(1) Any person
wishing to practice the profession of Hearing Instrument Specialist dispensing
and who intends to fulfill the requirements via the apprenticeship provision
shall register with the Council pursuant to rule
1370-02-.05.
(2) Apprenticeship training must be
supervised by a Tennessee licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist who possesses
a current, unsuspended and unrevoked Tennessee license and who dispenses on the
premises.
(3) Changes in the
information provided in the original apprentice application shall be reported
to the Council in writing within ten (10) working days of such
change.
(4) Pursuant to T.C.A.
§
63-17-208(d)
the period of apprenticeship training must be no longer than one (1) calendar
year from date of issuance of the apprenticeship license. The apprentice
license cannot be extended or renewed.
(5) Sponsor Supervision
(a) A licensed HIS may supervise no more than
two (2) apprentices concurrently.
(b) The apprentice shall function under the
direct supervision, as provided in rule
1370-02-.10, of the
sponsoring licensed HIS for a period of at least three (3) months after the
date of issuance of the apprentice license. During the three (3) month period,
the sponsoring HIS must make the final selection and fitting of the hearing
aid.
(c) At no time may an
apprenticeship continue the apprentice training program without the sponsorship
of a licensed HIS and such sponsorship being recorded in writing with the
Council's Administrative Office.
(d) An apprentice license shall not be issued
unless the applicant shows to the satisfaction of the Council that he/she will
be supervised and trained by a person who holds a valid Tennessee HIS
license.
(e) Prior to up-grading by
an apprentice to a licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist, he must show proof
of having obtained sixty (60) classroom hours of course work approved by the
National Institute for Hearing Instrument Studies.
(f) Violation of or departure from any rule
set forth by apprenticeship will be grounds for disciplinary action and/or
civil penalties pursuant to Rules
1370-02-.13 and
.15.
(6) HIS licensure.
Ninety (90) days after an apprentice license is issued, an
individual so licensed may make application to the Council to upgrade to HIS
licensure status and to take the written and practicum examinations pursuant to
rule
1370-02-.05(1)
and
1370-02-.08(1).
