Hear For You: Professional Resources for Hearing Aid Dispensers

Basic Eligibility and Application: 

• You must be at least 21 years old or a licensed audiologist.
• Submit a completed application and pay the required fee to the New York State Department of State.
• If you are not already a licensed NYS audiologist, you generally must qualify as an employee of a registered hearing aid dealer, or as a first-time applicant with no or limited previous experience.
• You must pass a written and practical licensing examination administered by the Department of State.

Education and Training: 

• Before practicing, new applicants usually complete a qualifying training course and may serve under supervision as a temporary registered dispenser if needed.
• There is no formal college degree requirement, but preparation courses are recommended.

Continuing Education:

• Licensed hearing aid dispensers must complete 20 hours of Department of State-approved continuing education every two years
  • At least two hours must cover infection control and New York State regulations.
  • Additional required content areas may include telecoil technology, assistive listening devices, and professional conduct.
  • As of 2025, some continuing education may be completed online, but the course must be approved by the Department of State.
• Licensed audiologists registered as dispensers in NYS need at least four hours of continuing education specifically for dispensing topics, with certain hour distributions among required topics

Exams:

•  Passing both a written and a practical exam is required. As of 2025, some continuing education may be completed online, but the course must be approved by the Department of State.  
• Licensed audiologists registered as dispensers in NYS need at least four hours of continuing education specifically for dispensing topics, with certain hour distributions among required topics. 

Renew:

You are eligible to renew your license 90 days prior to your license expiration date. Your license expiration date is printed on the license.

Renewal forms are mailed approximately 90 days prior to the license expiration date. Complete and submit the renewal form to the address on the form.

If you are eligible to renew your license and you have not received a renewal form, please reach out to HHCANY for assistance: email hhcany@hhcany.org

Update

To update your personal name, business or residence address, download, complete and submit the Change Notice to the address on the form.

To request a duplicate license certificate, download, complete and submit the Duplicate License/Registration Request to the address on the form.

• Change Notices (DOS-1473-f)
• Duplicate License/Registration Request

Course Providers for Continuing Education:

Course Providers offer the qualifying and continuing education courses for Hearing Aid Dispensers.  HHCANY is a NYS Department of State and IHS-approved provider of training. We offer 11.5 hours of in-person, live educational courses of CEU credits each year at our Annual Conference and Trade Show over 1.5 days.

The Department of State does not approve nor accept Hearing Aid Dispenser distance learning courses for credit. Approved courses vary in length from 1 to 20 hours and are offered in a class room setting or using live distance education.