Each person currently engaged in training to become a licensed hearing aid dealer or fitter shall apply to the hearing aid dealers and fitters licensing board for a hearing aid dealer's and fitter's trainee permit. The board shall issue to each applicant within thirty days of receipt of a properly completed application and payment of one hundred fifty dollars, a trainee permit if such applicant meets all of the following criteria:
(A) Is at least eighteen years of age;
(B) Is the holder of a diploma from an accredited high school, or possesses an equivalent education;
(C) Has not committed a disqualifying offense or a crime of moral turpitude, as those terms are defined in section 4776.10 of the Revised Code;
(D) Is free of contagious or infectious disease.
Subject to the next paragraph, the board shall not deny a trainee permit issued under this section to any individual based on the individual's past criminal history or an interpretation of moral character unless the individual has committed a disqualifying offense or crime of moral turpitude as those terms are defined in section 4776.10 of the Revised Code. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, if an individual applying for a trainee permit has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor that is not a crime of moral turpitude or a disqualifying offense less than one year prior to making the application, the board may use the board's discretion in granting or denying the individual a trainee permit. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, if an individual applying for a trainee permit has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony that is not a crime of moral turpitude or a disqualifying offense less than three years prior to making the application, the board may use the board's discretion in granting or denying the individual a trainee permit. The provisions in this paragraph do not apply with respect to any offense unless the board, prior to the effective date of this amendment, was required or authorized to deny the application based on that offense.
In all other circumstances not described in the preceding paragraph, the board shall follow the procedures it adopts by rule that conform to this section.
In considering a renewal of an individual's trainee permit, the board shall not consider any conviction or plea of guilty prior to the issuance of the initial trainee permit. However, the board may consider a conviction or plea of guilty if it occurred after the individual was initially granted the trainee permit, or after the most recent trainee permit renewal. If the board denies an individual for a trainee permit or renewal, the reasons for such denial shall be put in writing. Additionally, the board may grant an individual a conditional trainee permit that lasts for one year. After the one-year period has expired, the permit is no longer considered conditional, and the individual shall be considered to be granted a full trainee permit.
Each trainee permit issued by the board expires one year from the date it was first issued, and may be renewed once if the trainee has not successfully completed the qualifying requirements for licensing as a hearing aid dealer or fitter before the expiration date of such permit. The board shall issue a renewed permit to each applicant upon receipt of a properly completed application and payment of one hundred five dollars. No person holding a trainee permit shall engage in the practice of dealing in or fitting of hearing aids except while under supervision by a licensed hearing aid dealer or fitter.
Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.131, SB 337, ยง1, eff. 9/28/2012.
Effective Date: 06-26-2003
Section: Previous 4747.03 4747.04 4747.05 4747.06 4747.07 4747.08 4747.09 4747.10 4747.11 4747.12 4747.13 4747.14 4747.15 4747.16 4747.17 NextLast modified: October 10, 2016