§34-14-7. Apprentice permit; fitter's license; supervision and training.

(a) An applicant who fulfills the requirements regarding age, character, education, and health, as set forth in subsection (a) of Section 34-14-4, may obtain an apprentice permit upon application to the board.

(b) Upon receiving an application as provided under this section and accompanied by a fee of one hundred dollars ($100), the board shall issue an apprentice permit which shall entitle the applicant to engage in the fitting and sale of hearing instruments for a period of one year provided the apprentice has received 80 hours of academic and practical instruction under the direct supervision and immediate physical observation of the person holding a valid current Alabama hearing instrument dispenser's license. The licensed dispenser shall be totally responsible for the direct supervision and physical observation and training of the applicant thereafter. An apprentice permit may be renewed for an additional year, upon terms and conditions established by the board. An applicant may not be issued a second permit within a five-year period following the expiration date of the initial permit.

(c) An apprentice or applicant who successfully completes the fitter's examination may obtain a fitter's license upon application to the board, and payment of the license fee, which shall entitle the applicant to engage in the sale or fitting of hearing instruments until January 30th of the following year under the direct supervision of a person holding a current Alabama hearing instrument dispenser's license. The licensed dispenser shall be totally responsible for the supervision of all activities of the fitter pertaining to the sale and fitting of hearing instruments, upon payment of a one hundred dollar ($100) fee.

(d) The dispenser who is responsible for the supervision and training of an apprentice shall not have more than four apprentices under his or her supervision at any time. There shall be no limitations on the number of fitters a dispenser may have under his or her supervision at any given time.

(e) The dispenser responsible for the supervision and training of any apprentice or fitter shall be subject to administrative actions with respect to licensure and to civil liability for all actions of an apprentice or fitter under his or her supervision when the apprentice or fitter engages in unethical, prohibited, fraudulent, deceptive, and misleading conduct involving the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments.

(Acts 1971, No. 2425, p. 3858, §8; Acts 1982, No. 82-146, p. 173, §4; Acts 1985, No. 85-337, p. 274, §3; Acts 1989, No. 89-268, p. 408, §3; Acts 1991, No. 91-198, p. 365, §3; Acts 1994, No. 94-180, p. 224, §3; Act 2001-250, p. 301, §3.)