House committee substitute makes the following changes to 3rd edition. Introduces to the relevant statutes two new defined terms and then employs those terms to simplify the statutory language. The first term is Hearing Instrument Specialist, which means a person licensed to fit and sell hearing aids and the second is registered sponsor, which means a person overseeing a hearing aid apprentice who is either (1) a licensed audiologist with a doctorate in audiology who is approved as a sponsor of an apprentice or (2) a Hearing Instrument Specialist overseeing an apprentice. Changes four members of the Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Board to licensed Hearing Instrument Specialists. Adds a provision for a $150 registration fee for an audiologist who is a Registered Sponsor of an apprentice. Revises the persons who are exempted from the requirement to serve a one-year apprenticeship to include licensed audiologists who have undergone 250 hours of training in fitting and selling hearing aids in another state in the preceding three years and persons who have worked full time for a year under an otolaryngologist fitting or selling hearing aids. Provides that the required information that must be delivered to user or purchaser may be delivered at or before the delivery of the hearing aid. Requires the registration of Registered Sponsors and directs the board to adopt rules regarding their registration. Specifies that these requirements do not apply to licensed physicians and certain others. Makes other clarifying changes.

Senate committee substitute makes the following changes to 1st edition. Amends GS 93D-2 to also allow a person with a license under Article 22 of GS Chapter 90 and a doctoral degree in audiology to fit or sell hearing aids; provides the same authorization to an apprentice working under such licensee (or those licensed by the North Carolina State Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Board (Board)) who is registered in accordance with GS 93D-9. Amends GS 93D-3(c)(14) to authorize the Board to set a fee of $150 a year for the registration of persons not licensed under GS Chapter 93D providing supervision of apprentices registered under GS 93D-9.
Amends GS 93D-3(a) to require one member of the Board be a person with hearing loss. Restores the number of Board members who have been actively engaged in the fitting and selling of hearing aids for three years under GS Chapter 43D to four (was, five). Makes other conforming and clarifying changes, and makes a conforming change to the bill title.