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West Virginia Hearing Instrument Specialist — Requirements & Free Practice

US-WV · License preparation

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Hearing Aid Dealer or Fitter Individual License

Individual license to deal in or fit hearing aids, administered by the successor Board since 2023.

Licensing authority: West Virginia Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology · Application information

Initial licensure by examination

All of the following:

Application
Submit the signed application, required information and $120 fee; 8CSR1 §3.3 requires an oath before a notary.
Child Support
Complete the form certifications under §48-15-303 concerning support obligations, six months of arrears, and support-related subpoenas or warrants.
Criminal History
Applicant must be free of a disqualifying felony bearing a rational nexus to the profession under §30-32-10a(a)(2) and 8CSR5. Retained moral-turpitude language is read subject to the statute.
Education
Education equivalent to a four-year course in an accredited high school.
Equivalent Tests
Section 30-32-10a(c)(1) permits an equivalent examination selected by the Board, and (c)(2) permits a nationally recognized practical test selected by the Board. The implementing FAQ and practical instructions identify no additional examination.
Exam Sequence
Pass the ILE first, then the Practical Examination, then the State Jurisprudence Test. Practical and jurisprudence testing is offered together on an as-needed basis.
Health
Free of chronic infectious or contagious disease. The trainee FAQ requests a healthcare-provider letter.
Initial Fee Waiver
8CSR4 permits eligible low-income applicants and military families to request an initial fee waiver with supporting documentation.
Minimum Age
At least eighteen years old.
Personal Appearance
8CSR1 §4.11 requires a personal appearance for further examination unless waived by the Board. The provision identifies no additional examination; this is an applicant condition.
Residence
Section 30-32-10a(a)(1) requires West Virginia residence. Retained 8CSR1 §§2.1–2.2 and 4.1 also require a permanent office in West Virginia or within twenty highway miles of its border, subject to Board waiver; the older office provision does not replace statutory residence.
New license following lapse longer than five years

All of the following:

Application
Submit the signed application, required information and $120 fee; 8CSR1 §3.3 requires an oath before a notary.
Child Support
Complete the form certifications under §48-15-303 concerning support obligations, six months of arrears, and support-related subpoenas or warrants.
Criminal History
Applicant must be free of a disqualifying felony bearing a rational nexus to the profession under §30-32-10a(a)(2) and 8CSR5. Retained moral-turpitude language is read subject to the statute.
Education
Education equivalent to a four-year course in an accredited high school.
Equivalent Tests
Section 30-32-10a(c)(1) permits an equivalent examination selected by the Board, and (c)(2) permits a nationally recognized practical test selected by the Board. The implementing FAQ and practical instructions identify no additional examination.
Health
Free of chronic infectious or contagious disease. The trainee FAQ requests a healthcare-provider letter.
Initial Fee Waiver
8CSR4 permits eligible low-income applicants and military families to request an initial fee waiver with supporting documentation.
Lapse
Section 30-32-17(d) forbids reinstatement after a lapse longer than five years and directs a new application under current initial-license requirements.
Minimum Age
At least eighteen years old.
Personal Appearance
8CSR1 §4.11 requires a personal appearance for further examination unless waived by the Board. The provision identifies no additional examination; this is an applicant condition.
Residence
Section 30-32-10a(a)(1) requires West Virginia residence. Retained 8CSR1 §§2.1–2.2 and 4.1 also require a permanent office in West Virginia or within twenty highway miles of its border, subject to Board waiver; the older office provision does not replace statutory residence.
Reciprocity with full or partial examination waiver

All of the following:

