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South Dakota Department of Health
South Dakota Department of Health

Boards

Board of Hearing Aid Dispensers and Audiologists Licensing Requirements

For New Hearing Aid Dispensers licensed by Examination:

Passage of the national written exam administered by the International Hearing Society (IHS) exam is required. Also, a practical test of proficiency will be conducted by the board using the enclosed guidelines.

It is the duty of the applicant to secure a sponsor (you may apply to become Provisionally Licensed during this time) who will train and guide the applicant, using the following guidelines:

Applicants must have a thorough understanding of the FDA hearing aid regulations and the IHS Code of Ethics and be able to apply them as required.

Applicants are graded on sanitary habits and proper sterilization of equipment.

Applicants must be familiar with the audiometer in use, and all its functions. A full audiogram will be done (Aid Conduction, Bone Conduction, Masking, Speech Reception Threshold, Discrimination, Most Comfortable Level, Uncomfortable Level-Threshold). Applicant must be able to define and interpret conductive, mixed, and sensorineural types of hearing loss from audiogram examples.

Most examinations are administered in conjunction with the South Dakota Board of Hearing Aid Dispensers and Audiologists' board meetings. You must first pass the IHS written exam before you are eligible to take the in-person practicum before the Board.

Please contact the Board if you have questions about becoming Provisionally licensed while completing testing and supervision requirements. A provisional hearing aid dispensing licensee shall receive 40 hours of direct, face-to-face supervision, as referred to in SDCL 36-24-24.2, during the first week of provisional hearing aid dispensing licensure. The provisional licensee shall receive 8 hours of direct, face-to-face supervision each week thereafter for the duration of provisional licensure.

For Hearing Aid Dispensers licensed and practicing in another state:

You must apply for a license and submit the required information but you may apply for a waiver of the practicum (in-person before the board) exam if you meet certain criteria. Please see the Practicum Waiver form listed with all other applications and forms on this page.

  1. Application (signed and notarized)
  2. Application fee of $100
  3. High School Transcripts directly from your school to our office (may be mailed or emailed to office@sdlicensing.com)
  4. IHS score report sent to us directly from IHS
  5. License verifications from each state you hold or have held licensure in (may submit our form or their own form if it contains the same information)
  6. Practicum Waiver Form (if applicable)

  1. Application (signed and notarized)
  2. Application fee of $200
  3. ASHA Certification Directly from ASHA
  4. If not ASHA Certified please submit:
    1. Praxis Scores sent to us directly from testing service
    2. Verification of Completed Supervised Practicum Form
  5. Official Transcripts (Master’s or Doctorate)
  6. Verification of Licensure from each state you hold or have held licensure in (must come directly from that state to our office via mail or email at office@sdlicensing.com

Content last updated: January 2, 2024. For questions, contact: