Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) aim to make sure that people’s living and working surroundings are safe and hygienic. They can deal with a wide range of issues such as:

• food safety
• environmental protection and pollution control
• noise control
• health and safety at work
• public health
• waste management
• housing standards.

Some EHOs specialise in one of these, others deal with all environmental health issues in their area.

The work of an EHO typically involves:

• 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 the community and giving educational talks
• giving evidence in cases that come to court
• keeping records and writing reports.

EHOs work closely with housing, building control, trading standards and waste management officers and the Health and Safety Executive.

Hours and Environment

As an environmental health officer you will usually work 35 to 39 hours week, Monday to Friday. You may occasionally have to work in the evening or at weekend. Flexitime, part-time work and job sharing may be available.

You will be office-based but will spend most of your time out visiting businesses and homes. You may need to visit dirty, unpleasant or potentially hazardous places. You will wear protective clothing such as hats, masks and overalls when necessary.

Skills and Interests

To be an EHO you 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.

You will also usually need a driving licence.

Entry

To qualify as an environmental health officer you must:

• get an environmental health degree (BSc) or postgraduate degree (MSc) that is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) or the Royal Institute of Environmental Health in Scotland (REHIS)
• complete a year-long work-based learning placement
• pass a series of professional exams whilst working as a trainee EHO.

(See the Training section below for more details about placements and professional exams).

To get onto an environmental health degree you will normally need five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) and two A levels/Highers, 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 (contact details in Further Information below).

You could also start as an environmental health technician with a local council, if you have:

• A levels/S grades, 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 working as an environmental health technician.

Training

To fully qualify as an environmental health officer, you must:

• complete a work-based learning placement either during or after your degree
• keep a training logbook, known as an Experiential Learning Portfolio (ELP), during the placement
• have your ELP assessed as competent
• pass the CIEH or REHIS 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, or the REHIS Diploma in Environmental Health (in Scotland). This gives graduate membership of CIEH or REHIS.

As a qualified environmental health officer, you should keep up to date with new developments throughout your career. CIEH and REHIS both offer continuing professional development schemes with short courses and seminars.

After around five years of professional practice, you can apply to CIEH for Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner status. See the CIEH website for details.

Opportunities

As an EHO you are most likely to work for local councils all over the UK. 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
• on www.LGjobs.com and local council websites and jobs bulletins
• in the CIEH Environmental Health News
• on the CIEH and RIEHS websites.

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.

Annual Income

These figures are intended as a guideline only.

EHOs in local government usually earn £25,000 to £30,000 a year.
Experienced senior EHOs and managers can earn up to £60,000 a year.

Further information

Chadwick Court
15 Hatfields
London
SE1 8DJ
Tel: 020 7928 6006
Careers website: http://www.ehcareers.org 3 Manor Place
Edinburgh
EH3 7DH
Tel: 0131 225 6999