To become certified, public health inspectors need to have completed a bachelor's degree in a subject related to their work and need experience in their field. Several certification bodies are available to choose from, each with its own testing standards and requirements; we will detail three of the most common below.
Essential Information
Certification for public health inspectors isn't required by law, but many employers require it or prefer candidates who have it. The Board for Global EHS Credentialing, the National Board of Public Health Examiners and the National Environmental Health Association all offer certifications for public health inspectors. Each professional organization has its own requirements to apply for certification, which we cover in the table below.
| Board for Global EHS Credentialing | National Board of Public Health Examiners | National Environmental Health Association | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Required Education | Bachelor's degree in physics, chemistry, engineering or biology | Graduate degree | Bachelor's degree (Environmental Health preferred) |
| Required Experience | Four years of professional experience in field, plus two in a specific field | Three years of experience | Two years of work experience in environmental health |
| Exam Cost | $150 application fee, $350 exam fee | $385 | $280 for members, $465 for non-members |
Certification by the Board for Global EHS Credentialing
The Board for Global EHS Credentialing offers a wide range of certifications for public health inspectors including the Certified Process Safety Auditor (CPSA), the Certified Professional Environmental Auditor (CPEA), the Certified Professional Product Steward (CPPS) and the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH). The CIH credential requires a bachelor's degree in physics, chemistry, engineering or biology. A program in industrial hygiene or safety is also acceptable if it is accredited by The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
You'll also need at least four years of professional experience in the field and two years of professional experience working with at least two of the four stressors: ergonomic, biological, chemical and physical.
Applicants must also provide a minimum of two professional recommendations. These and an application fee of $150 are needed to qualify for the exam. The exam itself costs $350. The examination is given in spring and fall, and the application deadlines are February 1 and August 1.
Certification by the National Board of Public Health Examiners
The National Board of Public Health Examiners offers the Certified in Public Health credential, a certification that demonstrates an advanced level of expertise in the field to employers. The qualifications to sit for the exam are divided by candidate type:
- Students in Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)-accredited graduate programs can take the exam and get provisional certification (and full certification at graduation)
- Alumni who met all the CEPH requirements in their master's or doctoral programs
- Public Health Professionals with a bachelor's degree and five years of experience in public health (or a master's and three years of experience)
The exam includes 25 pretest questions and 175 scored questions; candidates are given four hours to complete these. The fee for the exam is $385. Candidates can retake the exam for $150.
Certification by the National Environmental Health Association
The National Environmental Health Association offers several relevant certifications including the Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS), the Certified Professional of Food Safety (CP-FS), the Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS) and the Certified in Food Safety Supplier Audits (CFSSA).
To apply, individuals must send the completed application, a copy of her or his university transcript, copies of past certifications (if needed), and the necessary application fees. For members, there's a $95 application fee and a $185 examination fee. For non-members, the fee is $130 to apply and $335 for the exam itself. The test is offered once a year, or can be taken by computer via Pearson VUE for an additional $110. A scaled score of 650 out of 900 is needed to pass certification.
To maintain certification, professionals must submit at least 24 credit hours of continuing education and a renewal fee of $345 for non-members or $130 for members.
Certified Professional of Food Safety Requirements
The CP-FS certification requires:
- A bachelor's degree
- An associate degree plus four years of experience and one of four certificates in the field: Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM) certificate, Food Safety Managers Certification Examination (FSMCE) certificate, SuperSafe Mark certificate, OR a ServSafe Food Protection Manager certificate.
- A high school diploma plus five years of experience and one of the certificates above
Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian Requirements
The REHS/RS certification requires a bachelor's degree or higher in environmental health, or a bachelor's degree in any area with at least one course in algebra or higher mathematics and 30 semester credit hours or 45 quarter credit hours in basic science plus a minimum of two years of experience in environmental health.
Public Health Inspector Salary Stats and Employment Outlook
| Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)* | 4% (for all occupational health and safety specialists) |
| Average Salary (2021)** | $40,049 (for health inspectors) |
Source: *United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, **Payscale.com
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2019, job positions for occupational health and safety specialists are expected to increase by 4% between 2019 and 2029. This is as fast as the national average for all careers. As of July 2021, Payscale reports that the annual average salary for health inspectors is $40,049.
Public health inspectors are not legally required to be certified, but it may be a preference of their employers. Whether they are being certified by the Board for Global EHS Credentialing, the National Board of Public Health Examiners or the National Environmental Health Association, a public health inspector should be prepared to present their college background and experience in the field, among various other requirements.
