The North Carolina Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Licensing Board has no
jurisdiction with over-the-counter hearing aids and have no recommendations
regarding the FDA decision.

How do I get a license?

No previous experience:

In order to obtain a license in the State of North Carolina from this Board, you would have to secure a sponsor. A sponsor is anyone who is currently licensed by this Board and has held that license for two years or someone who is licensed by the Speech Pathology Audiology Board and the licensee of the Audiology Board would have to register as a sponsor with this Board before they could sponsor you.

This Board does not aid anyone in securing a sponsor.

Once you have secured a sponsor you must then complete an apprentice application. A complete apprentice application contains:

  • F1 form (available on the Board’s website under “forms & applications”)
  • F1 affidavit (available on the Board’s website under “forms & applications”)
  • Calibration certificate
  • Passport style photo
  • Payment of fees ($100)
  • Background check (available on the Board’s website under “forms & applications”) note: provided the background check comes back clear/clean we can issues an apprentice certificate. If items are on the background check that can delay the issuance of the apprentice certificate.

Once all of the information above has been submitted, then an apprentice certificate can be issued. At any time during your active apprenticeship, you may register for the next available exam.

To register for the next available exam the following must be submitted:

  • F4 form (available on the Board’s website under “forms & applications”)
  • F4 affidavit (available on the Board’s website under “forms & applications”)
  • Calibration certificate
  • Passport style photo
  • Payment of fees ($500)
  • Background check (available on the Board’s website under “forms & applications”)

Once you have sat for and passed all four parts of the Board’s exam and completed your 365 days of apprenticeship, then you can be issued a license.

Person’s licensed in another state or jurisdiction:

NC currently does not have reciprocity with any other state.

If you have been licensed in another state or jurisdiction for the last three proceeding years, then you would be exempt from an apprenticeship, but would still need to sit for the Board’s exam.

In order to be licensed in NC, the Board requires anyone seeking a license, to sit for and pass all four parts of the Board’s exam. The Board exam is offered 4 times a year annually in February, May, August, and November, and the deadline to register for the exam is 45 days before the exam date.

Part D of the exam is the IHS exam the ILE, if you have previously taken and passed the ILE, you simply need to request a score transfer sheet from IHS be sent directly to us.

What do I need to submit for my application?

For an Exam Registration (F4)

  • F4 Form
  • Passport style Applicant photograph
  • Audiometer Calibration report, dated within the past 12 months
  • Notarized affidavit (F4-ALER) affirming application
  • Payment of fees — $425 exam fee; $75 application fee (Total: $500.00)
  • Background check — online (use package code “NC16”)
  • Verification of Licensure (F7-VOL), if applicable

Note: a new background check will need to be submitted if the most recent one submitted is over 6 months old.

For an Apprentice Registration/Renewal (F1)

  • F1 Form
  • Passport style Applicant photograph
  • Audiometer Calibration report, dated within the past 12 months
  • Notarized affidavit (F1-ALER) affirming application
  • Payment of fees — $100 (initial registration) ” Renewal ($150)
  • Background check — online (use package code “NC16”)

For a License Renewal (Not available until after February 1, annually)

  • Renewal Form (F-XX, last two number of current year)
  • Audiometer Calibration report, dated within the past 12 months
  • Payment of fees — $250

Verify CEUs for license renewal – Must have 1.0 CEUs

For a Registered Sponsor (F8)

  • F8 Form
  • Passport style Applicant photograph
  • Audiometer Calibration report, dated within the past 12 months
  • Verification of Licensure form (F7-VOL)
  • Notarized affidavit affirming information provided in application (F8-RSA)
  • Payment of application fee ($150 per year)

Report of Apprenticeship Experience (F3)

Must be submitted is apprenticeship is being terminated or if apprentice has completed 365 days of apprenticeship.

  • F3 Form
  • F3 Affidavit

I submitted “X” (passport style photo, calibration, affidavit, etc.) with my last application do I need to submit it again?

Even though you may have previously submitted the same item for a previous application, all applications are separate and different, and all items needed for that application must be submitted.

I only need to take Part D of the exam do I just register with IHS to take the ILE?

No, in order to take/retake part D of the Board’s exam, you must register with this Board. Once the registration deadline has passed you will receive an email from IHS to register for the ILE.

Pursuant to the following rule:

21 NCAC 22A .0503 (e) SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS AND FEES

(e) Part D will be the ILE as administered by the IHS. For applicants registering to take Part D of the Board’s licensing exam, the applicant will receive electronic notification from the IHS with further instructions on how to register for Part D of the exam, and instructions on how to pay the ILE examination fee. The ILE examination fee shall be paid directly to the IHS.

Do I need to pay the $500 to the Board each time I take Part D of the exam?

No.

Pursuant to the following rule:

21 NCAC 22A .0503 (f) SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS AND FEES

(f) An applicant shall submit a new application for license and exam registration and pay the fees set forth in 21 NCAC22A .0501 each time the applicant registers for Parts A, B, C, and D of the licensing exam. However, the Board shall waive the application for license fee and the exam registration fee but not the ILE examination fee for any applicant that is only taking Part D.

I missed the exam registration deadline can I still register?

No.

Pursuant to the following rule:

21 NCAC 22A .0503 (g)(h) SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS AND FEES

(g) All applicants shall reapply for a license by examination within the time prescribed in Paragraph (d) of this Rule each time they take and fail to pass the licensing examination.

(h) The Board shall deny a late duly made application, except as set forth in Paragraph (d) of this Rule.

When is CEU reporting due each year?

CEU reporting is due to be completed on or before January 10 annually.

Is licensure renewal the same as CEU reporting?

No, CEUs reporting is due on or before January 10 annually, and is when a licensee reports the required 10 CEUs needed for licensure renewal. CEU reporting requires the submission of the correct forms and payment of fees in the amount of $15, per CEU reporting form.

Licensure renewal is due on or before March 31 annually. Licensure renewal requires the submission of the renewal form, submission of fees in the amount of $250, and submission of a current calibration.

Board position statement regarding general supervision

General supervision does not require the sponsor’s physical or direct presence at all times; however, the sponsor must be accessible and accountable to the apprentice until the apprentice passes part D of the exam.