1. A. The purpose of an environmental health specialist-in-training program shall be to prepare the environmental health specialist-in-training to:

   1. (1) Perform in a competent manner assigned job duties and responsibilities which constitute practice as an environmental health specialist; and
   2. (2) Demonstrate proficiency in all areas of public and environmental health on a written examination required by the Board.

2. B. At a minimum, an environmental health specialist-in-training program shall:

   1. (1) Provide the environmental health specialist-in-training with approved experience that is in accordance with §E of this regulation and which includes the following:

      1. (a) Conducting inspections and investigations;
      2. (b) Collecting and analyzing data;
      3. (c) Making decisions necessary to secure compliance with federal, State, and local laws and regulations that relate to control of the public health aspects of the environment; and
      4. (d) Reviewing and approving plans for compliance or process changes; and

   2. (2) Provide the environmental health specialist-in-training with an opportunity for education and training in the:

      1. (a) Areas identified in Regulation .01B(20) of this chapter; and
      2. (b) Subject areas included in the recognized examination approved by the Board.

3. C. The environmental health sponsor of an environmental health specialist-in-training program shall:

   1. (1) Ensure that the program complies with §B of this regulation;
   2. (2) Provide in house training and opportunities for outside training events; and
   3. (3) Define and track progress through the performance evaluation process.

4. D. As part of the implementation of the in-training program, the environmental health specialist-in-training shall:

   1. (1) Review recommended resource materials;
   2. (2) Attend recommended training events to improve breadth and depth of knowledge;
   3. (3) Receive satisfactory or above performance evaluation ratings for the entire in-training program; and
   4. (4) With the sponsor’s input, establish a timeline for when to take the examination.

5. E. Experience Requirements.

   1. (1) Experience obtained under the direction of the environmental health sponsor shall be credited toward the experience requirements of an environmental health specialist-in-training program.
   2. (2) The amount of approved experience required for each environmental health specialist-in-training program shall be in accordance with Regulation .03B of this chapter.
   3. (3) The Board may approve and apply experience that was obtained from prior employment as part of an environmental health specialist-in-training program.

   4. (4) Approved experience shall be credited to an environmental health specialist-in-training as follows:

      1. (a) Each month of full time employment is credited as 1 month of experience;
      2. (b) Each month of less than full-time employment is credited on a prorated basis; and
      3. (c) No experience credit is given for any month during which the environmental health specialist-in-training's job performance is rated as unsatisfactory in writing by that individual’s supervisor.
   5. (5) Except for an internship approved by an environmental health sponsor, approved experience does not include experience obtained to satisfy the degree requirements of an academic institution.

Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§21-101—21-502, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.05 adopted as an emergency provision effective January 3, 2013 (40:6 Md. R. 469); adopted permanently effective April 15, 2013 (40:7 Md. R. 612)

Regulation .01B amended effective November 9, 2015 (42:22 Md. R. 1379); June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 508); May 1, 2023 (50:8 Md. R. 338); January 5, 2026 (52:26 Md. R. 1309)

Regulation .02 amended effective November 9, 2015 (42:22 Md. R. 1379)

Regulation .02A amended effective January 5, 2026 (52:26 Md. R. 1309)

Regulation .02C adopted effective March 13, 2017 (44:5 Md. R. 294)

Regulation .03B amended effective November 9, 2015 (42:22 Md. R. 1379); March 13, 2017 (44:5 Md. R. 294); June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 508); August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 710); January 5, 2026 (52:26 Md. R. 1309)

Regulation ,03C adopted effective August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 710)

Regulation .04A amended effective November 9, 2015 (42:22 Md. R. 1379); March 13, 2017 (44:5 Md. R. 294); June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 508)

Regulation .05 amended effective November 9, 2015 (42:22 Md. R. 1379); March 13, 2017 (44:5 Md. R. 294)

Regulation .05A, B amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 508)

Regulation .05E amended effective April 23, 2018 (45:8 Md. R. 422); August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 710)

Regulation .06 adopted effective January 5, 2026 (52:26 Md. R. 1309)