Environmental Health Officer
What is the work like?
As an environmental health officer (EHO), you would aim to make sure that people’s living and working surroundings were safe and hygienic. You could deal with a wide range of issues, including:
- food safety
- environmental protection and pollution control
- noise control
- health and safety at work
- public health
- waste management
- housing standards.
You might specialise in one of these areas, or you might deal with all environmental health issues in your local area. Your duties would typically involve:
- inspecting businesses for health and safety, food hygiene and food standards
- following up complaints and investigating outbreaks of food poisoning, infectious disease or pests
- collecting samples for laboratory testing
- enforcing environmental health laws
- investigating accidents at work
- advising community groups and giving educational talks
- giving evidence in cases that come to court
- keeping records and writing reports.
You would work closely with housing, building control, trading standards and waste management officers and the Health and Safety Executive.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To become an environmental health officer you must:
- get an environmental health degree (BSc) or postgraduate degree (MSc) that is approved by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
- complete a year-long work-based learning placement
- pass a series of professional exams whilst working as a trainee EHO.
To get onto an environmental health degree you will usually need five GCSEs (A-C) and two A levels, preferably including a science subject. Check with universities about other qualifications that they may accept. To get onto an MSc in environmental health, you will need a first degree in a scientific subject.
See the CIEH or REHIS website for a list of universities offering accredited courses.
Alternatively, you could start as an environmental health technician with a local council if you have A levels, a BTEC National Diploma or HND in a scientific subject, or previous experience in related work like food hygiene or pest control.
Your employer may then offer you the chance to progress to fully-qualified EHO by sponsoring you to do the degree part-time whilst you are working as an environmental health technician.
You are likely to need a full driving licence for this job.
What further training and development can I do?
To fully qualify as an environmental health officer, you must:
- complete a period of work-based learning (either as a placement during your degree, or in a job as trainee EHO afterwards)
- keep a training logbook, known as an Experiential Learning Portfolio (ELP), during your work-based learning
- have your ELP assessed as competent
- pass the CIEH Professional Examination.
When you have successfully completed all these stages, you will be fully qualified and receive the Certificate of Registration from Environmental Health Registration Board. This gives you graduate membership of CIEH.
As a qualified environmental health officer, you should keep up to date with new developments throughout your career. CIEH offers a range of short courses and seminars to help your professional development.
After around five years of professional practice, you can apply to CIEH for Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner status. See the CIEH website for details.
Where can I go for more information?
15 Hatfields
London
SE1 8DJ
Tel: 020 7928 6006
Careers website: http://www.ehcareers.org
Edinburgh
EH3 7DH
Tel: 0131 225 6999
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Salaries in local government are normally between £25,000 and £30,000 a year.
- Senior and management salaries can reach £60,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would work between 35 and 39 hours week, Monday to Friday, which may occasionally include evening or weekend work. Flexitime, part-time work and job sharing may be available.
You would have an office base, but spend much of your time out visiting businesses and homes, which may sometimes be dirty, unpleasant or potentially dangerous. You would wear protective clothing such as safety masks and overalls when necessary.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good spoken and written communication skills
- negotiation skills
- care and attention to detail
- the ability to understand and explain relevant laws
- good ‘people skills’, for dealing with people from all backgrounds
- a good level of scientific and technical understanding
- assertiveness and tact
- the ability to work alone and as part of a team.
What opportunities are there?
Most opportunities are with local councils. You could also work in the private sector, for example checking on food standards and health and safety for companies like food suppliers and hotels.
Jobs and training placements may be advertised in the local and national press, by local councils and the CIEH.
In local government there is a clearly defined promotion structure to senior, principal and chief environmental health officer. With experience, you could also choose become an environmental health consultant in the private sector, advising businesses on environmental health law.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open new window):
Environmental Health News
LG Jobs
Jobs Go Public
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