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Advisory Council on Hearing Aids

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2025 Hearing Aid Specialist Practical Exam Dates Announced

​The Health Licensing Office (HLO) administers a final practical examination required for individuals to obtain licensure in Oregon as a Hearing Aid Specialist. The examination is administered quarterly at the HLO in Salem, Oregon. The 2025 exam dates are:

  • January 6, 2025 (apply by December 4, 2024)
  • April 7, 2025 (apply by March 5, 2025)
  • July 14, 2025 (apply by June 11, 2025)
  • October 6, 2025 (apply by September 3, 2025)

All examination will be held at the following location:

​Health Licensing Office
1430 Tandem Ave. NE, Suite 180
Salem, OR 97301

For more information, see the license information page.​

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Practitioner information

The following regulated profession is overseen by the Advisory Council on Hearing Aids. Learn more about applying for a license, associated fees, laws, rules and more by following the link below:

Consumer Information

The following information is provided for consumers or potential consumers of hearing aids.

Find a Licensed Hearing Aid Specialist

Use the public database of the Health Licensing Office (HLO) to find a licensed hearing aid specialist. When you access the database, it will open in a separate browser window. When there, take the following steps:

  • Board: Choose "HAS - Advisory Council on Hearing Aids"
  • License Type: Choose "P - Hearing Aid Specialist, Permanent"
  • Status: Choose "Active - Active"
  • Type in city or postal code information to find a licensed specialist by geographic area.

The database does not currently include business contact information (phone and street address). Until it does, we suggest using a print or online business directory, or conduct a web search with the specialist's name, key words "hearing aids" and the city or zip code you are looking for.

About the Council

The Advisory Council on Hearing Aids oversees the practice of hearing aid specialists in the State of Oregon. Hearing aid specialists recommend, select or adapt hearing aids and may alter, adjust or reconstruct hearing aids specifications for proper functionality, such as taking ear impressions for proper fit. The Council is composed of:

  • One physician licensed in Oregon by the Oregon Medical Board who is certified in otolaryngology (an ear, nose and throat specialist, or ENT).
  • One member who holds a clinical certification in audiology with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a member in good standing with that association as well as licensed as an audiologist in Oregon by the Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
  • Four individuals who are licensed by HLO to dispense, or sell, hearing aids under Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Chapter 694.015 to 694.170.
  • One public member who is a consumer of hearing aids and does not possess the professional qualifications of the other members.

Terms of office are four years with the possibility of being reappointed to a second term, however; members are appointed and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

Board members

Doug Welsh

Term: 2nd Full
Term end: 9/30/2026
Junction City


​Doug Welsh has been a Hearing Instument Specialist since 2007, while working with World Wide Hearing in Eugene, OR. His territory stretched from Reedsport to Salem with most of his time spent in the greater Eugene area.

While working with World Wide Hearing, he had the opportunity to work at Costco in Salem and Albany, and in November of 2009, made the move to the Eugene Costco location to begin his employment with them.

Doug holds himself to a very high standard and prides himself in learing all the he can about new technology and accessories. There is much going on in the hearing industry at this time and he will continue to give the utmost care to his clients in regards to their health and safety.

In the past Doug has been a member of the Oregon Hearing Society and more recently became a member again. He currently serves the state of Oregon as a Hearing Aid Specialist proctor for the practical examination, and was recently sat on the Hearing Aid advisory committee to assist in rewriting the practical exam.

Doug believes the hearing aid industry is making substantial leaps in helping to change peoples lives by improving what the client is experiencing now and how we can change their lives is very rewarding. He also believes by providing professional and continuing care to clients, Hearing Instrument Specialists can contribute to making their lives and relationships better than their current situation.

"There is much going on in our industry with advancements in Artificial Intelligence and circuit miniaturization technology will be changing quickly. It will be interesting on where its heading."

Lorraine Henriques

Term: 2nd Full
Term end: 1/27/2028
Portland


I have always been proud to say I was born and raised in New Jersey, the veritable melting pot of the country. I am from a historic town, Basking Ridge, which was as lovely as the name implies, and only one and a half hours from Manhattan.

I left for college in Vermont, and after a year in New Your City working at the World Trade Center for a brokerage company, I moved to Ithaca, NY to be with my fiance/high school sweetheart who was a student at Cornell University. I worked at the School of Vet Medicine in the Diagnostic Lab, and loved spending time on campus, and playing in the beautiful Finger Lakes region and Adirondack Mountains.

I was married and moved back to New Jersey where my husband attended Medical School and I worked in an Analytical Lab attached to a hospital. I was fortunate to work alongside devoted research fellows and began my life-long fascination with the brain.

Later in life, we lived in Maine, spent a year in Belize doing volunteer work, then, after three years living and working in Massachusetts, moved to the rural North Coast of California. My three children, Gabriel, Renee and Victor were educated at home and at a "Home Schooler's school" Mistwood Center for Education, where I taught Cooking and Nutrition, and occasionally, French. I also began a health food business with my good friend Ellen, and we brought our products to market in 1995. We concentrated on health food markets, and had success and learned a lot about running a business and the intricate balancing act of parenting and working. When our three children were teenagers, it was time to focus on helping them acheive their goals so we sold our business.

