Environmental Health Technician Standards

An environmental health technician provides oversight and technical assistance monitoring potential workplace health hazards such as water and air pollution, removal of chemical waste, radiation contamination and other possible dangers.

Education and Training

• Some environmental health technicians earn degrees, while others are training on-the-job. laboratory image by Vasiliy Koval from Fotolia.com

  There are several ways to become an environmental health technician. Many people enroll in a community or technical college to earn a certificate or associate degree, while others receive a combination of formal training and on-the-job experience. Regardless of the entry point, there are standards that must be met.

Standards

• An environmental tech can gather and analyze soil, air and waste samples. sample examination 1 image by Alexey Stiop from Fotolia.com

  An environmental technician should be able to collect and evaluate soil, air, water and solid waste samples and determine if they are in compliance with established criteria. He must be well-versed in various hazards and understand the long-term health risks assorted hazards pose to workers and the public, and be aware of key health and environmental studies. He must be constantly updating his knowledge of Environmental Protection Agency standards, protocols and regulations.

Credentials

• The National Environmental Health Association offers nine different environmental tech certification examinations. taking test image by Petro Feketa from Fotolia.com

  The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) offers nine national credentials. The Registered Environmental Technician is the entry-level credential and incorporates the standards established by the U.S. Department of Education and the Center for Occupational Research and Development. The examination evaluates a participant's knowledge of the core requirements of an environmental health technician.