Health inspectors have various job titles and responsibilities, including inspecting restaurants, housing units, public swimming pools, nursing homes, and day care centers. Some may need extra education or certification, but good communication skills are essential. Most inspectors have an AA degree or higher. The job may involve dealing with upset people or unhealthy environments.
There are many different careers in health inspection, and each one has specific requirements for the person who wants to become a health inspector. Most people might assume that a health inspector is someone who is primarily responsible for checking restaurants to ensure they are operating in a safe and hygienic manner in accordance with state or country laws. However, there are other jobs that may carry the title of health inspector or environmental health specialist, and these include jobs where the primary inspection would be in housing units or environments that serve the public such as public swimming pools, nursing homes, and day care centers. Some inspectors may be certified to investigate the health and safety of more than one type of thing.
Some people are able to become a health inspector with a high school diploma and professional training. They may have to take exams their job trains them on or apply for certification. Good communication skills are required as a health inspector often writes reports on results. So in high school, people should focus on doing well in English classes.
While some people can become a health inspector with a high school diploma, others may need extra education. There are some AA degrees that focus on inspection in specific fields. More often than not, people may need to pursue bachelor’s level training. In some jobs, graduate work is required so that the inspector has sufficient training to really identify any potential health hazards. Again, this will depend on what area people work in. About a third of people who are inspectors have only a high school diploma, and the rest have an AA degree or higher in their field.
While this isn’t always a requirement, those looking to become a health inspector may also need certification in their area of expertise. There are several certifying agencies in the US, such as the Council of Certified Safety Professionals, the Indoor Air Quality Association, and the Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety and Technologists. As there are many certification agencies, it is important to check with the local agencies that employ inspectors in the various areas to see which certification is appropriate.
The person who wants to become a health inspector in most fields needs to train for their job and can best find out what training is needed by looking at the requirements in each field. Regardless of existing training, health inspectors often need to be prepared to be in environments that may be unhealthy, and especially in a government inspection capacity, they may be dealing with people who are upset that their workplaces are under inspection. At other times, companies or organizations fully comply with all requirements of security laws.
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