56 The response to this action, with many examinations being taken, was considered by the Department of Registration to mean that the ''sanitarian is truly a professional man." The fee for registration in 1958 was $15.00 ($2.00 for reciprocity) and the examination administered by the National Association was developed by APHA. In 1959, the Association offered an objective certifying examination developed by NAS and the Professional Examination Service (an arm of APHA). Between 1960 and 1965, nine states administered this examination to approximately 2,000 candidates as part of their registration procedure. Further, by 1975, 23 states had administered the test to approximately 6,000 candidates.
The Sixties National Recognition and Uniformity
By 1966, the numerous differences in the 29 state registration laws, and the growing mobility of professional people warranted a serious review of the difficulties in acquiring registration by reciprocity because of varying standards nationwide and a reevaluation of the existing examination. Working on a contract from the U.S. Public Health Ser vice, the Professional Examination Service and an advisory committee of NAS members, the criteria for examinees, subject matter covered by the test and a means for measur ing the candidate's ability to interpret facts, apply knowledge, and solve problems, as well as interpersonal/interprofessional relations were considered. A national examina tion was proposed by Dr. Lillian D. Long, Director of the Professional Examination Service. The test would 1) reflect accepted nationwide practice; 2) ensure quality through continual surveillance; 3) be technically accurate; 4) protect states' rights, duties and prerogatives (each state would set its passsing grade); 5) reflect new developments and thinking; 6) provide statistical information to evaluate/improve the test; 7) provide stability in the registration process and uniformity in standards; and 8) facilitate reciprocity among the states (July/August 1966, Journal of Environmental Health.) The NAS Registration Committee's objectives for 1967-68 were to establish uniformity and high standards throughout the country, to assist states in drafting and implemen ting acts acceptable to the Association, to support the amending and upgrading of current acts, monitor the overall progress of state registration acts, and provide a clearinghouse for information regarding such acts. A committee to strive for these goals consisted of members of state registration boards who could contribute to and achieve these objectives. Members of all state registration boards were invited to attend a special meeting (during the NAS 1968 Annual Meeting) conducted by the Council of State Sanitarian Registration Boards, to discuss the issues, including the concept of sanitarian aides, a description of which NAS had begun to draft. In the September/October 1968 issue of the Journal ofEnvironmental Health, it was noted that "the statutes enacted in 31 states for (registering) sanitarians vary in coverage and type. Twenty of these states have voluntary registration laws covering only use of the title; 10 states have compulsory laws, but California's compulsory provisions apply only to sanitarians employed in local official agencies." The article explained that New Jersey enacted the first law in 1912 (a licensing law for sanitary inspectors), and the first Sanitarian Registration Act was passed in 1945 in California. Twenty eight laws were enacted between 1950 and 1968. The summary reported that administration (of registration) is by sanitarian boards, committees or departments of from three to nine members. Nine are composed exclusively of sanitarians, while three have no representatives from the occupation.
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