Application
Submit the signed application, required information and $120 fee; 8CSR1 §3.3 requires an oath before a notary.
Child Support
Complete the form certifications under §48-15-303 concerning support obligations, six months of arrears, and support-related subpoenas or warrants.
Criminal History
Applicant must be free of a disqualifying felony bearing a rational nexus to the profession under §30-32-10a(a)(2) and 8CSR5. Retained moral-turpitude language is read subject to the statute.
Education
Education equivalent to a four-year course in an accredited high school.
Equivalent Tests
Section 30-32-10a(c)(1) permits an equivalent examination selected by the Board, and (c)(2) permits a nationally recognized practical test selected by the Board. The implementing FAQ and practical instructions identify no additional examination.
Health
Free of chronic infectious or contagious disease. The trainee FAQ requests a healthcare-provider letter.
Initial Fee Waiver
8CSR4 permits eligible low-income applicants and military families to request an initial fee waiver with supporting documentation.
Minimum Age
At least eighteen years old.
Other License
Hold another jurisdiction’s license whose requirements the Board determines meet West Virginia minimum standards.
Personal Appearance
8CSR1 §4.11 requires a personal appearance for further examination unless waived by the Board. The provision identifies no additional examination; this is an applicant condition.
Residence
Section 30-32-10a(a)(1) requires West Virginia residence. Retained 8CSR1 §§2.1–2.2 and 4.1 also require a permanent office in West Virginia or within twenty highway miles of its border, subject to Board waiver; the older office provision does not replace statutory residence.
State Test Demand
The October 2023 Board minutes state that Hearing Aid Dealer reciprocity applicants need the State Jurisprudence Exam and pay $50. That discussion does not expressly announce a blanket ILE or practical waiver.
Waiver
Section 30-26-11 and 8CSR1 §5.2 permit a full or partial waiver when the applicant completed an equal or superior examination. Waiver is discretionary; another state’s own examination is applicant evidence.
Reinstatement after more than one but fewer than five years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board Review
Under §30-1-8a the Board may consider whether practice can resume with reasonable skill and safety. These statutory reinstatement provisions prescribe no examination.
Continuing Education
Document credits earned during the lapsed period equal to the credits required for renewal.
Fees
Pay the reinstatement fee.
Time Limit
Section 30-32-17(c) permits reinstatement after a lapse longer than one year and shorter than five years.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Discretionary reinstatement after suspension or revocation
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board Discretion
Show that practice can resume with reasonable skill and safety. The Board may consider reinstatement under §30-1-8a(a).
Procedure
Follow applicable Board procedures under §30-1-8a(b) and satisfy the disciplinary order. This statutory reinstatement pathway names no examination.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Renewal of an unexpired individual license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit the individual renewal form and its criminal-history, health and support certifications.
Continuing Education
Section 30-26-9(b) requires twenty Board-approved hours during the preceding two years in even-numbered years; the current form requests a 2024, 2025 and 2026 attestation.
Schedule
The Hearing Aid Dealer rule and current 2026–2027 form require annual renewal before July 1 and a $120 fee. Section 30-32-17(a) says biennial; the Board’s profession-specific implementation still requests annual renewal.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Renewal of an expired individual license within two years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Provide the continuing-education documentation requested on the form.
Fees
Current Board form states $240 for late renewal both within and after thirty days.
Time Limit
8CSR1 §4.3 expressly removes examinations for renewal within two years of expiration. Section 30-32-17(b) also permits lapsed renewal within one year.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Universal recognition — qualifying military spouse
West Virginia State Jurisprudence Test (Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters)
Application
Use the current Board application and provide required certifications.
Compact
The license is valid only in West Virginia and conveys no interstate compact privilege.
Criminal History
No disqualifying criminal history as determined by the Board.
Current License
Currently licensed, registered or certified in the same discipline and at the same practice level in another state, as determined by the Board.
Discipline
No revocation or surrender while under investigation; other disciplinary matters must be resolved under §30-1-27(b)(6)–(7).
Education And Experience
The issuing state must verify that minimum education and any applicable experience and clinical-supervision requirements were met.
Eligibility
Be married to an active-duty United States armed-forces member and accompany that member on a permanent change of station to a West Virginia military installation under §30-1-27(a)(2).
Fees
Pay applicable fees.
Good Standing
Hold the authorization in good standing in every state where it is held.
Prior Examinations
Have passed examinations required by the issuing state. Section 30-1-27(b)(5) identifies no exact examination, so this is an applicant condition.
State Law Exception
Subsection (a) removes examination requirements except the state-law test the Board may require under (d). The Board’s Hearing Aid Dealer requirements retain the jurisprudence test for applicants licensed elsewhere.
Universal recognition — resident
West Virginia State Jurisprudence Test (Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters)
Application
Use the current Board application and provide required certifications.
Compact
The license is valid only in West Virginia and conveys no interstate compact privilege.
Criminal History
No disqualifying criminal history as determined by the Board.
Current License
Currently licensed, registered or certified in the same discipline and at the same practice level in another state, as determined by the Board.
Discipline
No revocation or surrender while under investigation; other disciplinary matters must be resolved under §30-1-27(b)(6)–(7).
Education And Experience
The issuing state must verify that minimum education and any applicable experience and clinical-supervision requirements were met.
Eligibility
Establish West Virginia residence under §30-1-27(a)(1).
Fees
Pay applicable fees.
Good Standing
Hold the authorization in good standing in every state where it is held.
Prior Examinations
Have passed examinations required by the issuing state. Section 30-1-27(b)(5) identifies no exact examination, so this is an applicant condition.
State Law Exception
Subsection (a) removes examination requirements except the state-law test the Board may require under (d). The Board’s Hearing Aid Dealer requirements retain the jurisprudence test for applicants licensed elsewhere.

