Section 25.216. Continuing education requirements

(a) General requirements. Except as provided in subsection (d), the continuing education requirement for renewal of a hearing aid fitter’s registration certificate is 20 hours of continuing education credit in the 2 years immediately preceding the expiration of the current registration certificate. If the applicant for renewal has had a registration certificate for less than 2 years, the required number of continuing education hours shall be calculated by prorating the number of credit hours required over a 2-year period by the number of months in which the applicant for renewal had the registration certificate which is about to expire. Only months in which the applicant had the registration certificate for at least 15 days shall be considered in the calculations.

(b) Requirements for renewal of an expired registration certificate. Except as provided in subsection (d), the continuing education requirement for renewal of a hearing aid fitter’s registration certificate that has expired is 20 hours of continuing education credit in the 2 years immediately preceding the filing of the application for renewal, provided that the application for renewal is filed within 5 years after expiration of the previous registration certificate. If more than 5 years have passed since the registration certificate expired, the registration certificate may not be renewed. Instead, the individual shall repeat the hearing aid fitter’s certification examination and satisfy other requirements then in effect for an original hearing aid fitter’s registration certificate.

(c) Requirements for renewal of a suspended registration certificate. The continuing education requirement for renewal of a hearing aid fitter’s registration certificate which has been suspended is the same as in subsections (a) and (d). If the individual does not satisfy the continuing education requirement during the period in which the hearing aid fitter’s registration certificate is suspended, the suspended registration certificate shall be considered to have expired, and the continuing education requirements in subsection (b) shall apply for renewal of the expired registration certificate.

(d) Phase-in requirements. The first 2-year period for which continuing education requirements shall be required began on April 15, 2003.

(e) Subject matter requirements. Any subject matter that contributes directly to the professional competence, skills and education of a hearing aid fitter is acceptable subject matter for a continuing education program. At least one-half of all continuing education credit hours by which the hearing aid fitter seeks to qualify for renewal of the registration certificate shall be secured in some combination of the following core subject matter: hearing evaluation, hearing instrumentation technology, ear mold technology, hearing aid repair and maintenance, technical devices to assist the hearing-impaired, psychology of the hearing-impaired, and office procedures and compliance with the act.

The provisions of this § 25.216 adopted May 28, 2004, effective May 29, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 2808.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 28 Pa. Code § 25.204 (relating to application for and renewal of registration); and 28 Pa. Code § 25.217 (relating to approval of continuing education programs).