61 appropriately qualified candidates (NEHA requirements) plus the passage of the exam and payment of appropriate fees.
Finally, the Board recommended that biennial renewal be developed by the National Headquarters and a fee be established to cover all costs of the program.
The Board urged continuing the Board and credentialing function that would develop a position paper on NEHA's role in national credentialing, initiate technician creden tialing, develop a procedure to evaluate foreign credentials, and initiate the requirement of continuing education units for renewal. In order to assess registration activities nationwide, NEHA conducted another survey in 1984, the results of which were published in the November/December 1984 issue of the Journal ofEnvironmental Health. This study revealed that 16 states had no registra tion programs; of the 34 states having registration for sanitarians, six were voluntary (nonlegislated). NEHA President, Joseph Walsh, in the November/December 1985 Journal cited those states as 22 reasons for National Registration. He said the 34 registra tion programs in the states each arbitrarily established its own passing grade on the professional examination, and called for a uniform passing score throughout the nation. Walsh recommended equality in educational and experience requirements, and that the national Association work with state registration agencies to promote standardization. A registration renewal for NEHA registration was begun in 1985, with the deadline for renewal initially being May 1, 1986. An extension was granted to August 1, 1986 in order that all those currently registered could be duly notified. Those who did not renew their national registration by that date are required to take the national profes sional examination, or apply to NEHA for reciprocity through their state registration programs. Renewal was determined by the NEHA Executive Committee to be essen tial in maintaining high standards...and all state registration programs were requiring renewal either on an annual or biennial basis ("Registration for Sanitarians in the United States - An Update," Journal ofEnvironmental Health, November/December 1984). Walsh reassured state registration bodies by saying national registration and its renewal are not intended to replace or supercede the 34 separate state programs. They are intended to be a valid alternative and an accepted credentialing process for NEHA membership. National registration, according to Walsh, should be an example for individual registra tion acts. The registration of sanitarians (environmental health professionals) today is an extension of its original purpose. NEHA still supports state registration and supplements (complements) it through the national program available not only for the benefit of states without registration but as an added credential for those who are registered in a state program. The registration examination used by NEHA is updated with NEHA input every two years.
Technician and Specialty Certification are covered in subsequent chapters.
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