LICENSING

Licensing Requirements

Training License

Applicants may obtain a temporary trainee license if the applicant is eighteen years of age or older, of good moral character, and has an education equivalent to a four-year course in an accredited high school.

The applicant will submit the necessary application and fee ($150 for the year, or a prorated amount for the remainder of the year from the date requested). A trainee permit allows the applicant to engage in the training of fitting and sale of hearing instruments for a period of one year under the direct supervision of a licensee. The trainee shall train in the same place of business as that of the supervisor and must complete at least thirty hours of book and visual aid training and at least ten hours of training with an audiometer, as well as a minimum of one week with the supervisor before the trainee's first public contact alone. A trainee may not deal with the public outside the supervisor's office or place of business until these requirements have been fulfilled. After this initial period of training, the trainee must spend one day per week in the office or place of business with the supervisor. The trainee may not make any sale of a hearing instrument without first consulting with the supervisor and obtaining the supervisor's approval for the sale.

Download the application and log sheet here:

Training License ApplicationLog Sheet

Full Licensure

Applicants may obtain a license by successfully passing a qualifying examination, provided the applicant is eighteen years of age or older, of good moral character, and has an education equivalent to a four-year course in an accredited high school. An applicant does not need to have a training license before testing for a full license. AUDIOLOGISTS ARE REQUIRED TO LICENSE AS A HEARING INSTRUMENT SPECIALIST IN THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA. THEY ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM THIS REQUIREMENT.

Examination Requirements

  • Passing score on the ILE (International License Examination for Hearing Healthcare Professionals); NDSBE-HIS registers the candidate for testing if not already completed
  • Passing score on the ND Examination of State Laws ($50 Fee)
  • Passing score of the ND Practical Examination ($50 Fee); an examination which assesses the candidate on the following areas:
  1. Pure tone audiometry, including air conduction testing and bone conduction testing (tested through the AUDSIM program)
  2. Live voice or recorded voice speech audiometry, including speech reception threshold testing and speech discrimination testing
  3. Masking when indicated
  4. Recording and evaluation of audiograms and speech audiometry to determine proper selection and adaptation of a hearing instrument
  5. Taking of earmold impressions
  6. Any other requirements established by the board (i.e., case history, biological calibration, patient set-up, etc.)

Examinees must bring a portable audiometer for the completion of the testing. Examinees are also encouraged to practice with the Audsim program prior to their examination.

Test Instructions & Study MaterialsExamination Application

Once examination requirements are complete (with passing results), the candidate must complete and submit the licensing application with the appropriate fee to receive a full licensure certificate. License fees are $150 for the year, but the candidate can pay a prorated fee for the remainder of the year through coordination with the board contact. License renewals are required yearly.

Full License Application

License Through Recipriocity

Whenever the board determines that another state or jurisdiction has requirements equivalent to or higher than those in effect pursuant to this chapter for the practice to fit and sell hearing instruments (ND requirements are listed above), and that the state or jurisdiction has a program equivalent to or stricter than the program for determining whether applicants pursuant to this chapter are qualified to dispense and fit hearing instruments, the board may issue certificates of endorsement to applicants who hold current, un-suspended and un-revoked certificates or licenses by examination to fit and sell hearing instruments in the other state or jurisdiction. Requests for reciprocity must be submitted to the board for review.

Regardless, the applicant is required to take the ND State Laws portion of the examination. The fee for this examination is $50. Coordination for this examination can be made with the board contact. After successful completion of the ND State Laws examination, the applicant must complete and submit the license application with the appropriate fee (refer to full licensure section above).

Dates of HIS Examinations

October 11th, 2025 @ 9:30 am (examinee's time assigned) - Delta Hotel, Fargo, ND
April 25th, 2026 @ 9:30 am (examinee's time assigned) - Holiday Inn, Bismarck, ND

Page Links

HomeRenewalsLicensingContact

ND State Board of Examiners on
Hearing Instrument Specialists

(NDSBE-HIS)
PO Box 12266
Grand Forks
ND 58201

Email

Megan Thorson - financendhis@outlook.com

Bob Briggs - presidentndhis@outlook.com

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All Rights Reserved.