Section 25.217. Approval of continuing education programs

(a) A person may apply to the Department for approval of a continuing education program by submitting to the Department an application on a form supplied by the Department. The applicant shall supply the information requested in the application, including specification of whether the program is fully or partially devoted to any of the core subjects specified in § 25.216(e) (relating to continuing education requirements). The Department will grant approval of a continuing education program and designate whether the program is assigned full or partial credit in one of the core subjects, if the applicant satisfies the Department that the program the applicant will offer will meet the following minimum standards:

(1) The program shall contribute directly to the professional competence, skills and education of a hearing aid fitter.

(2) The program instructors shall possess the necessary practical and academic skills to conduct the program effectively.

(3) Program materials shall be clear, informative, grammatical, carefully prepared, readable and distributed to attendees at or before the time the program is offered whenever practical.

(4) The program shall be presented by a responsible instructor who is experienced and knowledgable in the subject matter being taught, in a setting that is conducive to learning the material being taught, including any necessary equipment and facilities, and is devoted to the educational purpose of the program.

(5) The program shall be open to persons who have a current, suspended or expired hearing aid fitter’s registration certificate.

(b) Approval of a continuing education program shall be effective for 3 years.

(c) If renewal of the Department’s approval of a continuing education program is desired, at least 90 days before expiration of the 3-year period the person who offered the program shall apply to the Department to renew the Department’s approval of that program. The criteria and process applicable to the Department’s initial approval of a continuing education program shall apply to renewal of the approval of that program.

The provisions of this § 25.217 adopted May 28, 2004, effective May 29, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 2808.