Environmental Health Officer


What you'll do as an environmental health officer

Day-to-day tasks

In your day-to-day duties you may:

  • inspect businesses for health and safety, food hygiene and food standards

  • follow up complaints and investigate outbreaks of food poisoning, infectious disease or pests

  • collect samples for laboratory testing

  • enforce environmental health laws

  • investigate accidents at work

  • advise community groups and give educational talks

  • give evidence in court

  • write records and reports

  • advise employers on all environmental health matters


Key skills for environmental health officers

You'll need good communication skills along with an ability to work as part of a team. Other essential qualities and skills include:

  • interpersonal skills to explain legislation and procedures to people from all backgrounds

  • close attention to detail

  • the ability to analyse and solve problems.

What do I need to do to become an environmental health officer?

To become an environmental health officer, you’ll need to study either an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been approved by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH). You will then need to complete a period of work-based training and pass a series of professional exams.

To do an environmental health degree you will usually need five GCSEs (A-C) and a minimum of two A levels. Check with universities for exact entry requirements – vocational courses are acceptable for some degree courses.

A levels in a science or technology subject may be required for some courses.

Level 3 vocational courses linked to science would be relevant for this work. Check with universities about acceptability.


For more information on entry:

https://www.cieh.org/what-is-environmental-health/how-do-i-become-an-ehp/#

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