{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-1500.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-1500.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-1500.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-1500.html"}],"law_id":63567,"edition_id":1,"section_id":63567,"structure_id":16103,"section_number":"54.1-1500","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1970, c. 571, \u00a7 54-524.110; 1988, c. 765; 2005, c. 599; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2018, c. 458; 2023, cc. 273, 274.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Audiologist” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7 54.1-2600.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians.\n\t\t“Hearing aid” means any wearable instrument or device designed or offered to aid or compensate for impaired human hearing and any parts, attachments, or accessories, including earmolds, but excluding batteries and cords.\n\t\t“Licensed hearing aid specialist” means any person who is the holder of a hearing aid specialist license issued by the Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians.\n\t\t“Licensed optician” means any person who is the holder of an optician license issued by the Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians.\n\t\t“Licensed optometrist” means any person authorized by Virginia law to practice optometry.\n\t\t“Licensed physician” means any person licensed by the Board of Medicine to practice medicine and surgery.\n\t\t“Optician” means any person not exempted by \u00a7 54.1-1506 who prepares or dispenses eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or related appurtenances, for the intended wearers or users, on prescriptions from licensed physicians or licensed optometrists, or as duplications or reproductions of previously prepared eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or related appurtenances; or who, in accordance with such prescriptions, duplications or reproductions, measures, adapts, fits, and adjusts eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or appurtenances, to the human face.\n\t\t“Over-the-counter hearing aid” means an air-conduction hearing aid that does not require implantation or other surgical intervention and is intended for use by a person age 18 or older to compensate for perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment.\n\t\t“Practice of audiology” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7 54.1-2600.\n\t\t“Practice of fitting or dealing in hearing aids” means (i) the measurement of human hearing by means of an audiometer or by any other means solely for the purpose of making selections, adaptations, or sale of hearing aids, (ii) the sale of prescription hearing aids, or (iii) the making of impressions for earmolds for prescription hearing aids. A practitioner, at the request of a physician or a member of a related profession, may make audiograms for the professional’s use in consultation with the hard-of-hearing.\n\t\t“Prescription hearing aid” means a hearing aid that is not an over-the-counter hearing aid.\n\t\t“Sell” or “sale” means any transfer of title or of the right to use by lease, bailment, or any other contract, excluding wholesale transactions with distributors or practitioners.\n\t\t“Temporary permit” means a permit issued while an applicant is in training to become a licensed hearing aid specialist.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":231588,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Audiologist” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7 54.1-2600.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians.\n\t\t“Hearing aid” means any wearable instrument or device designed or offered to aid or compensate for impaired human hearing and any parts, attachments, or accessories, including earmolds, but excluding batteries and cords.\n\t\t“Licensed hearing aid specialist” means any person who is the holder of a hearing aid specialist license issued by the Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians.\n\t\t“Licensed optician” means any person who is the holder of an optician license issued by the Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians.\n\t\t“Licensed optometrist” means any person authorized by Virginia law to practice optometry.\n\t\t“Licensed physician” means any person licensed by the Board of Medicine to practice medicine and surgery.\n\t\t“Optician” means any person not exempted by \u00a7 54.1-1506 who prepares or dispenses eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or related appurtenances, for the intended wearers or users, on prescriptions from licensed physicians or licensed optometrists, or as duplications or reproductions of previously prepared eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or related appurtenances; or who, in accordance with such prescriptions, duplications or reproductions, measures, adapts, fits, and adjusts eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or appurtenances, to the human face.\n\t\t“Over-the-counter hearing aid” means an air-conduction hearing aid that does not require implantation or other surgical intervention and is intended for use by a person age 18 or older to compensate for perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment.\n\t\t“Practice of audiology” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7 54.1-2600.\n\t\t“Practice of fitting or dealing in hearing aids” means (i) the measurement of human hearing by means of an audiometer or by any other means solely for the purpose of making selections, adaptations, or sale of hearing aids, (ii) the sale of prescription hearing aids, or (iii) the making of impressions for earmolds for prescription hearing aids. A practitioner, at the request of a physician or a member of a related profession, may make audiograms for the professional’s use in consultation with the hard-of-hearing.\n\t\t“Prescription hearing aid” means a hearing aid that is not an over-the-counter hearing aid.\n\t\t“Sell” or “sale” means any transfer of title or of the right to use by lease, bailment, or any other contract, excluding wholesale transactions with distributors or practitioners.\n\t\t“Temporary permit” means a permit issued while an applicant is in training to become a licensed hearing aid specialist.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":16103,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":15356,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:06:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:06:05","permalink":{"id":239681,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16103,"identifier":"1","token":"54.1\/II\/15\/1","url":"\/54.1\/II\/15\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":15356,"edition_id":1,"name":"Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians","identifier":"15","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12755,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:54:13","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:54:13","permalink":{"id":239679,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15356,"identifier":"15","token":"54.1\/II\/15","url":"\/54.1\/II\/15\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12755,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Boards Within the Department","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239415,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12755,"identifier":"II","token":"54.1\/II","url":"\/54.1\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":63567,"structure_id":16103,"section_number":"54.1-1500","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-1500\/","token":"54.1\/II\/15\/1\/54.1-1500","metadata":false},{"id":78598,"structure_id":16103,"section_number":"54.1-1500.1","catch_line":"Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians; qualifications and terms of members; officers","url":"\/54.1-1500.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/15\/1\/54.1-1500.1","metadata":false},{"id":74893,"structure_id":16103,"section_number":"54.1-1500.2","catch_line":"Nominations for Board appointments","url":"\/54.1-1500.2\/","token":"54.1\/II\/15\/1\/54.1-1500.2","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":78598,"structure_id":16103,"section_number":"54.1-1500.1","catch_line":"Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians; qualifications and terms of members; officers","url":"\/54.1-1500.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/15\/1\/54.1-1500.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-1500\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1970. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 571 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1970 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1988, chapter 765; in 2005, chapter 599<\/a>; in 2012, chapters 803<\/a> and 835<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 458<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 273<\/a> and 274<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":79147,"section_number":"54.1-1506","catch_line":"Exemptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-1506\/"},{"id":75480,"section_number":"54.1-2600","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2600\/"}],"permalink":{"id":239683,"object_type":"law","relational_id":63567,"identifier":"54.1-1500","token":"54.1\/II\/15\/1\/54.1-1500","url":"\/54.1-1500\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-1500\/","token":"54.1\/II\/15\/1\/54.1-1500","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-1500","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Audiologist<\/span>” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7 54.1-2600<\/a>.\n\t\t“Board<\/span>” means the Board<\/span> for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians<\/span>.\n\t\t“Hearing aid” means any wearable instrument or device designed or offered to aid or compensate for impaired human hearing and any parts, attachments<\/span>, or accessories, including earmolds, but excluding batteries and cords.\n\t\t“Licensed hearing aid specialist<\/span>” means any person who is the holder of a hearing aid specialist license issued by the Board<\/span> for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians<\/span>.\n\t\t“Licensed optician<\/span>” means any person who is the holder of an optician license issued by the Board<\/span> for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians<\/span>.\n\t\t“Licensed optometrist<\/span>” means any person authorized by Virginia law<\/span> to practice optometry.