Temporary Hearing Aid Dealer or Fitter Trainee Permit

One-year supervised temporary trainee permit, renewable or reissuable once for another year.

Licensing authority: West Virginia Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology · Application information

Initial temporary trainee permit

All of the following:

Application
Submit the signed application, required information and $120 fee; 8CSR1 §3.3 requires an oath before a notary.
Child Support
Complete the form certifications under §48-15-303 concerning support obligations, six months of arrears, and support-related subpoenas or warrants.
Criminal History
Applicant must be free of a disqualifying felony bearing a rational nexus to the profession under §30-32-10a(a)(2) and 8CSR5. Retained moral-turpitude language is read subject to the statute.
Education
Education equivalent to a four-year course in an accredited high school.
Equivalent Tests
Section 30-32-10a(c)(1) permits an equivalent examination selected by the Board, and (c)(2) permits a nationally recognized practical test selected by the Board. The implementing FAQ and practical instructions identify no additional examination.
Examination Timing
8CSR1 §4.10 requires presenting for the licensing examination within twelve months of permit issuance. The licensing exams remain leaves even though they occur after application.
Health
Free of chronic infectious or contagious disease. The trainee FAQ requests a healthcare-provider letter.
Initial Fee Waiver
8CSR4 permits eligible low-income applicants and military families to request an initial fee waiver with supporting documentation.
Minimum Age
At least eighteen years old.
Named Supervisor
Permit is valid only for the named trainee and specified supervisor unless otherwise approved by the Board.
Personal Appearance
8CSR1 §4.11 requires a personal appearance for further examination unless waived by the Board. The provision identifies no additional examination; this is an applicant condition.
Residence
Section 30-32-10a(a)(1) requires West Virginia residence. Retained 8CSR1 §§2.1–2.2 and 4.1 also require a permanent office in West Virginia or within twenty highway miles of its border, subject to Board waiver; the older office provision does not replace statutory residence.
Term
Permit lasts one year and can be renewed or reissued only once for another year.
Training
Train full time under the named licensed dealer or fitter’s direct supervision in the same office; a supervisor can supervise only one trainee.
One time trainee permit renewal or reissue

All of the following:

Application
Submit renewal application and $120; after expiration, the rule permits renewal upon twice the fee.
Eligibility
Has not successfully passed the licensing examination within the first year; at most one additional one-year period is allowed.
Personal Appearance
8CSR1 §4.11 requires a personal appearance for further examination unless waived by the Board. The provision identifies no additional examination; this is an applicant condition.
Prior Attempt
Take the qualifying examination at least once during the first year and attain at least 50% in its written portion and 70% in its performance test under 8CSR1 §4.7. These thresholds qualify for permit renewal and are not represented as full-license passing scores.
Supervision
Continue direct supervision in the same office by the specified licensee.

