21 NCAC 22F .0302          SPONSOR'S DUTIES

(a)  The registered sponsor shall obtain a Registered Sponsor Certificate from the Board before accepting any apprentice. The Board shall issue a Registered Sponsor Certificate to a licensee of this Board who has held a permanent license for a minimum of two years prior to becoming a registered sponsor. The Certificate requires the registered sponsor to perform all the duties within the scope of the role of registered sponsor outlined in this Subchapter. The registered sponsor shall assist the apprentice in submitting all required applications and reports of the apprenticeship experience and shall act as a liaison between the Board and the apprentice.

(b)  In accepting an apprentice, the registered sponsor shall be responsible for the conduct of the apprentice in his or her performance of his or her duties as an apprentice.

(c)  The registered sponsor shall provide an apprentice personal supervision until receiving an Official Notice of Examination Results as provided in Rule .0107 of this Subchapter confirming that the apprentice passed Part A, Part B, and Part C of the licensing exam. Upon receipt the registered sponsor shall provide an apprentice general supervision for the remainder of the apprenticeship. A registered sponsor providing general supervision may incorporate direct or personal supervision at the discretion of the registered sponsor. General, direct, and personal supervision are defined in 21 NCAC 22A .0401.

(d)  The registered sponsor shall provide the apprentice training in the following areas:

(1)           anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the auditory mechanism;

(2)           measurement techniques and test interpretation for assessment of hearing impairment and hearing handicap;

(3)           hearing aid technology including instrument circuitry and acoustic performance data;

(4)           design, selection, and modification of ear mold or shell coupling systems;

(5)           hearing aid selection procedures and fitting, verification, and adjustment techniques;

(6)           post-delivery care, including hearing aid orientation, counseling techniques, and hearing aid servicing;

(7)           ethical conduct as set forth in 21 NCAC 22J and regulatory issues concerning the fitting and selling of hearing aids; and

(8)           all areas within the scope of practice as defined in G.S. 93D-1.1.

(e)  A registered sponsor may only supervise one apprentice under personal supervision and one apprentice under general supervision at any given time. Failure by a registered sponsor to properly train or supervise an apprentice shall be grounds for disciplinary action and revocation of the Registered Sponsor Certificate after notice and hearing as set forth in Subchapter 22L. If the Sponsorship Certificate is revoked by the Board, the licensee shall be no longer eligible to act as a registered sponsor until or unless the Board reinstates the Sponsorship Certificate.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 93D-1.1; 93D-3(c); 93D-9; 93D-13;

Eff. April 1, 2014;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. September 6, 2016;

Amended Eff. March 1, 2022.