Q: What are the
requirements for sanitarian in training registration?
A: You must have at least a baccalaureate (bachelors) degree from an accredited
college including 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours of science
courses approved by the Board.
Science courses approved by the Board must be in biology, chemistry, physics, geology or mathematics and be applicable to the practice of environmental health science. Science courses
approved by the Board may include more than one area of science
as specified above. Courses shall not be approved that are remedial
or college preparatory level.
Q: What is the process to become a sanitarian in training?
A: You must complete an application for registered sanitarian/sanitarian in training,
submit the application fee, which is currently $80, and submit
an official college transcript(s). Applications must be supported
by an official transcript reflecting at least a bachelor's degree
and the completion of the science requirement listed above.
Photocopies are not accepted.
Q: When will I know if I have been granted the sanitarian in training registration?
A: The Board meets approximately every six weeks to review applications. If your application is
approved, the registration is effective on the date of the Board
meeting. Your approval letter and pocket ID card will be mailed
within ten business days of the meeting date. Your wall certificate
will be mailed following the next Board meeting date.
Q: Is there an examination requirement for sanitarian in training registration?
A: Currently, there is no examination requirement.
Q: How do I determine if my internship program is approved?
A: An internship program must be approved by the National Environmental Health
Science and Protection Accreditation Council. In Ohio, the only
universities with approved internship programs are Bowling Green
State University, Ohio University, and Wright State University.
A complete list of approved internship programs is available
at http://www.ehacoffice.org/
Q: As a sanitarian in training when can I take the registration examination?
A: You are eligible to take the examination at any time once you become registered
as a sanitarian in training.
Q: How long I can practice as a sanitarian in training?
A: You can practice environmental health as a sanitarian in training for a maximum
of five years as long as you maintain 18 hours of Board approved
continuing education and renew your registration annually.
Prior to your 3rd annual renewal you must request an extension which must be
approved by the Board. The written extension request must include
an explanation of why you have not applied for advancement to
registered sanitarian, a listing of full-time employment experience,
and the number of times you have taken the examination.
Another extension request will be required prior to your 4th annual renewal and your sanitarian in training registration will expire on the
5th anniversary of the date you began practicing environmental health as a sanitarian
in training.
Q: What are the requirements for sanitarian registration or advancement to
registered sanitarian?
A: You must have completed at least a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college
including 45 quarter units or 30 semester units of science courses
approved by the Board. Science courses approved by the Board
are in biology, chemistry, physics, geology or mathematics.
To be eligible for advancement or registration as a sanitarian, you must have
completed at least two years of experience in the practice of
environmental health; however, if you have a degree higher than
a baccalaureate, or completed a major in environmental health
which included a Board approved internship, one year of experience
as a sanitarian is required.
You must provide proof of a passing score on the registration examination. The
PES Environmental Health Proficiency Examination is administered
by the Board during March, July and October. You may sit for
the examination before accumulating the appropriate experience;
however, you cannot apply for advancement to registered sanitarian
until the experience requirement is fulfilled. The Board also
accepts the Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered
Sanitarian (REHS/RS) Examination given by the National Environmental
Health Association. You must achieve at least a 70% on either
examination for the Board to consider your application.
Q: How do I calculate part-time sanitarian in training employment experience
toward advancing to registered sanitarian?
A: Based upon a forty-hour workweek, an accumulation of 2,080 hours of sanitarian
in training employment experience is equivalent to one year
of sanitarian employment experience. The Board may make an exception
to the accumulation of 2,080 hours, if the employer operates
on a workweek of less than forty hours.
Q: Is there a continuing education requirement to renew my sanitarian or sanitarian
in training registration?
A: You are required to complete 18 hours of Board approved continuing education
on an annual basis. Courses can be taken from approved training
agencies or you can submit courses within 60 days of course
completion to the Board for review by using a CE 2 application.
Q: Can I fulfill my continuing education requirement through online or self
study courses?
