(a) Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the sale of or practice of fitting hearing aids or display a sign or in any other way to advertise, represent or hold himself out as a hearing aid dealer or fitter, unless he shall first have registered pursuant to the provisions of this act.

(b) Nothing in this act shall prohibit any person from maintaining an established business address or from engaging in the business of selling or offering for sale hearing aids to the users thereof without being registered as a hearing aid fitter: Provided, That said person employs only persons registered under this act as hearing aid dealers and fitters in the direct sale and fitting of such products and that said person shall have registered as a hearing aid dealer under this act. All dealers shall file annually with the department a list of all registered hearing aid dealers and fitters directly or indirectly employed by him.

(c) No individual purchasing a hearing aid from any dealer or fitter may waive the protection or benefits afforded him under any provision of this act, except as specifically set forth herein.

(d) Prior law exclusively governs all suits, actions, prosecutions or proceedings which are pending or may be initiated on the basis of facts or circumstances occurring before the effective date of this act.