Our daughter Renee attended Reed College. I'd come up to visit her, then while driving home, I would think "well, someday I will find a way to live in Portland." I began working in outside sales again for a NJ-based company, and my career took off at a breakneck speed, but with an enormous amount of out-of-state travel every month.

My career in outside sales was challenging and I loved it, but knew it was time to take a new direction including one where I came home at night. I found myself fascinated with hearing when I helped my Uncle get a hearing test and hearing aids. I found Avada, and they supervised my training until I took the licensing exam and passed. I worked for other companies after I received my license, but returned in February 2018, when I was alerted of an opening. I love helping people hear better and am passionate about my profession and our role in improving lives through better hearing.

Chelsea Montgomery

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 6/29/2026
Bend


Chelsea Montgomery is a doctor of audiology practicing in Central Oregon. She chose to pursue a career in audiology after working as a schoolteacher because she saw how vital hearing was to the social and emotional wellbeing of those with hearing loss. Dr. Montgomery received her Au.D. at the University of South Florida in Tampa and completed her externship at the James A. Haley VA. She now focuses on the treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus in adult patients. She enjoys being able to still serve local veterans through the community care program. 

Dr. Montgomery was attracted to Central Oregon by the beauty of the Cascade Mountains. She is an avid baker and music lover. She lives in Bend with her husband Ben and feline friend Mia.

Vladimir Gutierrez

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 4/30/2027
Portland


Vladimir grew up in Venezuela where his love and passion for music and sound production began to flourish while studying audio engineering in Caracas. After completing a sound technology curriculum in Barcelona, Spain he worked for a local hearing aid manufacturing company where he learned the ins and outs of hearing technology production and service. When the opportunity arrived, he and his wife moved to the United States to be near her family.

They quickly established in Portland, Oregon and Vladimir immediately began to work and train at a small hearing clinic. Soon thereafter he became licensed in Oregon as a Hearing Instrument Specialist. Two years later he and his wife co-founded Mt. Hood Hearing in 2004. Vladimir’s education and training continued as he became Nationally Board Certified through the International Hearing Society, Tinnitus Care Provider Certified by the International Hearing Society and a Certified Dementia Care Practitioner by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. He has trained closely with Dr. Darrow on the neuroscience behind the connection between our ears and our brain.

Vladimir’s extensive experience and unique set of skills allows him to successfully employ the latest tools and techniques for hearing loss correction and management. This is one of the main reasons for the high satisfaction rates of Mt Hood Hearing’s patients.

When he is not at the office improving his patients’ lives, he has many hobbies. He has co-written and self-produced several electronic music albums that can be heard on many steaming platforms and TV shows. Vladimir is fluent in his native language, Spanish and is currently learning Japanese. He also enjoys watching Sumo, loves to travel abroad and learn about new cultures. He spends his weekends camping and hiking with his wife and family along with helping to run a family-owned restaurant called “La Arepa”, which sells traditional Venezuelan food.​

Peggy Kelley

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 7/31/2027
Tualatin


Todd Williams

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 7/31/2027
Beaverton


​Todd E. Williams began his career in the hearing care field in 2006 as an employee of Audigy Group. He became an Oregon licensed hearing instrument specialist in 2009 and earned his National Board Certification in 2014. Since 2010, he has been the CEO and lead provider for Accurate Hearing Centers, with locations in Portland and Beaverton. Todd prides himself on continually initiating and embracing changes in best practices and protocols that ultimately lead to improvements in care and performance for hearing aid users. He is excited to bring his industry insight to the state level to foster better practices statewide.​

Jenifer Alexander

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 3/28/2027
Monmouth


I am a native Oregonian, born in Eugene, and graduated high school at South Umpqua in Myrtle Creek. I graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies and hold a Master's in Strategic Human Resource Management from Bellevue University.

Currently, I am the Senior Director of Human Resources for a midsize nonprofit organization based out of Eugene. I have been with my husband, Kevin, for 18 years, and we have two awesome sons, Owen, 15, and Alex, 12. We also have two diva cats, Poppy and Janice.

I was diagnosed with progressive hereditary hearing loss in 2015, but I have had hearing issues my whole life. At my initial diagnosis, I was immediately prescribed hearing aids, and they were so helpful. Then, about five years ago, I started the process of being matched with a hearing service dog. This decision was made after I slept through a fire alarm at a hotel and realized I needed additional help. In June 2021, I was matched with my hearing assistance dog, Paisley VIII (we call her Paisley). She is a yellow labrador crossed with a golden retriever and is a wonderful partner to help me move about in society without fear.​

Board Recruitment

Are you interested in serving as a volunteer citizen board member? HLO-regulated boards seek new members as current board member terms expire.

Current vacancies and how to apply

For board recruitment questions or the appointment process, contact the Oregon Governor's Office of Executive Appointments at 503-378-6829.