19 NYCRR 192.7 — read free

Continuing education

Compiled source label: current through Apr 15, 2022

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Status: Source receipt
Compiled source current through: Apr 15, 2022
Register checked through: July 8, 2026/Vol. XLVIII, Issue 27 (2026-07-08)
Register activity status: Register activity found; review before filing
Latest notice: DOS-24-25-00004-P
Latest notice date: Jun 18, 2025
LawEngine source snapshot: Jun 6, 2026

(a)General requirements.

No offering of a course of study shall be acceptable for credit unless such course of study shall have been approved by the department.

(b)Proof of compliance.

A registrant shall maintain and, upon request, provide to the department proof of satisfactory completion of the continuing education requirements for the registrant's current and immediately preceding term of registration.

(c)Approved entity.

Dispenser continuing education courses and offerings may be presented by: any college or university accredited by the Commissioner of Education of the State of New York; public and private vocational schools; audiology, hearing and/or hearing aid professional societies and organizations; medical facilities; or hearing instrument manufacturers.

(d)Application for approval of a continuing education course of study.

(1)An application for approval to conduct a course of study by an educational provider shall be submitted 60 days before the proposed course is to begin.

(2)The application shall include the following:

(i)name and business address of the proposed school;

(ii)if applicant is a partnership, the names and addresses of all the partners of the entity;

(iii)if applicant is a corporation, the names and addresses of persons who own five percent or more of the stock of the entity;

(iv)the name, home and business address and telephone number of the education coordinator who will be responsible for administering the regulations contained in this Part;

(v)locations where classes will be conducted;

(vi)title of each course or program to be conducted;

(vii)a detailed outline of the subject matter, together with time sequence of each segment; and

(viii)a description of materials that will be distributed.

(e)Basic course or program requirements.

Approval for continuing education courses may be granted for courses which cover hearing aid dispenser-related topics. No credit will be granted for sales or sales-related courses or components thereof.

(f)Length of programs.

A program must contain a minimum of one contact hour and may contain a maximum of 20 contact hours of instruction.

(g)Program approval.

A sponsor of a course which is conducted on one day may file an application for approval within 30 days of the completion of the course. The sponsor must advise registrants that approval has not been granted.

(h)Facilities.

Each course shall be conducted in such premises and facilities as necessary to properly present the course.

(i)Change of approved course of study.

There shall be no change or alteration in any approved course of study of any subject without prior written notice to and approval by the department.

(j)Attendance.

In order to obtain a certificate of completion for continuing education, a dispenser must complete at least 90 percent of the outlined course of instruction. A student may complete hours that are missed at the discretion of the approved entity. Within 30 days of the completion of the course, the approved entity must submit to the department a list of the names and registration numbers of all individuals who successfully complete the approved course.

(k)Certificate of completion.

An educational provider shall issue a certificate of successful completion of a course approved by the Department of State to a person who has attended the required aggregate number of hours of such a course.

(l)Availability.

An approved course shall be open to any registrant.

(m)Retention of records.

An approved entity shall retain the records of all students for a period of five years after the completion of a course, and such papers shall be available for inspection by duly authorized representatives of the department at all times during such period.

(n)Auditing.

A duly authorized representative of the department may audit any course, verify attendance and inspect the records of attendance of a course, at any time during its presentation or for a period of five years after completion thereof, without prior notice to the sponsor.

(o)Suspensions and denials of course approval.

(1)Within 60 days after the receipt of the application for approval of an offering, the department shall inform the sponsor as to whether the course has been approved, denied, or whether additional information is needed to determine the acceptability of the offering.

(2)The department may deny, suspend or revoke the approval of a dispenser course, instructor or location, if it is determined not to be in compliance with law and regulations, or if the offering does not adequately reflect and present current hearing aid dispenser knowledge. If disciplinary action is taken, a written order of suspension, revocation or denial of approval shall be issued. Anyone who objects to such denial, suspension or revocation shall have the opportunity to appeal to the Secretary of State or designee within 30 days.

(p)Faculty approval and qualifications.

(1)Each instructor who is a registered hearing aid dispenser with three years of full-time experience in the dispensing of hearing aids and each instructor of an approved educational provider who has three years of experience in the field directly related to hearing aid dispensing must submit a one-time application to the Division of Licensing Services, Bureau of Educational Standards, on an application form as promulgated by the division, along with a resume.

(2)An instructor in technical subjects, closely related to hearing aid dispensing, but not classified as specific subject matter pertaining to hearing aid dispensing theory, who does not satisfy the three-year experience qualification under paragraph (1) of this subdivision must submit a technical instructor application certifying to the claimed expertise along with a resume.

(q)Policy on course cancellation and tuition refund.

An educational provider must submit to the department its written policy relating to course cancellation and tuition refunds. Such policy must be provided in writing to prospective students prior to the acceptance of any fees.

(r)Registration period.

Each registration or renewal period for approved courses shall be for 12 months or a part thereof. The period shall commence on each January 1st or a date thereafter and continue until December 31st of each year.

(s)Equivalency credit.

(1)A registrant who completes a course of study offered outside of the State of New York, which course has not been approved by the department, may file a request to the department for review and evaluation of such course. An application for such consideration may be submitted along with official documentation of satisfactory completion, and the official description of the course.

(2)An instructor of an approved qualifying or continuing education course may be awarded one hour of continuing education credit for each direct hour of instruction during the registration cycle. Credit shall not be awarded for teaching the same course more than once in a registration cycle.

Instructors must submit evidence of such experience with an equivalency application.

(3)An application for and evidence of equivalency credit must be submitted to the department for consideration at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the registration.

(t)Individual credit for continuing education.

Any course approved under this section cannot be taken more than once during the same registration cycle.

(u)Continuing education extension.

A registrant who is unable to complete continuing education requirements due to an extreme ongoing illness or other catastrophe may request an extension from the department. Medical documentation or other evidence of the claimed problem must be submitted along with the request for the extension.

(v)Infection control and New York State and Federal law, regulation and professional conduct for hearing aid dispensers.

As a condition of renewing a hearing aid dispenser registration, each hearing aid dispenser shall successfully complete a total of 20 continuing education credits per registration period as set forth in section 794 of the General Business Law. At least one of the required credit hours shall be devoted to the subject of infection control as prescribed by the Secretary of State, at least one of the required credit hours shall be devoted to the subject of telecoil (t-coil) and other assistive listening devices, and at least one of the required credit hours shall be devoted to the subject of New York State and Federal law, regulations and professional conduct as prescribed by the Secretary of State.

(w)Infection control and New York State and Federal law, regulation and professional conduct for audiologists.

As a condition of renewing a hearing aid dispenser registration, each audiologist who is registered as a hearing aid dispenser under General Business Law section 790(1)(b), shall successfully complete four continuing education credits relating to the dispensing of hearing aids as set forth in section 794 of the General Business Law. At least one of the required credit hours shall be devoted to the subject of infection control, at least one of the required credit hours shall be devoted to the subject of telecoil (t-coil) and other assistive listening devices, and at least one of the required credit hours shall be devoted to the subject of New York State and Federal law, regulations and professional conduct.