(a) Upon payment of a permanent registration fee and an annual license fee as prescribed by the Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers pursuant to this chapter, the board shall register and issue licenses to applicants who have fulfilled the requirements of this chapter.
(b) All licenses shall expire on the date or dates set by the board, and all licenses shall be renewed annually.
(c)
(1) The fee for renewal of a license as prescribed by the board pursuant to this chapter shall be paid before the expiration of the license.
(2)
(A) Failure to make the payment before the expiration date of the license shall result in the payment of the license renewal fee plus a late penalty as prescribed by the board pursuant to this chapter if paid within thirty (30) days after expiration.
(B) If the renewal fee is not paid within the thirty-day grace period, the board shall renew the license upon payment of the required fee as prescribed by the board pursuant to this chapter and satisfaction of all other requirements contained in this chapter for the renewal of the license.
(C) If the license renewal fee or other requirements for license renewal under this chapter, or both, are delinquent by at least sixty (60) days, the licensee shall be reexamined before the renewal of the license.
(d)
(1) The board shall require that all applicants seeking renewal of their licenses shall:
(A) Show proof of attending during the preceding year a minimum of twelve (12) hours of board-approved continuing education in the methods and techniques of testing for and fitting hearing instruments, including at least one (1) hour of ethics;
(B) Present written evidence of annual calibration of all audiometers and tympanometers to current national standards; and
(C) Provide a blank copy of the currently used bill of sale or comparable document provided to patients under § 17-84-104.
(2) The board shall require that all new applicants and all applicants seeking renewal of their licenses state whether they are engaged in the practice of dispensing in-office assembled hearing instruments.