Speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and hearing aid dispensers

The law keeps the state regulator operating and tightens title, registration, business-operation, and continuing-education rules for these hearing and communication-care professions. It also permits limited online hearing-aid sales by qualified California licensees.

What the law does ​

• Extends the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board and its executive-officer authority until January 1, 2031.
• Requires board-approved examinations for speech-language pathologist and audiologist licenses, which may be administered by the board or a designated organization.
• Broadens qualifying master’s and bachelor’s degree fields for speech-language pathologists and speech-language pathology assistants.
• Creates retired licenses for eligible licensees, with rules for returning to active status.
• Requires aides to register, display licenses or registrations at their primary workplace, and bars aides and assistants from misrepresenting their credentials or independently operating relevant practices.
• Allows hearing aids to be sold online, by catalog, or by direct mail when a qualified California licensee makes no fitting or selection recommendation and required documentation is retained.
• Requires branch-office licenses for hearing-aid dispensers operating at multiple business locations and updates trainee, renewal, expiration, and reinstatement rules.
• Requires continuing-education documentation for dispensing audiologists and expands approved continuing-education sources.

Who it affects ​

• Speech-language pathologists, audiologists, dispensing audiologists, hearing-aid dispensers, and their applicants.
• Speech-language pathology and audiology aides, speech-language pathology assistants, and supervised trainees.
• Businesses that fit, sell, or advertise hearing aids.
• Consumers purchasing hearing aids, including online purchasers.

Context ​

Violations of the licensing law remain criminal offenses.