Read first time 01/18/2007.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to the qualifications of an applicant for licensure as a hearing instrument fitter/dispenser; and amending RCW 18.35.040.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 18.35.040 and 2002 c 310 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) An applicant for licensure as a hearing instrument fitter/dispenser must have the following minimum qualifications and shall pay a fee determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250. An applicant shall be issued a license under the provisions of this chapter if the applicant has not committed unprofessional conduct as specified by chapter 18.130 RCW, and:
     (a)(i) Satisfactorily completes the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser examination required by this chapter; ((or)) and
     (ii) Satisfactorily completes a minimum of a two-year degree program in hearing instrument fitter/dispenser instruction. The program must be approved by the board; or
     (b) Holds a current, unsuspended, unrevoked license from another jurisdiction if the standards for licensing in such other jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to those prevailing in this state((;
     (b) Satisfactorily completes a minimum of a two-year degree program in hearing instrument fitter/dispenser instruction. The program must be approved by the board; and
     (c) Has not committed unprofessional conduct as specified by the uniform disciplinary act)) as provided in (a) of this subsection; or
     (c)(i) Holds a current, unsuspended, unrevoked license from another jurisdiction, has been actively practicing as a licensed hearing aid fitter/dispenser in another jurisdiction for at least forty-eight of the last sixty months, and submits proof of completion of advance certification from either the international hearing society or the national board for certification in hearing instrument sciences; and
     (ii) Satisfactorily completes the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser examination required by this chapter or a substantially equivalent examination approved by the board.
     The applicant must present proof of qualifications to the board in the manner and on forms prescribed by the secretary and proof of completion of a minimum of four clock hours of AIDS education and training pursuant to rules adopted by the board.
     (2) An applicant for licensure as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist must have the following minimum qualifications:
     (a) Has not committed unprofessional conduct as specified by the uniform disciplinary act;
     (b) Has a master's degree or the equivalent, or a doctorate degree or the equivalent, from a program at a board-approved institution of higher learning, which includes completion of a supervised clinical practicum experience as defined by rules adopted by the board; and
     (c) Has completed postgraduate professional work experience approved by the board.
     All qualified applicants must satisfactorily complete the speech-language pathology or audiology examinations required by this chapter.
     The applicant must present proof of qualifications to the board in the manner and on forms prescribed by the secretary and proof of completion of a minimum of four clock hours of AIDS education and training pursuant to rules adopted by the board.