A: Yes. You can complete the total 18-hour requirement in this format as long
as it is in an approved topic or presented by a Board approved
training agency.
Most internet course providers are not registered with the Board as approved
training agencies and have not applied for approval for the
course. In most cases, once you have completed the course and
received your certificate of completion, you must initiate a
CE 2 application to receive credit for the course. It is important
to verify with the provider ahead of time that you will receive
verification of completion and documentation of hours completed
for the course, as this information will be required for submission
with the CE 2 application.
Q: Do I need to submit a CE 2 application if I take a course from an approved
training agency?
A: Training agencies are responsible for reporting conference/seminar attendees
to the Board within 45 days of course completion. If you are
unsure of an agency's status or the amount of hours you were
awarded for a conference, please feel free to contact the Board
for verification.
Q: Is there a grace period for completing the mandatory 18-hour continuing
education requirement?
A: No. If you are unable to accumulate 18 hours of Board approved continuing
education by your certificate expiration date, the Board cannot
renew or extend your registration.
However, once you complete the 18-hours of Board approved continuing education,
you are eligible to apply for the reinstatement of your registration.
Reinstatement requires a Board action. Until your registration
is reinstated by the Board, you may not engage in the practice
of environmental health or use the title "Registered Sanitarian"
or "Sanitarian in Training."
Q: What are the renewal requirements for sanitarians and sanitarians in training?
A: All registrants are required to renew annually. Except for the first annual
renewal, you must complete the continuing education requirement
within the twelve months immediately preceding the certificate
expiration date, which is either July 31 or January 31.
During your first year of registration, you may use approved continuing education
hours earned from the date the certificate of registration was
approved by the Board until the certificate expiration date.
Q: What if I turn in my registration renewal after July 31 or January 31?
A: The assessment of a late fee, which is currently $27, as provided by Section
4736.12 of the Ohio Revised Code and reinstatement by the board
shall apply to the following:
Q: If I let my registered sanitarian or sanitarian in training registration
lapse how long am I eligible for reinstatement?
A: You are eligible to apply for reinstatement for up to three years from the
date your registration expired. Keep in mind that continuing
education hours and fees are cumulative during that period.
For example, if you let your registration lapse for two years
you must submit evidence of completion of 36 hours of Board
approved continuing education, the renewal fees for each lapsed
year, and a one time late fee. If you let your registration
lapse beyond three years, you must reapply for registration,
which entails meeting both the education and examination requirements.
Q: What is the "Declaration of Material Assistance" form and why
do I have to complete is to apply for or renew my sanitarian
registration?
A: The Declaration of Material Assistance (DMA) is a provision of Ohio Senate
Bill 9, which is Ohio's homeland security and anti-terrorism
legislation, which went into effect April 14, 2006. The DMA
was created to provide the state with an additional tool to
deter and prosecute acts of terrorism within Ohio.
The United States Department of State Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL) is being
used to identify terrorist organizations and applicants seeking
certain state issued licenses/registrations must fill out a
DMA certifying that they have not provided "material assistance"
to a terrorist organization.
Section 2909.32(B)(1) of the Ohio Revised Code requires the State Board of Sanitarian
Registration to inform applicants for registered sanitarian
registration and renewal that they must truthfully answer each
question on the DMA form. If an applicant answers "yes"
to any of the questions, or if they fail to answer "no"
to any question, it will be deemed as a disclosure that they
have provided material assistance to an organization on the
TEL.
Incomplete forms, or forms that include an affirmative response, will result
in denial of the registered sanitarian application or the revocation
of registered sanitarian registration. The Board is also required
to notify the Ohio Department of Public Safety if it denies
an application for registration or renewal because the applicant
disclosed the provision of material assistance to an organization
listed on the TEL. Failure to disclose the provision of material
assistance to such an organization or knowingly making false
statements regarding material assistance to such an organization
is a felony of the fifth degree.
Questions regarding the provisions of the law should be directed to Ohio Homeland
Security at dma-info@dps.state.oh.us or (614) 644-3892.
