90A-53. Qualifications and examination for registration as an environmental health specialist or environmental health specialist intern.

(a) The Board shall issue a certificate to a qualified person as a registered environmental health specialist or a registered environmental health specialist intern. A certificate as a registered environmental health specialist or a registered environmental health specialist intern shall be issued to any person upon the Board's determination that the person:

(1) Has made application to the Board on a form prescribed by the Board and paid a fee not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00);

(2) Is of good moral and ethical character and has signed an agreement to adhere to the Code of Ethics adopted by the Board;

(3) Meets any of the following combinations of education and practice experience standards:

a. Graduated from a baccalaureate or postgraduate degree program that is accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) and has one or more years of experience in the field of environmental health practice; or

b. Graduated from a baccalaureate or postgraduate degree program that is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education, Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and meets both of the following:

1. Earned a minimum of 30 semester hours or its equivalent in the physical or biological sciences; and

2. Has two or more years of experience in the field of environmental health practice.

c. Graduated from a baccalaureate program rated as acceptable by the Board and meets both of the following:

1. Earned a minimum of 30 semester hours or its equivalent in the physical or biological sciences; and

2. Has two or more years of experience in the field of environmental health practice.

(4) Has satisfactorily completed a course in specialized instruction and training approved by the Board in the practice of environmental health;

(5) Repealed by Session Laws 2009-443, s. 4, effective August 7, 2009.

(6) Has passed an examination administered by the Board designed to test for competence in the subject matters of environmental health sanitation. The examination shall be in a form prescribed by the Board and may be oral, written, or both. The examination for applicants shall be held annually or more frequently as the Board may by rule prescribe, at a time and place to be determined by the Board. A person shall not be registered if such person fails to meet the minimum grade requirements for examination specified by the Board. Failure to pass an examination shall not prohibit such person from being examined at subsequent times and places as specified by the Board; and

(7) Has paid a fee set by the Board not to exceed the cost of purchasing the examination and an administrative fee not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

(b) The Board may issue a certificate to a person serving as a registered environmental health specialist intern without the person meeting the full requirements for experience of a registered environmental health specialist for a period not to exceed three years from the date of initial registration as a registered environmental health specialist intern, provided, the person meets the educational requirements in G.S. 90A-53 and is in the field of environmental health practice.