Section 1370-02-.14 - APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM(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).
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1370-02-.14
Original rule filed January 9, 1991; effective February 23, 1991. Repeal and new rule filed April 29, 1992; effective June 13, 1992. Repeal and new rule renumbered from 0760-01-.14 filed December 28, 1999; effective March 12, 2000. Amendments filed May 14, 2018; effective 8/12/2018.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-15-103, 63-15-109 through 63-15-111, 63-17-105, 63-17-203, 63-17-206, 63-17-208, 63-17-209, 63-17-210, and 63-17-211.