(a) (1) On and after January 1, 2010, in addition to satisfying the licensure and examination requirements described in Sections 2532 and 2532.2, no licensed audiologist shall sell hearing aids unless he or she completes an application for a dispensing audiology license, pays all applicable fees, and passes an examination, approved by the board, relating to selling hearing aids.
(2) The board shall issue a dispensing audiology license to a licensed audiologist who meets the requirements of paragraph (1).
(b) (1) On and after January 1, 2010, a licensed audiologist with an unexpired license to sell hearing aids pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 2538.10) may continue to sell hearing aids pursuant to that license until that license expires pursuant to Section 2538.53, and upon that expiration the licensee shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements described in subdivision (a) and may continue to sell hearing aids pursuant to his or her audiology license subject to the provisions of this chapter. Upon the expiration of the audiologist’s license to sell hearing aids, the board shall issue him or her a dispensing audiology license pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a). This paragraph shall not prevent an audiologist who also has a hearing aid dispenser’s license from maintaining dual or separate licenses if he or she chooses to do so.
(2) A licensed audiologist whose license to sell hearing aids, issued pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 2538.10), is suspended, surrendered, or revoked shall not be authorized to sell hearing aids pursuant to this subdivision and he or she shall be subject to the requirements described in subdivision (a) as well as the other provisions of this chapter.
(c) A licensed hearing aid dispenser who meets the qualifications for licensure as an audiologist shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) for the purposes of obtaining a dispensing audiology license.
(d) For purposes of subdivision (a), the board shall provide the hearing aid dispenser’s examination provided by the former Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau until such time as the next examination validation and occupational analysis is completed by the Department of Consumer Affairs pursuant to Section 139 and a determination is made that a different examination is to be administered.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 449, Sec. 11. (SB 933) Effective January 1, 2012.)