Chapter 01. General Regulations

“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.

“Board” means the State Board of Environmental Health Specialists.

“Board-approved baccalaureate degree” means a baccalaureate degree in science in:

“Certificate” means any of the following certificates issued by the Board:

“Environmental health specialist-in-training” means an individual who:

“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 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:

“Laboratory course” means a traditional on-site setting or virtual setting where an individual conducts practical experiments by either:

“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.

Party.

“Permanent employee” means an individual who is:

“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:

“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:

Licensed by the Board;

Employed under a valid environmental health specialist-in-training certificate issued by the Board; or

Participating in an apprenticeship approved by the Board.

Qualifies for examination as provided in §B of this regulation;

Takes and passes the examination;

Has not committed an act which, under Health Occupation Article, §21-312, would subject the applicant to disciplinary action by the Board; and

Pays the necessary fees as specified in COMAR 10.60.06.

Combination 1:

Combination 2:

Except as provided in §C(2) of this regulation, laboratory coursework shall be in the following fields:

The Board may accept a health or environmental field not listed in §C(1) of this regulation if the Board determines that the field is sufficiently related to the practice of an environmental health specialist.

An applicant shall have completed at least:

The Board considers the applicant to be recognized as outstanding in the field of environmental health as stated in COMAR 10.60.02.04L; or

The applicant has:

Perform in a competent manner assigned job duties and responsibilities which constitute practice as an environmental health specialist; and

Demonstrate proficiency in all areas of public and environmental health on a written examination required by the Board.

Provide the environmental health specialist-in-training with approved experience that is in accordance with §E of this regulation and which includes the following:

Provide the environmental health specialist-in-training with an opportunity for education and training in the:

Ensure that the program complies with §B of this regulation;

Provide in house training and opportunities for outside training events; and

Define and track progress through the performance evaluation process.

Review recommended resource materials;

Attend recommended training events to improve breadth and depth of knowledge;

Receive satisfactory or above performance evaluation ratings for the entire in-training program; and

With the sponsor’s input, establish a timeline for when to take the examination.

Experience obtained under the direction of the environmental health sponsor shall be credited toward the experience requirements of an environmental health specialist-in-training program.

The amount of approved experience required for each environmental health specialist-in-training program shall be in accordance with Regulation .03B of this chapter.

The Board may approve and apply experience that was obtained from prior employment as part of an environmental health specialist-in-training program.

Approved experience shall be credited to an environmental health specialist-in-training as follows:

Except for an internship approved by an environmental health sponsor, approved experience does not include experience obtained to satisfy the degree requirements of an academic institution.

Submits an application for approval on the form required by the Board; and

Submits satisfactory evidence that the training and experience provided to an apprenticeship participant meets the requirements of §§B—G of this regulation.

Establishes any employment requirements for the apprenticeship participant; and

Defines the methods for tracking and evaluating participant performance.

Perform, in a competent manner, assigned job duties and responsibilities which constitute practice as an environmental health specialist; and

Demonstrate proficiency in all areas of public and environmental health on a written examination required by the Board.

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;

Institutional and residential sanitation; and

Subject areas included in the recognized examination approved by the Board.

Conducting inspections and investigations;

Collecting and analyzing data;

Making decisions necessary to secure compliance with federal, State, and local laws and regulations that relate to control of the public health aspects of the environment; and

Reviewing and approving plans for compliance or process changes.