\n\t\t“Licensed physician<\/span>” means any person licensed by the Board<\/span> of Medicine to practice medicine and surgery.\n\t\t“Optician” means any person not exempted by \u00a7 54.1-1506<\/a> who prepares or dispenses eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or related appurtenances, for the intended wearers or users, on prescriptions from licensed physicians<\/span> or licensed optometrists<\/span>, or as duplications or reproductions of previously prepared eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or related appurtenances; or who, in accordance with such prescriptions, duplications or reproductions, measures, adapts, fits, and adjusts eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or appurtenances, to the human face.\n\t\t“Over-the-counter hearing aid<\/span>” means an air-conduction hearing aid that does not require implantation or other surgical intervention and is intended for use by a person age 18 or older to compensate for perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment.\n\t\t“Practice of audiology<\/span>” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7 54.1-2600<\/a>.\n\t\t“Practice of fitting or dealing in hearing aids<\/span>” means (i) the measurement of human hearing by means of an audiometer or by any other means solely for the purpose of making selections, adaptations, or sale<\/span> of hearing aids, (ii) the sale<\/span> of prescription hearing aids<\/span>, or (iii) the making of impressions for earmolds for prescription hearing aids<\/span>. A practitioner, at the request of a physician or a member of a related profession, may make audiograms for the professional’s use in consultation with the hard-of-hearing.\n\t\t“Prescription hearing aid<\/span>” means a hearing aid that is not an over-the-counter hearing aid<\/span>.\n\t\t“Sell<\/span>” or “sale<\/span>” means any transfer of title or of the right to use by lease, bailment, or any other contract<\/span>, excluding wholesale transactions with distributors or practitioners.\n\t\t“Temporary permit<\/span>” means a permit issued while an applicant is in training to become a licensed hearing aid specialist<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 54.1-1500)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Audiologist” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7\n54.1-2600.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians.\n\t\t“Hearing aid” means any wearable instrument or device designed or\noffered to aid or compensate for impaired human hearing and any parts,\nattachments, or accessories, including earmolds, but excluding batteries and\ncords.\n\t\t“Licensed hearing aid specialist” means any person who is the\nholder of a hearing aid specialist license issued by the Board for Hearing Aid\nSpecialists and Opticians.\n\t\t“Licensed optician” means any person who is the holder of an\noptician license issued by the Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians.\n\t\t“Licensed optometrist” means any person authorized by Virginia law\nto practice optometry.\n\t\t“Licensed physician” means any person licensed by the Board of\nMedicine to practice medicine and surgery.\n\t\t“Optician” means any person not exempted by \u00a7 54.1-1506 who\nprepares or dispenses eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or related appurtenances,\nfor the intended wearers or users, on prescriptions from licensed physicians or\nlicensed optometrists, or as duplications or reproductions of previously\nprepared eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or related appurtenances; or who, in\naccordance with such prescriptions, duplications or reproductions, measures,\nadapts, fits, and adjusts eyeglasses, spectacles, lenses, or appurtenances, to\nthe human face.\n\t\t“Over-the-counter hearing aid” means an air-conduction hearing aid\nthat does not require implantation or other surgical intervention and is\nintended for use by a person age 18 or older to compensate for perceived mild to\nmoderate hearing impairment.\n\t\t“Practice of audiology” means the same as that term is defined in\n\u00a7 54.1-2600.\n\t\t“Practice of fitting or dealing in hearing aids” means (i) the\nmeasurement of human hearing by means of an audiometer or by any other means\nsolely for the purpose of making selections, adaptations, or sale of hearing\naids, (ii) the sale of prescription hearing aids, or (iii) the making of\nimpressions for earmolds for prescription hearing aids. A practitioner, at the\nrequest of a physician or a member of a related profession, may make audiograms\nfor the professional’s use in consultation with the hard-of-hearing.\n\t\t“Prescription hearing aid” means a hearing aid that is not an\nover-the-counter hearing aid.\n\t\t“Sell” or “sale” means any transfer of title or of the\nright to use by lease, bailment, or any other contract, excluding wholesale\ntransactions with distributors or practitioners.\n\t\t“Temporary permit” means a permit issued while an applicant is in\ntraining to become a licensed hearing aid specialist.\n\nHISTORY: 1970, c. 571, \u00a7 54-524.110; 1988, c. 765; 2005, c. 599; 2012, cc. 803,\n835; 2018, c. 458; 2023, cc. 273, 274.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}