Environmental health practitioner

Environmental health practitioners use their scientific and technical skills to ensure that people can live, work and play in environments that are safe and healthy

As an environmental health practitioner (EHP), you'll develop, implement and enforce health policies using specialist knowledge to maintain and safeguard standards relating to people's health and wellbeing.

Depending on your employer, you'll often coordinate with council departments and national regulators like the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Alternative job titles include officer, specialist, adviser, consultant, manager, educator or enforcement officer.

Types of environmental health practitioner

You may choose to specialise or work across a range of areas, such as:

• environmental protection
• food safety and food standards
• occupational health and safety
• housing
• noise control
• pollution control
• public health
• waste management
• the armed forces.

For an overview of work activities in the different specialist roles, see the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).

Responsibilities

As an environmental health practitioner, you'll need to:

• carry out routine or unplanned visits and inspections to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and take action to improve conditions
• provide advice and assistance to householders and businesses
• take photos, produce drawings, remove samples and conduct interviews as part of the inspection process
• investigate complaints from the general public
• carry out food hygiene and food standards inspections
• investigate accidents at work and complaints about poor standards of health and safety, identifying any areas of negligence
• investigate outbreaks of infectious disease and prevent it spreading any further
• take water samples to maintain and improve standards in public swimming and bathing areas as well as private water supplies
• monitor radiation activity and take action when safety levels have been exceeded
• ensure the health and welfare of animal livestock on farms and other premises, as well as during transportation
• issue licences for pet shops and other animal-related businesses
• advise on planning and licensing applications
• monitor levels of noise, air, land, and water pollution
• give talks at public enquiries, meetings and exhibitions and ensure compliance through education, advice and enforcement
• take enforcement action, initiate legal proceedings, prepare and give evidence in court
• advise on health and safety issues in relation to new buildings and developments
• arrange for the removal of abandoned vehicles and refuse.

Salary

• Typical starting salaries range between £25,000 and £35,000.
• Mid-level environmental health practitioner salaries usually range from £32,000 to £50,000.
• Senior or managerial level salaries, after ten to 15 years in the role, generally pay between £45,000 and £60,000, though this may be higher in more senior, such as head of department.

Salaries vary between local authorities and according to the specific role and area of work. Some authorities have performance-related pay schemes. You may earn more working in a private company, than in the public sector.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll usually work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, though evening or weekend work may be necessary at times.

Local authorities usually offer flexible working arrangements, including part-time, job sharing, compressed hours and occasional home working/hybrid options.

What to expect

• Working conditions may be dirty and unpleasant at times, when inspecting unclean or unsafe buildings, and conducting site visits in all weather conditions.
• The work is diverse and varied. In some cases, work may be stressful and confrontational, sometimes requiring police help, especially when enforcing regulations.
• Your appearance should be professional but at times you may need protective clothing or safety gear on site.
• Travel within the working day is the norm, although absence from home overnight is uncommon.

Qualifications

To become a qualified EHP, you'll need an honours degree or Masters in environmental health from a university accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) (Scotland).

Accredited courses are available in full time, part time or integrated/sandwich formats, and will provide you with broad training across all the areas of environmental health. After graduating, you'll go on to complete a placement and a portfolio, before becoming a fully qualified EHP.

If you already have a related degree (e.g. in biology or environmental science) or equivalent experience, you might qualify via an accredited MSc route.

For a list of courses, search postgraduate courses in environmental health.

If you've completed an accredited foundation degree programme, you may be able to top up to an accredited BSc degree.

In England, the alternative route of a Level 6 degree apprenticeship, lets you earn while you train for a BSc Environmental Health qualification.

If you don't have a degree, you could start as an environmental health technician and study part time or take a Level 4 Regulatory Compliance Officer Apprenticeship tailored to environmental health. The CIEH has more information about environmental health apprenticeships.

Skills

You'll need to show you have:

• excellent written and verbal communication
• confidence in dealing with the public
• good report-writing skills
• strong scientific reasoning and technical understanding
• the ability to be assertive yet diplomatic and sensitive to other people's views
• decision making capability
• the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• a methodical, careful approach to gathering facts and assessing evidence
• the ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines
• good time management and organisational skills to manage your workload effectively
• a motivated and flexible approach to work
• IT literacy
• a full UK driving licence - required for most positions as there is regular travel.

Work experience

Gaining experience before you qualify is a big advantage as it gives you insight into the role and makes you a more competitive candidate.

Local authorities may offer internships or short periods of work experience, and you may be able to work shadow an experienced practitioner to find out more about the profession.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Local authorities are the main employer of environmental health practitioners, being responsible for public health, housing conditions, food safety, environmental protection and health and safety at work.

You can also find work with the following employers:

• central government agencies - such as the Environment Agency (EA),ÌýFood Standards Agency,ÌýHealth and Safety Executive (HSE)Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌýScottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
• NHS
• private consultancies - an option for experienced EHPs.
• supermarkets
• the Armed Forces
• holiday companies (checking the standards of foreign hotels and resorts)

It's possible to find work with international organisations (e.g. the World Health Organisation) or overseas projects too, particularly through international organisations, government roles overseas, or by working for companies with international operations.

Look for job vacancies at:

• EHN Jobs
• jobsgopublic
• Local Government Jobs
• myjobscotland - local government jobs in Scotland
• NHS Careers
• NIJOBS.com - environmental health jobs in Northern Ireland.

The armed forces offer a range of EHP opportunities:

• RAF - environmental health practitioner
• Royal Army Medical Corps - environmental health officer or technician
• Royal Navy - environmental health officer.

Recruitment agencies such as Osborne Richardson also handle EHP vacancies.

Professional development

After initial training and registration, you'll keep building your portfolio across core areas: /

• food safety
• housing
• occupational health
• pollution
• public health.

The practical training element can be completed through a formal placement with a local authority or by gaining experience with several relevant organisations in different areas of practice.

Your professional portfolio focuses on practical learning and reflective practice, showing that you’ve applied your knowledge in real situations. It requires you to complete a range of interventions, develop professional skills and reflect on your experiences across the five core areas of environmental health:

• noise and environmental pollution
• food safety and hygiene
• workplace (occupational) health
• housing standards
• public health.

As a qualified practitioner you'll register with CIEH in England and Wales, and with REHIS in Scotland. In Ireland, career and training information can be obtained from the Environmental Health Association of Ireland.

Career prospects

There are many opportunities for career development, especially within local authorities that have large environmental health departments, with well-established promotion routes to more senior posts.

After initial registration and gaining sufficient experience, you can seek chartered status. This combined with continuing development (CPD) will enable you to progress to more senior posts.

Future progression may involve moving into senior roles, leadership positions, consulting or academic work.