Restaurant Inspector: Career Info
Restaurant inspectors, which fall under the category of environmental health specialists or sanitarians, assess eating establishments for compliance with health and safety regulations. These professionals usually work regular business hours, though weekend or evening work is possible. They can be exposed to food contaminants or waste during inspections, but wearing protective gear can protect them from illness or infection, if necessary. A restaurant health inspector also has to deal with the stress of deciding whether an eating establishment can continue to do business.
Restaurant Health Inspector: Requirements & Salary
| Degree Level | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Field | Occupational health and safety or a comparable discipline |
| Certification | Restaurant inspector certification is voluntary and recommended (REHS/RS) |
| Key Skills | Strong communication skills, detail-oriented, problem-solving skills, knowledge of advanced testing equipment, knowledge of environmental health and safety regulations |
| Median Salary (2019)* | $70,480 (for occupational health and safety specialists) |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
How to Become a Restaurant Health Inspector
1. Earn a Degree in Environmental Health
Many states require that sanitarians hold a bachelor's degree in the sciences or environmental health. An environmental health degree program focuses on environmental laws and regulations, as well as risk assessment and industrial topics. Coursework often includes biology, chemistry, microbiology, and toxicology. A degree in another area with 30 semester units in basic sciences is also commonly accepted. Aspirants are advised to check their individual states' requirements.
Pursue an Environmental Health Internship
Universities may offer environmental health majors opportunities to undertake internships in the field, although they may not be related to restaurant inspection specifically. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offers internship opportunities through its Collegiate Leaders in Environmental Health program, which allows students to participate in a summer project for which they may be able to receive academic credit. An internship may also count toward work experience requirements to earn registration, depending on the state.
2. Meet State Requirements for Environmental Health Inspectors
Aspiring environmental health specialists are encouraged to check their states' specific requirements for registration; sometimes earning a specified degree allows applicants to bypass work requirements. However, related work experience on top of specified education requirements is mandatory in some states as a prerequisite to achieving full registered sanitarian status, although the stipulated amount may vary. Opportunities can be found with local, state, or federal governmental health agencies or in private industry.
3. Certify as a REHS/RS
The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) offers certification as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS). This credential is obtained by passing an exam, which includes questions about food protection, hazardous materials, air quality, emergency planning, wastewater management, and other environmental health issues. The REHS/RS is accepted credentialing for some states; others may have their own licensing and testing procedures.
Candidates with a bachelor's degree in an area other than environmental health need two years of work experience in the field in order to qualify for the REHS/RH exam. The NEHA and some states also offer sanitarian-in-training options to those applicants who meet education requirements but do not meet work experience requirements; this allows for preliminary credentialing while they gain the job experience necessary to obtain full registered sanitarian status.
4. Maintain REHS/RS Certification
The environmental sciences are continuously expanding our understanding of what is healthy and what is unsafe for humans. In order to maintain the REHS/RS credential, restaurant health inspector requirements include a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education units every two years. The NEHA offers online, video-based, and in-person continuing education courses. Other ways of earning continuing education credits include teaching classes, taking quizzes, publishing articles, or writing book reviews on subjects related to environmental health. Individual states may have different continuing education requirements.
Restaurant inspectors are a type of environmental health specialist, and as such, they must typically earn a bachelor's degree in a field like occupational safety, and then obtain official registration from the NEHA.
