(225 ILCS 50/5) (from Ch. 111, par. 7405)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-495)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)

Sec. 5. License required. No person shall engage in the selling, practice of testing, fitting, selecting, recommending, adapting, dispensing, or servicing hearing instruments or display a sign, advertise, or represent oneself as a person who practices the fitting or selling of hearing instruments unless such person holds a current license issued by the Department as provided in this Act. Such person shall be known as a licensed hearing instrument dispenser. Individuals licensed pursuant to the provisions of Section 8 of this Act shall be deemed qualified to provide tests of human hearing and hearing instrument evaluations for the purpose of dispensing a hearing instrument for which any State agency may contract. The license shall be conspicuously displayed in the place of business. Duplicate licenses shall be issued by the Department to licensees operating more than one office upon the additional payment set forth in this Act. No hearing instrument manufacturer may distribute, sell, or otherwise provide hearing instruments to any unlicensed hearing care professional for the purpose of selling hearing instruments to the consumer.

Except for violations of the provisions of this Act, or the rules promulgated under it, nothing in this Act shall prohibit a corporation, partnership, trust, association, or other entity from engaging in the business of testing, fitting, servicing, selecting, dispensing, selling, or offering for sale hearing instruments at retail without a license, provided it employs only licensed individuals in the direct testing, fitting, servicing, selecting, offering for sale, or dispensing of such products. Each such corporation, partnership, trust, association, or other entity shall file with the Department, prior to doing business in this State and by July 1 of each calendar year thereafter, on forms prescribed by the Department, a list of all licensed hearing instrument dispensers employed by it and a statement attesting that it complies with this Act and the rules promulgated under it and the regulations of the Federal Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission insofar as they are applicable.

(Source: P.A. 99-204, eff. 7-30-15.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-495)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)

Sec. 5. License required. No person shall engage in the selling, practice of testing, fitting, selecting, recommending, adapting, dispensing, or servicing hearing aids or display a sign, advertise, or represent oneself as a person who practices the fitting or selling of hearing aids unless such person holds a current license issued by the Department as provided in this Act. Such person shall be known as a licensed hearing instrument dispenser. Individuals licensed pursuant to the provisions of Section 8 of this Act shall be deemed qualified to provide tests of human hearing and hearing aid evaluations for the purpose of dispensing a hearing aid for which any State agency may contract. The license shall be conspicuously displayed in the place of business. Duplicate licenses shall be issued by the Department to licensees operating more than one office upon the additional payment set forth in this Act. No hearing aids manufacturer may distribute, sell, or otherwise provide hearing aids to any unlicensed hearing instrument professional for the purpose of selling hearing aids to the consumer.

Except for violations of the provisions of this Act, or the rules promulgated under it, nothing in this Act shall prohibit a corporation, partnership, trust, association, or other entity from engaging in the business of testing, fitting, servicing, selecting, dispensing, selling, or offering for sale hearing aid at retail without a license, provided it employs only licensed individuals in the direct testing, fitting, servicing, selecting, offering for sale, or dispensing of such products. Each such corporation, partnership, trust, association, or other entity shall file with the Department, prior to doing business in this State and by July 1 of each calendar year thereafter, on forms prescribed by the Department, a list of all licensed hearing instrument dispensers employed by it and a statement attesting that it complies with this Act and the rules promulgated under it and the regulations of the Federal Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission insofar as they are applicable.

(Source: P.A. 103-495, eff. 1-1-24.)