§34-14-3. Licenses - Issuance; fees; certificates of endorsement.

(a) The board shall register each applicant without discrimination who pays an examination fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) and who satisfactorily passes an examination as provided in Section 34-14-4, and upon the applicant's payment of the application fee, shall issue to the applicant a license signed by the board. The license shall be effective until January 30 of the year following the year in which issued.

(b) An applicant who fulfills the requirements regarding age, character, education, and health, as set forth in subsection (a) of Section 34-14-4, and who shall provide proof of having met all requirements of certification as a national board certified hearing instrument specialist shall be issued a dispenser's license. All applicants who have current valid Alabama dealer's and fitter's licenses as of July 3, 1991, shall have five years from the date to obtain the requirements for certification. After the expiration of the five-year period, an applicant not providing proof of having met all requirements for certification as a national board certified hearing instrument specialist shall not be issued a dispenser's license but shall instead be issued a fitter's license.

(c) Whenever the board determines that another state or jurisdiction has requirements equivalent to or higher than those in effect pursuant to this chapter and that such state or jurisdiction has a program equivalent to or stricter than the program for determining whether applicants pursuant to this chapter are qualified to dispense and fit hearing instruments, the board may issue certificates of endorsement to applicants who hold current, unsuspended, and unrevoked certificates or licenses to fit and sell hearing instruments in such other state or jurisdiction. No such applicants for certificate of endorsement shall be required to submit to or undergo a qualifying examination, etc., other than the payment of fees, pursuant to this section and Section 34-14-6. The holder of a certificate of endorsement shall be registered in the same manner as licensees. The fee for an initial certificate of endorsement shall be the same as the fee for an initial license. Fees, grounds for renewal, and procedures for the suspension and revocation of certificates of endorsement shall be the same as for renewal, suspension, and revocation of a license.

(Acts 1971, No. 2425, p. 3858, §6; Acts 1985, No. 85-337, §3; Acts 1991, No. 91-198, p. 365, §3; Acts 1994, No. 94-180, p. 224, §3.)