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A Career in Environmental Health
If you thought that the job of an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) was just about catching rats you couldn’t be more wrong! Environmental Health plays a really crucial role in everybody’s daily life, and you’ll be surprised at how varied and challenging the work of an EHO can be.
EHO’s work to create an environment where everybody has the same chance to have a healthy life. There are four important aspects to this work:
- Improving food safety and nutrition
- Improving housing conditions
- Improving the environment
- Improving workplace health and safety.
A career in environmental health can also be financially rewarding as salaries in local government often start at around the £26k mark and can rise to over £40k for experienced EHOs. For those that wish to take up managerial positions or chose to pursue a career in the private sector the financial rewards can be much higher.
EHO's who work for local authorities have recently been awarded "key worker status". This means that they have access to local affordable housing schemes to help them get onto the property ladder.
Whilst most EHO’s work for local authorities, an increasing number prefer the private sector and work for retailers, holiday companies, airlines and universities. But a career in environmental health need not be restricted to working in the UK as EHOs are also found in the armed forces and international humanitarian organizations as well as in local government organization of Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Regardless of where they work, all EHO’s put people first, so it is imperative that that you have excellent communication skills and an ability to mix with people from every possible background.
In order to become an EHO it is necessary to pass a degree course accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) at either an undergraduate or post graduate level. School leavers will require 160 points with science, at AS and A2 level, or 200 points without. There are other entry options for more mature students.
If you want to know more about becoming an EHO please visit the web site www.ehcareers.org, or contact the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health on 020 7928 6006. Alternatively, if you wish to see for yourself the work of an EHO at North Hertfordshire District Council please call 01462 474000 to arrange a visit.