In September, the Department of State announced that all licensed audiologists registered as hearing aid dispensers, whose licenses are to expire on or after January 1, 2009, are required to complete four hours of hearing aid dispenser related topics in which at least two hours must include the topic of infection control and at least one hour must include New York State and Federal law, regulations and professional conduct.

As The Communicator went to print, The Department of Education, Office of the Professions intended to request a delay in these new requirements for audiologists.

This request will be based on two criteria:

The Department of Education was not informed of the new requirements in a timely manner and did not communicate to audiologists renewing their licenses in January, 2009, of the new requirements.

It has not been determined if the Department of State, Division of Licensing, which oversees hearing aid dispensers, will monitor this requirement for audiologists or if the Department of Education, Office of the Professions, the licensing body for audiologists, will oversee the requirement.

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