Section 08.11.120. Audiology exemptions.

   (a) This chapter does not apply to an individual who practices audiology consistent with the accepted standards and code of ethics of the individual's profession as part of the individual's duties as
        (1) a physician licensed under AS 08.64;
        (2) an employee of the federal government who is required to practice audiology during the employment, if
             (A) the employer maintains appropriate supervision of the individual's practice of audiology;
             (B) the individual practices audiology as part of the duties for which the individual is employed;
             (C) the individual practices audiology in the facility where the individual is employed or under the supervision of the federal governmental unit where the individual is employed; and
             (D) the individual does not render or offer to render audiology services to the public for compensation in addition to the salary the individual receives from the federal governmental unit;
        (3) a student, intern, or resident pursuing a course of study in audiology at an accredited college or a clinical training facility approved by the department, if the activities of the student, intern, or resident constitute part of a supervised course of study and the student, intern, or resident is designated as an "audiology intern," "audiology trainee," or other title approved by the department that clearly indicates that the person is training to be an audiologist.
   (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter,
        (1) a nurse licensed under AS 08.68 may perform hearing sensitivity evaluations;
        (2) an individual licensed as a hearing aid dealer under AS 08.55 may deal in hearing aids;
        (3) an individual holding a class A certificate issued by the Conference of Executives of American Schools of the Deaf may teach the hearing impaired;
        (4) an individual may engage in the testing of hearing as part of a hearing conservation program that complies with the regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the federal government if the individual is certified to do the testing by a state or federal agency acceptable to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration;
        (5) an individual may perform hearing screening under AS 47.20.310 if authorized to do so under a protocol adopted under AS 47.20.310(e) by the Department of Health and Social Services.
   (c) An individual who is not an audiologist, but who is exempt under this section, may not use a title or description stating or implying that the person is an audiologist.
   (d) An individual exempt under (a)(2) of this section may consult with and disseminate research findings and scientific information to accredited academic institutions or governmental agencies, and offer lectures to the public for a fee, monetary or otherwise, without being licensed under this chapter.
   (e) An individual who is not licensed under this chapter but who teaches the practice of audiology in an audiologist training program at a college or university may use the title "audiologist" but may not practice audiology.

Notes

History

(Sec. 7 ch 131 SLA 1986; am Sec. 3 ch 43 SLA 2006)