Chapter HAS 3

HAS 3.01(1) (1) Written examination. An applicant for a hearing instrument specialist license shall pass the International Licensing Examination for Hearing Healthcare Professionals.

HAS 3.01(2) (2) Practical examination. An applicant shall pass a practical examination that shall consist of 2 parts, audiometric and ear mold. The practical examination is designed to test the applicant’s proficiency in the techniques and procedures described in s. HAS 3.03.

HAS 3.01(3) (3) Content. Examinations may include objective questions, practical demonstrations, or a combination of the foregoing, in any of the subject areas in which an applicant is to be examined.

HAS 3.01 History History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98; CR 15-097: am. (1) Register August 2016 No. 728, eff. 9-1-16.

HAS 3.03 HAS 3.03 Practical examination.

HAS 3.03(1) (1) Subjects covered in the practical portions of the examination shall include tests of proficiency in the following techniques as they pertain to the fitting of hearing instruments:

HAS 3.03(1)(a) (a) Pure tone audiometry, including air conduction testing and bone conduction testing.

HAS 3.03(1)(b) (b) Live voice or recorded voice speech audiometry including speech reception threshold testing and most comfortable loudness measurements and measurements of tolerance thresholds.

HAS 3.03(1)(c) (c) Masking when indicated.

HAS 3.03(1)(d) (d) Recording and evaluation of audiograms and speech audiometry to determine proper selection and adaption of a hearing instrument.

HAS 3.03(1)(e) (e) Taking ear mold impressions.

HAS 3.03(2) (2) In addition to the topics listed under sub. (1), the board may examine an applicant as to his or her proficiency in the following procedures and use of equipment commonly employed in the fitting and selling of hearing instruments and taking of ear mold impressions:

HAS 3.03(2)(a) (a) Otoscope or equivalent illuminator for the visual observation of the entire ear canal.

HAS 3.03(2)(b) (b) Pure tone discrete or sweep frequency threshold type audiometer with air and bone conduction and appropriate masking.

HAS 3.03(2)(c) (c) Appropriate equipment for establishing speech reception threshold and speech discrimination scores through headphones or sound field media by recorded or live voice.

HAS 3.03(2)(e) (e) Equipment designed for the evaluation and testing of hearing instrument performance.

HAS 3.03(2)(f) (f) Post fitting care and problem solving.

HAS 3.03 History History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98; CR 20-036: r. (2) (d) Register August 2021 No. 788, eff. 9-1-21.

HAS 3.04 HAS 3.04 Identifying marks. An applicant may not place any marks upon his or her practical examination papers which reveals his or her identity.

HAS 3.04 History History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98; CR 16-080: am. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

HAS 3.05 HAS 3.05 Removal of examination. An applicant may not take any records of the practical examination questions from the examination room.

HAS 3.05 History History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98; CR 16-080: am. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

HAS 3.06 HAS 3.06 Rules of conduct. The board may deny release of scores or issuance of a hearing instrument specialist license if the board determines that an applicant violated the rules of conduct of the examination or otherwise acted dishonestly.

HAS 3.06 Note Note: The rules of conduct of an examination are provided to candidates prior to the administration of an examination.

HAS 3.06 History History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98.

HAS 3.07 HAS 3.07 Time limits. The board may set time limits for completion of each part of the practical examination.

HAS 3.07 History History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98; CR 16-080: am. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

HAS 3.08 HAS 3.08 Passing grades.

HAS 3.08(1) (1) To pass the written and practical examinations, each applicant shall receive a grade determined by the board to represent minimum competence to practice, based upon the following:

HAS 3.08(1)(a) (a) For each part of the practical examination, the board shall determine the passing grade after consultation with subject matter experts who have reviewed a representative sample of the examination questions and available candidate performance statistics.

HAS 3.08(1)(b) (b) For the written examination, the board may accept the test provider’s recommended passing grade as a representation of minimum competence to practice.

HAS 3.08(2) (2) A passing grade is required on the written examination and each part of the practical examination. An applicant who does not receive all of the required passing grades may retake only the examination, or portion of the examination, which the applicant has failed.

HAS 3.08 History History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98; CR 16-080: renum. (1) to (1) (intro.) and (a) and am., cr. (1) (b), r. and recr. (2) Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

HAS 3.09 HAS 3.09 Failure and review.

HAS 3.09(1) (1) An applicant who fails all or part of the practical examination may review those parts of the practical examination failed according to the following procedures and within the following limitations:

HAS 3.09(1)(a) (a) The applicant shall file a written request for review with the board within 30 days from the date that notice of examination results have been sent to the applicant.

HAS 3.09(1)(b) (b) At the arranged time at the board office, the applicant shall be provided an opportunity to review those parts of the examination failed.

HAS 3.09(1)(c) (c) The applicant may not take notes and may not copy the examination in any manner.

HAS 3.09(1)(d) (d) No person other than the applicant and a board representative may be present during review of an examination.

HAS 3.09(1)(e) (e) The time for review shall be limited and shall not exceed one hour.

HAS 3.09(1)(f) (f) An applicant may not review an examination more than once.

HAS 3.09(2) (2) An applicant may request that the board review the grading of one or more practical examination questions by completing a form which will be provided to the applicant by the board representative. The form must be completed and returned to the board representative at the time of review.

HAS 3.09(3) (3) Any comments or claims of error regarding specific questions or procedures in the practical examination may be placed in writing on the form provided. These comments shall be retained by the board made available to the board for review.

HAS 3.09 History History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98; CR 16-080: am. (1) (intro.), (2), (3) Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

HAS 3.10 HAS 3.10 Claim of examination error.

HAS 3.10(1) (1) An applicant wishing to claim practical examination error shall file a written request for board review in the board office within 30 days of the date the practical examination was reviewed. The request shall include all of the following:

HAS 3.10(1)(a) (a) The applicant’s name and address.

HAS 3.10(1)(b) (b) The type of license applied for.

HAS 3.10(1)(c) (c) A description of the perceived error, including specific questions or procedures claimed to be in error.

HAS 3.10(1)(d) (d) The facts which the applicant intends to prove, including reference text citations or other supporting evidence for the applicant’s claim.

HAS 3.10(2) (2) The board shall review the claim and notify the applicant in writing of the board’s decision and any resulting grade change.

HAS 3.10(3) (3) If the board’s decision does not result in the applicant passing the examination, the applicant may retake the examination, as provided under s. HAS 3.08 (2).

HAS 3.10 History History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98; CR 16-080: am. (1) (intro.) Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.