(a) Selection and oath.—

1. (1) Council shall, by ordinance, determine the manner and method of selection of a health officer who shall be an individual with experience or training in public health work and who shall be or shall become certified for the office of health officer by the State Department of Health within six months of taking the oath of office.
2. (2) The health officer shall take the oath required of members of the board.
3. (3) The health officer shall be the agent of the board of health but shall not serve as a member of the board of health.

(b) Qualifications.—

1. (1) Council may appoint, as the principal health officer of the city, the manager or chief administrator employed and compensated by a nonprofit corporation which may be appointed as a board of health in accordance with Subchapter C (relating to corporations acting as boards of health).
2. (2) The manager or chief administrator, to be eligible for appointment, must be a reputable physician with at least five years' experience in the practice of the physician's profession or in public health work.

3. (3) The principal health officer, appointed pursuant to this subsection, shall have all the powers, authority and duties prescribed by law upon principal health officers.

   Cross References. Section 12305 is referred to in section 12333 of this title.