AB 820

Under current law, no person may engage in the practice of audiology unless the person holds a current audiologist license granted by the Hearing and Speech Examining Board. “Audiology” is defined under current law to mean applying principles, methods or procedures of prevention, identification, evaluation, consultation, intervention, instruction or research related to hearing, vestibular function, or any abnormal condition related to tinnitus, auditory sensitivity, acuity, function or processing, speech, language or other aberrant behavior resulting from hearing loss. “Audiology” also includes engaging in the practice of ordering, fitting, and dealing in hearing aids.

To be granted an audiologist license, under current law, an individual must satisfy certain criteria including 1) submitting evidence that he or she has completed a supervised clinical practicum, 2) submitting evidence that he or she has passed examinations selected or approved by the board or has completed education or training that the board determines is substantially equivalent, 3) passing an examination administered by the board that consists of practical tests of proficiency in certain techniques that pertain to the fitting of hearing aids, and 4) submitting evidence that he or she has completed a postgraduate clinical fellowship in audiology approved by the board or has completed education or training that the board determines is substantially equivalent. Currently, the board consists of 10 members appointed for four-year terms: three licensed hearing instrument specialists, one otolaryngologist, two licensed audiologists, two speech-language pathologists, and two public members, one of which must be a hearing aid user.

This bill makes several changes to the definition of the practice of audiology, the requirements for licensure as an audiologist, and the composition of the board. First, the bill amends the definition of audiology to provide that the practice of audiology also includes the diagnosis, management, and treatment of auditory or vestibular conditions. The bill further provides that the practice of audiology includes engaging in prescribing, ordering, selling, dispensing, and externally fitting hearing aids, sound processors, and cochlear implants. The bill excludes from the practice of audiology certain practices including surgery that uses an instrument, including a laser, scalpel, needle, cautery, cryoprobe, or suture in which human tissue is cut, burned, vaporized, removed, or otherwise permanently altered by mechanical means, laser, ionization, radiation, ultrasound, or other means. Second, the bill eliminates the requirement that an individual applying for a license as an audiologist complete an examination that consists of practical tests of proficiency in techniques that pertain to the fitting of hearing aids but maintains all other requirements for licensure under current law. Third, the bill repeals a provision permitting rules promulgated by the board to designate that a temporary license to practice audiology terminates if an applicant fails to take an examination required for initial licensure under current law. Finally, the bill reduces the membership on the board from 10 members to nine members by reducing the number of positions provided for licensed hearing instrument specialists from three to two. The bill also provides that of the two public members on the board, one of which must be either a hearing aid user, an osseo-integrated device user, or a cochlear implant user.