In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Accredited educational institution” means a college or university in the United States or an equivalent which has been accredited by an accrediting organization or agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education. “Apprenticeship” means a program of training and experience under the supervision of a licensed environmental health specialist that is a requirement for a Board-approved baccalaureate degree from an accredited educational institution. “Approved experience” means experience which classifies as practice as an environmental health specialist. Approved Training. “Approved training” means Board-approved courses of study or programs of instruction, or courses or programs offered by a pre-approved provider, in an area of environmental health sciences and related subjects designed to improve, advance, or extend professional skill and knowledge relating to the practice of an environmental health specialist. “Approved training” includes, for licensees applying for renewal of a license for the first time, in-training or prior work experience as specified under COMAR 10.60.03.01C(7). “Board” means the State Board of Environmental Health Specialists. “Board-approved baccalaureate degree” means a baccalaureate degree in science in: Biology; Chemistry; Environmental Science; Geology; or Any other area related to the practice of an environmental health specialist approved by the Board. “Certificate” means any of the following certificates issued by the Board: A certificate of eligibility for obtaining employment; and An environmental health specialist-in-training certificate. “Environmental health specialist-in-training” means an individual who: Meets the educational qualifications set forth in Regulation .03B of this chapter; and Has a valid environmental health specialist-in-training certificate. “Environmental health specialist-in-training program” means a program which provides an environmental health specialist-in-training with approved experience under the supervision of an environmental health sponsor. Environmental Health Sponsor. “Environmental health sponsor” means an individual who is responsible for overseeing the implementation and progress of an applicant's environmental health specialist-in-training program. “Environmental health sponsor” includes: For public employees, an environmental health director, equivalent agency officer, or their designee; or For private sector employees, an environmental professional, who, like an environmental health director or equivalent agency supervisor, makes discretionary decisions affecting food safety, water quality, air quality, sewage systems, and other aspects of the environment affecting the public health. “Environmental science degree” means a baccalaureate or master’s degree inclusive of sufficient course and lab work consistent with semester credits or equivalent in quarter credits in physical and biological sciences acceptable to the Board. “Full-time employment” means employment of at least 34 hours per week. “Hours of approved training” means the value given by the Board for participation in continuing education or experience. “Internship” means an environmental health specialist-in-training program that: Consists of 3 months of approved experience; and Has been completed by an individual who has graduated from an accredited educational institution with a master’s degree in public or environmental health. “Laboratory course” means a traditional on-site setting or virtual setting where an individual conducts practical experiments by either: Hands on; or Simulation relative to the subject area. “License” means a license issued by the Board to practice as an environmental health specialist. “License renewal period” means the 24-month period immediately preceding the expiration date of the license. “Licensed environmental health specialist” means an individual who is licensed by the Board to practice as an environmental health specialist. Major Component of Employment. “Major component of employment” means a job duty or responsibility that: An individual may be reasonably expected to perform; Is identified and listed separately on a position description form such as a Maryland State form MS-22; and Entails significant decision-making responsibility and authority in the process of securing compliance with federal, State, or local health and environmental laws and regulations specifically relating to the control of the public health aspects of the environment. “Major component of employment” does not include a job duty or responsibility identified as miscellaneous or other duties as assigned. Party. “Party” means a person or agency named or admitted as a party, or properly seeking and entitled to the right to be admitted as a party, in formal hearings. “Party” includes a person or agency admitted for limited purposes. “Permanent employee” means an individual who is: Employed to practice as an environmental health specialist; and Not a temporary employee. “Practice as an environmental health specialist” means, as a major component of employment, to apply academic principles, methods, and procedures of the environmental, physical, biological, and health sciences to the inspections and investigations necessary to collect and analyze data and to make decisions necessary to secure compliance with federal, State, and local health and environmental laws and regulations specifically relating to control of the public health aspects of the environment including: The manufacture, preparation, handling, distribution, or sale of food and milk; Water supply and treatment; Wastewater treatment and disposal; Solid waste management and disposal; Vector control; Insect and rodent control; Air quality; Noise control; Product safety; Recreational sanitation; and Institutional and residential sanitation. “Subject matter expert” means an individual with in-depth knowledge or expertise in performing a specialized job, duty or skill within an organization. “Temporary employee” means an individual who is: Employed to practice as an environmental health specialist on a temporary basis for a length of time not to exceed 6 consecutive months within a consecutive 12-month period; and Not required to complete the total months of experience in an environmental health specialist-in-training program under Regulation .03B of this chapter on a consecutive monthly basis.