WSR 14-14-064

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed June 26, 2014, 5:54 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-828 WAC, Hearing and speech, the board of hearing and speech (board) will open the chapter to review and possibly update continuing education and examination standards and implement EHB 2108 (chapter 189, Laws of 2014) renaming the "hearing aid fitter/dispenser" credential to "hearing aid specialist," and establishing standards for a nine-month certification pathway for obtaining a hearing aid specialist license.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.35.161 and EHB 2108 (chapter 189, Laws of 2014).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The board is considering adding continuing education requirements for speech-language pathology assistants, adding multicultural education as an acceptable continuing education category, and correcting the audiology and speech-language pathology national exam name and scoring standards. In addition, EHB 2108 changed the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser credential to a hearing aid specialist credential, and added a route to licensure for hearing aid specialists that includes a board-approved practical exam and a nine-month certification from a board-approved hearing aid specialist program. Rules are needed to implement these requirements.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: State board for community and technical colleges, the board is coordinating with hearing aid specialist programs to identify nine-month certification programs that may be available.

Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Interested parties can participate in the rule-making process by providing comments on proposed language and/or attending a rules workshop. Notices will be sent to interested parties through listserv and e-mail. Send written comments to Janette Benham, Program Manager, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, (360) 236-4857, fax (360) 236-2901, or e-mail janette.benham@doh.wa.gov.

June 26, 2014

James E. Deal

Chair