Characteristics of support for mandatory licensure among respondents to a state-wide survey

Members of the Ohio Dietetic Association were surveyed by a mail-return method beginning on January 10, 1984, to ascertain attitudes toward mandatory licensure among dietitians. Of the 2,435 members surveyed, 2,037 (83.7%) responded. Results indicated that 73.3% of respondents would support a mandatory licensure law if it were made equivalent to current Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requirements. Four of every five members identified with "public regarding" arguments in favor of licensure. Assuming licensure, the majority of members expressed support of a "CDR-like" licensure examination followed by continuing education requirements for renewal. Support, however, was significantly related to whether a mandatory licensure law included a "grandfather" clause. Without such a clause, support fell to about 48%. Discriminant analysis revealed that age and years of experience in the field of dietetics were the most important variables for differentiating between supporters and opponents of licensure without a grandfather provision. The results suggest that the demographic composition of dietitians in states considering adopting mandatory licensure provisions will largely determine the support for or opposition to such a law.