STATE OF WISCONSIN
Hearing and Speech Examining Board
IN THE MATTER OF RULEMAKING PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE
HEARING AND SPEECH EXAMINING BOARD
ORDER OF THE HEARING AND SPEECH EXAMINING BOARD
ADOPTING RULES
(CLEARINGHOUSE RULE 16-080)
ORDER
An order of the Hearing and Speech Examining Board to amend HAS 3.04, 3.05, 3.07, 3.08 (1), 3.09 (1) (intro), HAS 3.09 (2) and (3) and HAS 3.10 (1); to repeal and recreate HAS 3.08 (2); to create HAS 3.08 (1m) relating to hearing instrument specialists examinations.
Analysis prepared by the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
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ANALYSIS
Explanation of agency authority:
§ 15.08 (5) (b) Each examining board shall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains, and define and enforce professional conduct and unethical practices not inconsistent with the law relating to the particular trade or profession. § 459.12 (1) The examining board may make rules not inconsistent with the laws of this state which are necessary to carry out the intent of this chapter. Related statute or rule: N/A
Plain language analysis:
Section 1 amends provisions relating to identifying marks on the exam, removal of the examination and time limits to apply only to the practical exam as this is the only exam the board administers.
Section 2 removes the written exam from the provision due to the board no longer developing the written examination and therefore will not be determining the passing score.
Section 3 creates a provision that the board will determine the passing grade on the written exam and may accept the test provider’s recommended passing grade. The International Hearing Society is the test provider and there is a standard recommended passing grade.
Section 4 is repealed and recreated to indicate that a passing grade is required on the written and each part of the practical examination. The rule is being changed to require the applicant to only take the examination or part of the examination that is failed and not retake everything is one or more is failed.
Sections 5, 6 and 7 modify provisions to clarify the review and claims of error procedures apply only to the practical exam which is the exam developed and administered by the board.
Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulation: None.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
Illinois: Illinois utilizes practical and written examinations from the International Institute for hearing Instrument Studies, International Hearing Society or an examination approved, developed or sanctioned by the Department of Public Health. A score on each exam or section of an exam shall be 70 percent. A failed examination may be retaken. Results of a practical examination may be appealed to the Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Board.
Iowa: Iowa utilizes the national standardized licensing examination and the passing score is established by the International Hearing Society. The examination may not be taken more than three times.
Michigan: Michigan requires a written examination to test knowledge with a practical demonstration. The rules do not address conduct in the examination, passing grades, or review and claim of error procedures.
Minnesota: Minnesota requires a written examination and practical demonstration. The rules do not address conduct in the examination, passing grades, or review and claim of error procedures.
