§ 90A-53.  Qualifications and examination for registration as an environmental health specialist or environmental health specialist intern.

(a) The Board shall issue a certificate to a qualified person as a registered environmental health specialist or a registered environmental health specialist intern. A certificate as a registered environmental health specialist or a registered environmental health specialist intern shall be issued to any person upon the Board's determination that the person meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Has made application to the Board on a form prescribed by the Board and paid a fee not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).

(2) Is of good moral and ethical character and has signed an agreement to adhere to the Code of Ethics adopted by the Board.

(3) Meets any of the following education and practice experience standards:

a. Graduated with a bachelor's or postgraduate degree from a program that is accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC).

b. Graduated with a bachelor's or postgraduate degree and earned a minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours in the physical, biological, natural, life, or health sciences and has one or more years of experience in the field of environmental health practice.

c. Graduated with a bachelor's or postgraduate degree in public health and has one or more years of experience in the field of environmental health practice.

d. Has worked five or more continuous years as a registered environmental health associate.

(4) Has satisfactorily completed a course in specialized instruction and training approved by the Board in the practice of environmental health.

(5) Repealed by Session Laws 2009-443, s. 4, effective August 7, 2009.

(6) Has passed an examination administered by the Board designed to test for competence in the subject matters of environmental health sanitation. The examination shall be in a form prescribed by the Board and may be oral, written, or both. The examination for applicants shall be held annually or more frequently as the Board may by rule prescribe, at a time and place to be determined by the Board. A person shall not be registered if the person fails to meet the minimum grade requirements for examination specified by the Board. Failure to pass an examination does not prohibit the person from being examined at subsequent times and places as specified by the Board.

(7) Has paid a fee set by the Board not to exceed the cost of purchasing the examination and an administrative fee not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

(b) The Board may issue a certificate to a person serving as a registered environmental health specialist intern without the person meeting the full requirements for experience of a registered environmental health specialist for a period not to exceed two years from the date of initial registration as a registered environmental health specialist intern so long as the person meets the educational requirements of this section and is in the field of environmental health practice.  (1959, c. 1271, s. 6; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1274, s. 2; 1989, c. 545, s. 2; 1993, c. 233, ss. 1-3; 2009-443, s. 4; 2023-65, s. 9.1(a); 2023-90, s. 10.1(b); 2025-25, s. 10.)