chapter shall not prevent any person from engaging in the measuring of human hearing for the purpose of selection of hearing aids, provided the person or organization employing that person does not sell hearing aids or accessories thereto, nor shall this Chapter prohibit any person who is licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Speech and Language Pathologists and Audiologists from fitting or selling hearing aids, nor shall this Chapter apply to any physician licensed to practice medicine or surgery in the State of North Carolina. Nothing in this Chapter shall permit a licensee hereunder to perform any practices or services set forth in Article 17 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes of North Carolina."
SECTION 6.  Sections 1 through 5 of this act become effective only if the Board of Examiners for Speech and Language Pathologists and Audiologists has adopted rules to allow licensed audiologists to fit or dispense hearing aids.
SECTION 7.  This act is effective when it becomes law.