A recent blog post published by Workcred—an ANSI affiliate—explains how credentialing addresses critical workforce challenges and establishes accountability across the environmental public health (EPH) workforce.
EPH professionals protect public health by overseeing food safety, water and air monitoring, housing, vector control, and disaster response. However, as workers age into retirement and staffing needs increase, inconsistent entry requirements across states create uneven competence and service quality among new talent.
The Role of Credentials for the EPH Workforce
Nationally-recognized credentials, including the Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS), assure measurable and consistent competence. Based on job task analyses, these credentials guarantee that smaller and rural programs meet the same standards as larger jurisdictions, supporting equity across communities.
Agencies and policymakers benefit from credentials, as well. For agencies, credentials strengthen enforcement actions and provide defensible staffing and training models. For policymakers, credentialing can be built into funding models, tying investment to measurable outcomes.
Authored by Eileen Neison and Rance Baker of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) in partnership with Workcred, the blog post explains how credentials support competence and build public confidence.
“Credentialing offers a solution by setting clear, validated expectations, building trust, and providing defensible staffing and training standards,” note Neison and Baker.
Read more in “The Importance of Credentialing in Environmental Health” on Workcred’s Point of View blog.
