Date of Adoption: August 15, 2003.

     Purpose: This rule sets the specific examination requirements for licensing audiologists, speech-language pathologists and hearing instrument fitter and dispensers.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-828-020.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.35.161.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 03-14-033 on June 23, 2003.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
     Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

September 15, 2003

Tracy A. Hansen

Program Manager

OTS-6332.2

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 98-13-110, filed 6/17/98, effective 7/18/98)

WAC 246-828-020   Examinations.   (1) The examination required of hearing instrument fitter/dispenser license applicants shall be ((a written examination)) the International Institute for Hearing Instrument Studies (IIHIS) including a passing score according to standards established by the International Hearing Society.

     (((a) The minimum passing grade shall be seventy or greater to pass the required examination for licensure.

     (b))) Applications for examinations shall be received by the department at least sixty days prior to the date of the scheduled examination. If the application is received less than sixty days before the next scheduled examination, the applicant will be scheduled for the second examination following receipt of the application.

     (((c) A national examination or examination administered by another licensing jurisdiction approved by the board may be accepted in lieu of the board's written examination.))

     (2) The examination required of ((all)) audiology ((certificate)) license applicants shall be the National Examination in Audiology (NESPA), including a passing examination score of six hundred or greater ((and written hearing instrument fitter/dispenser examination described in subsection (1) of this section, including a passing examination score of seventy or greater)).

     (3) The examination required of speech-language pathologist ((certificate)) license applicants shall be the National Examination in Speech Language Pathology (NESPA), including a passing examination score of six hundred or greater.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.35.040 and 18.35.161. 98-13-110, § 246-828-020, filed 6/17/98, effective 7/18/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.35.161. 91-11-031 (Order 165B), recodified as § 246-828-020, filed 5/8/91, effective 6/8/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.35.161(4). 89-08-096 (Order PM 828), § 308-50-010, filed 4/5/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.35.161(3). 87-14-030 (Order PM 654), § 308-50-010, filed 6/26/87. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.35.161. 84-08-062 (Order PL 463), § 308-50-010, filed 4/4/84; Order PL 190, § 308-50-010, filed 5/23/75; Order PL 159, § 308-50-010, filed 2/8/74.]

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