North Carolina SB 654: End Dual Licensure for Audiologists.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 654

Short Title: End Dual Licensure for Audiologists. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Sawrey (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S654-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO MODERNIZE AUDIOLOGY LICENSURE STATUTES BY ELIMINATING 2
DUAL LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS AND TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE TO 3
CONSUMERS WHEN PURCHASING LOCKED HEARING AIDS. 4
Whereas, it is the intention of the North Carolina General Assembly to promote the 5
health and welfare of the citizens of this State; and 6
Whereas, it is the intention of the North Carolina General Assembly to reduce or 7
eliminate regulatory burdens on businesses; and 8
Whereas, it is the intention of the North Carolina General Assembly that statutes 9
governing the profession of audiology reflect current practices, improvements, and other 10
developments that have occurred in the profession; and 11
Whereas, the current statutory language does not fully encompass current practices, 12
improvements, and other developments; Now, therefore, 13
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 14
SECTION 1.(a) Dual Licensure for Audiologists, Audiology Technicians, and 15
Audiology Assistants Ended. – G.S. 93D-14 reads as rewritten: 16
"§ 93D-14. Persons not affected. 17
(a) Nothing in this Chapter shall apply to a physician licensed to practice medicine or 18
surgery in the State of North Carolina. 19
(b) Any person who meets the requirements of having both a doctoral degree in 20
Audiology and holding a valid permanent unrestricted license as an audiologist audiologist, 21
audiology assistant, or certified technician under Article 22 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes 22
of North Carolina is exempt from licensure under this Chapter. A person who does not meet both 23
requirements of having a doctoral degree in Audiology and holding a valid permanent license as 24
an audiologist under Article 22 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes of North Carolina must 25
become a registered apprentice or be licensed by the Board before fitting or selling hearing aids 26
in the State of North Carolina. 27
(c) Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to exempt an audiology assistant or 28
certified technician, working under the supervision of a licensee or a person exempt from 29
licensure under this Chapter, from being subject to the provisions of this Chapter. Such a person, 30
before engaging in fitting or selling hearing aids, as defined in this Chapter, must be registered 31
as an apprentice under a Registered Sponsor or be licensed by the Board. 32
(d) The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to the activities and services of an 33
audiology student pursuing a course of study in an accredited college or university, if these 34
activities and services constitute a part of such person's course of study." 35
SECTION 1.(b) Effective date. – This section is effective when it becomes law. 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 654-First Edition
SECTION 2.(a) Locked Hearing Aid Disclosures for Hearing Aid Fitters and 1
Dealers. – Chapter 93D of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read: 2
"§ 93D-7.1. Disclosure of locked hearing aid software; additional disclosures and record 3
keeping. 4
(a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 5
(1) Locked hearing aid. – A hearing aid that uses either proprietary programming 6
software or locked, nonproprietary programming software that restricts 7
programming or servicing of the device to specific facilities or providers 8
(2) Locked, nonproprietary programming software. – Software that any provider 9
or seller can render inaccessible to other hearing aid programmers. 10
(3) Proprietary programming software. – Software used to program hearing aids 11
that is supplied by a hearing aid distributor or manufacturer for exclusive use 12
by affiliated providers or sellers. This software is locked and inaccessible to 13
nonaffiliated providers or sellers. 14
(b) Disclosure of Locked Programming Software. – To the extent not inconsistent with 15
federal law, any person licensed under this Chapter who sells locked hearing aids shall, before 16
consummating the sale of any locked hearing aid, provide the purchaser with a written notice, in 17
12-point type or larger, stating: 18
"The hearing aid being purchased uses proprietary or locked programming software and can 19
only be serviced or programmed at specific facilities or locations." 20
The purchaser shall sign the notice prior to sale completion. The seller shall retain a copy of 21
the signed notice for at least seven years, subject to the conditions of subsection (d) of this section. 22
(c) Written Receipt of Sale. – Upon consummation of a sale of a locked hearing aid, in 23
addition to complying with G.S. 93D-7, the licensee shall deliver to the purchaser a written 24
receipt signed by or on behalf of the licensee, c