End Dual Licensure for Audiologists.

SB 654 eliminates the requirement for audiologists in North Carolina to hold two separate licenses (a doctoral degree plus a specific license), streamlining licensure for the profession. It directly affects audiologists, audiology technicians, and assistants by removing redundant licensing barriers. The bill also requires sellers of "locked hearing aids" (hearing aids with software restricting service to specific providers) to provide written disclosures to consumers before sale, including a notice about service limitations and a detailed receipt. Sellers must retain these records for seven years. These changes aim to align licensing with current practices while increasing consumer transparency about hearing aid service restrictions.