N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 10, § 11.11 – Qualifications.

(a) A commissioner of health of a county, or a city having a population of 50,000 or more and having an established department of health, shall be a physician who is currently registered to practice medicine in New York State and possesses two years' of experience in administrative practice that demonstrates that the candidate possesses the knowledge and skills to administer public health programs including workforce and budget management, effective communications, effective establishment and implementation of policy or business goals, and compliance with legal requirements and:
1. (1) certification by the American Board of Preventive Medicine; or
2. (2) a master's degree in public health from a regionally accredited or New York State-registered college or university that demonstrates the core competencies of a masters in public health (biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, and social and behavior sciences) or a masters degree in a related field from a regionally accredited New York State-registered college or university.
(b) All appointments to the position of commissioner of health must be approved by the State Commissioner of Health.
(c) Candidates who do not meet the education or experience requirements of this section may be conditionally approved by the State Commissioner of Health for an appointment of two years, with an opportunity for two additional one-year conditional renewals. Final approval of these candidates shall be contingent on satisfactory progress in meeting a public health education or experience plan developed in conjunction with and approved by the State Commissioner of Health.