# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 41 — Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists

### Chapter 08 — Hearing Aid Dispensing

#### Regulation .01-1 Definitions.

*COMAR 10.41.08.01-1*

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

  (1) “Accredited 2-year post-secondary program” means:

    (a) A college or university located in the United States whose program has been accredited by a national accrediting association recognized by the:

      (i) Council for Higher Education Accreditation; or

      (ii) The United State Department of Education; or

    (b) A college or university located outside of the United States whose program has met the standards for certification of the governing educational body that is regulated by the government of the country where the college or university is located.

  (2) “Locked, nonproprietary programming software” means software that any provider can render inaccessible to other hearing aid programmers.

  (3) “Pro bono work” means work provided within the State within the scope of practice of the licensee that is performed without financial reimbursement or direct financial gain.

  (4) “Proprietary programming software” means software that is:

    (a) Used to program hearing aids that is supplied by a hearing aid distributor or manufacturer for the exclusive use by affiliated providers; and

    (b) Locked and inaccessible to nonaffiliated providers.