(1) Any person may obtain a hearing instrument specialist license under the Hearing Instrument Specialists Practice Act by successfully passing a qualifying examination pursuant to section 38-1514 if the applicant provides verification to the department, on a form provided by the department, that such person:

(a) Is at least twenty-one years of age;

(b) Has an education equivalent to a four-year course in an accredited high school; and

(c)(i) Has completed the minimum number of practicum hours prescribed by the board;

(ii) Has a two-year degree in hearing instrument sciences or an equivalent as determined by the board;

(iii) Has held a current, unsuspended, and unrevoked license to dispense hearing instruments from another jurisdiction for at least twelve of the last eighteen months prior to taking the examination;

(iv) Is certified by the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences at the time of taking the examination; or

(v) Holds an advanced credential offered by the International Hearing Society at the time of taking the examination.

(2) The department, with the recommendation of the board, may determine whether a person who has completed a licensure program outside of the United States may take the examination.

(3) The department, upon recommendation of the board, may waive components of the examination pursuant to section 38-1514 for licensure as a hearing instrument specialist if the person has passed the same examination as provided in section 38-1514 or a substantially equivalent examination as determined by the board.

(4) The department, with the recommendation of the board, shall determine whether a person has met the requirements to be eligible to take the examination pursuant to the Hearing Instrument Specialists Practice Act.