International Licensing Examination for Hearing Healthcare Professionals

Provider
International Hearing Society (IHS); scheduled and paid through the TestWise system at testing centers
Format
Practice-based computer-delivered multiple-choice examination; most questions present a scenario; a few questions require selecting two (or three) correct answers to earn one point; dichotomous right/wrong scoring
Exam questions
105 multiple-choice questions: 80 scored and 25 unscored pilot questions
Time limit
120 minutes (two hours)
Passing score
Pass/Fail on the overall raw score against the IHS-recommended passing score; the licensing agency makes the final decision
Exam fee
$260.00 (USD) per examination appointment, including re-takes, plus applicable taxes
Examination outline
  • Domain 1. Conduct Patient/Client Assessment (21%) (21%)
    • Objective 1.1 Apply infection control protocols (5%). Includes but is not limited to choosing appropriate infection control processes for tools and equipment; observing universal precautions for infection control; distinguishing between single- and multiple-use items; differentiating among sanitization, disinfection and sterilization processes; and identifying personal protective equipment.
    • Objective 1.2 Apply otoscopic inspection protocols (5%). Includes but is not limited to observing safety protocols during otoscopy; identifying anatomical structures; identifying abnormalities through otoscopic inspection; and recognizing the presence of referral criteria. This objective helps provide evidence of the candidate’s ability to perform otoscopy.
    • Objective 1.3 Utilize audiometric testing protocols (11%). Includes but is not limited to performing air and bone conduction threshold and suprathreshold testing; performing speech audiometry; performing effective masking; and applying principles to include interpreting results of tympanometry/immittance audiometry. This objective helps provide evidence of the candidate’s ability to perform audiometric testing and application of tympanometry.
  • Domain 2. Interpret and Apply Assessment Results (22%) (22%)
    • Objective 2.1 Interpret and explain audiometric results (11%). Includes but is not limited to demonstrating an understanding of referral criteria; interpreting pure tone and speech testing results; identifying the need for additional testing; identifying the degree and configuration of hearing loss; and identifying the type of hearing loss.
    • Objective 2.2 Determine candidacy for amplification (11%). Includes but is not limited to interpreting the case history and outlining contraindications to hearing instrument use.
  • Domain 3. Select Hearing Devices (18%) (18%)
    • Objective 3.1 Select style and type of hearing instruments (9%). Includes but is not limited to establishing fitting goals and selecting specific hearing instruments based on test results, case history, and individual patient/client preferences and lifestyle; selecting electroacoustic and physical properties; and evaluating the need for accessory devices.
    • Objective 3.2 Select earmold or other acoustic coupler (9%). Includes but is not limited to assessing physical properties of the outer ear, taking ear impressions, critiquing ear impressions, and selecting coupler based on patient/client needs.
  • Domain 4. Fit and Dispense Hearing Devices (20%) (20%)
    • Objective 4.1 Utilize protocols to fit hearing instruments and other devices (10%). Includes but is not limited to confirming physical and acoustic integrity of hearing devices; programming and adjusting hearing devices; verifying physical fit and acoustic comfort; orienting patient/client to hearing instruments; and orienting patient/client to assistive devices. This objective helps provide evidence of the candidate’s ability to program and dispense hearing instruments and other devices.
    • Objective 4.2 Verify fitting (5%). Includes but is not limited to selecting verification method based on patient/client; assessing physical and acoustic integrity of hearing devices; interpreting and explaining verification results; and modifying physical and acoustic parameters of device. This objective helps provide evidence of the candidate’s ability to perform fitting verification (e.g., speech mapping, REM).
    • Objective 4.3 Validate fitting (5%). Includes but is not limited to selecting validation method based on patient/client; interpreting and explaining validation results; and modifying physical and acoustic parameters of device. This objective helps provide evidence of the candidate’s ability to perform fitting validation (e.g., questionnaire, self-assessment).
  • Domain 5. Provide Continuing Care (19%) (19%)
    • Objective 5.1 Implement aural rehabilitation and counseling (8%). Includes but is not limited to demonstrating an understanding of the psychology of the hearing impaired; defining and managing patient/client expectations for improved communication; defining and managing family/caregiver expectations for improved communication; and identifying communication strategies.
    • Objective 5.2 Apply instrument maintenance and troubleshooting protocols (9%). Includes but is not limited to employing hearing instrument cleaning procedures; performing listening checks on hearing instruments; troubleshooting acoustic properties of hearing instruments; and adjusting based upon changes in patient/client hearing loss and/or listening needs. This objective helps provide evidence of the candidate’s ability to maintain and troubleshoot instrument performance.
    • Objective 5.3 Interpret electroacoustic analysis results (2%). Includes but is not limited to identifying need for electroacoustic analysis and comparing electroacoustic analysis of patient’s/client’s hearing instruments to fitting specifications.
Examination sources

West Virginia State Jurisprudence Test (Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters)

Provider
West Virginia Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Format
Board-developed knowledge competency examination
Exam fee
$50; retest $50
Examination outline
  • Ability to counsel the person or family who will receive the hearing aid relative to the care and use of the instrument
  • Knowledge regarding the medical and rehabilitative facilities for hearing-handicapped children and adults in the area being served
  • Knowledge and understanding of the grounds for revocation, suspension, or probation of a license as outlined in this article or in rule
  • Knowledge and understanding of criminal offenses relating to the profession
Examination sources

West Virginia State Practical Examination

This assessment does not have a question bank.

Provider
West Virginia Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Format
Audiometric and Ear Mold practical performance assessment
Exam fee
$150; retest $75
Examination sources