Workforce Standards

These workforce standards were established by the Special Commission in their final report (Blueprint).

Learn more about the Blueprint for Public Health Excellence.

Notes:

• All personnel should have at least ICS 100/NIMS 700 within 1 year of hire. Those who might have a leadership role should have ICS 200 and above.
• Boards of health may have stricter requirements, but they must meet these requirements.
• Boards of health with current staff who have worked for local or state public health for at least 7 years, but who do not meet these requirements, may request a waiver, except for inspectional trainings.
• Membership in professional organizations is deemed as critical for professional development, for leadership and mentoring opportunities, and for opportunities for sharing best practices. This is recommended, but not required.
• A TRAIN MA account is required to access many of the courses listed under the Workforce Standards. You can sign up for a free account at https://www.train.org/ma/welcome and click “Create Account.” Please contact us at [e-mail] for additional information or assistance.

Management

Includes Director, Assistant Director, Deputy Director - positions not conducting inspections but supervising those that do.

*Management positions should meet the requirements as set forth in this document for the position. However, a request may be submitted by the board of health to waive the Registered Sanitarian (RS) requirement if:

1) the Health Department has a management position and a separate full-time Environmental Health Director and;

2) the Environmental Health Director has an RS, oversees the inspectors, and reports directly to the management position.

***To Be Developed

Required at Hire	Required after Hire	Recommended after Hire
• Registered Sanitarian (RS) or equivalent eligible* • Master’s in relevant field or BA/BS with 5 years of relevant experience	• RS or equivalent within 1 year of hire* • Foundations for Local Public Health Practice (“Foundations”) course within 1 year of hire • Certified Health Officer (CHO) within 3 years of hire • Complete Master’s within 5 years of hire	• Health Association membership • Local Public Health Institute Managing Effectively in Today’s Public Health Environment (“Management”) course*** • Three years of experience in local or state public health • MAVEN training within 1 year of hire

Management / Agent

***To Be Developed

Required at Hire	Required after Hire	Recommended after Hire
• Registered Sanitarian (RS) or equivalent eligible	• Foundations course within 18 months of hire • RS within 18 months of hire • Specific certifications for inspections performed, such as soil evaluator, system inspector, food inspector training, housing inspection training, certified pool operator/certified pool inspector, lead determinator within 1 year of hire	• Health Association membership • Local Public Health Institute Management Course*** • CHO within 3 years of hire

 

Inspector / Environmental Health Specialist

Required at Hire	Required after Hire	Recommended after Hire
• High School Diploma or equivalent	• RS within 6 years of hire • Foundations course within 18 months of hire  • Specific certifications for inspections performed, such as soil evaluator, system inspector, food inspector training, housing inspection training, certified pool operator/certified pool inspector, lead determinator within 1 year of hire	• Health Association membership • Associate's degree in science or public health, at hire

Public Health Nurse

Required at Hire	Required after Hire	Recommended after Hire
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) • Registered Nurse (RN), current MA license	• MAVEN-trained within 6 months of hire • Foundations course within 1 year of hire	• MA Association of Public Health Nurses (MAPHN) Membership

Clerical Staff

Required at Hire	Required after Hire	Recommended after Hire
• Microsoft Office (or similar) applications	• Modified Foundations Course for Administrative Staff within 1 year of hire	• On-line permitting

Board Of Health Member **

**Board members performing inspections must meet the requirements under "Inspector/Environmental Health Specialist"

Upon Appointment or Election
Orientation to Local Public Health in Massachusetts within 3 months of hire Foundations course within 1 year of hire

Food Protection

Required	Recommended
• ServSafe or similar • Massachusetts Public Health Inspector Training (MA PHIT) Food Inspection Class • Field Component	• Food and Drug Administration / Office of Regulatory Affairs - University (ORAU)

Housing

*** To be developed 

Required	Recommended
• MA PHIT Housing Class • Housing Court Training*** • Lead Determinator • Field Component	• Relevant LPHI Modules

Title 5

*** To be developed 

Required	Recommended
• Soil Evaluator • System Inspector • MA PHIT Wastewater*** • Field Component	• Relevant LPHI Modules

Pools

Required	Recommended
• Certified Pool Operator or Certified Pool Operator with Field Component	• Relevant LPHI Modules

Recreational Camps

*** To be developed 

Required	Recommended
•MA PHIT Camps*** • Field Component	• Relevant LPHI Modules

Tanning / Body Art

*** To be developed 

Required	Recommended
• MA PHIT Tanning / Body Art*** • Field Component	• Relevant LPHI Modules

Nuisances

*** To be developed 

Required	Recommended
• MA PHIT Nuisances*** • Field Component	• Relevant LPHI Modules