Introduction to Environmental Health and Four Best Careers

The study of environmental health revolves around human injury, illness prevention, and well-being improvement. Moreover, it includes analyzing and identifying hazardous agents in the environment while constraining exposures to harmful chemical, physical and biological environments. It is a science of defense and balance that defends people and the environment, emphasizing protective measures.

To pursue an environmental health career, the first step is to get a degree. After which, you can pursue a career in specific fields, from fieldwork to teaching. Some jobs might also require further education since every profession requires particular specialization.

Most environmental health jobs provide above-average salary packages even at the entry level. For this, you need an EHS degree and some skills like detail-oriented, effective communication, stamina, physical health, and teamwork.

How to Get Started?

Here is how you can begin as an environmental healthcare professional.

Education

Education is the first step to become a successful environmental health specialist. For this, you’ll require a Bachelor’s degree but some two-year diploma certificates are also enough to carry on with an entry-level job.

At the Master’s and Doctoral levels, you have to select a specific niche in environmental science. However, to pursue a career in environmental health, you don’t necessarily need an advanced degree.

Work Experience

Environmental health specialists usually work in the private sector to gain experience in the beginning. You are mainly connected with federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service, where you have to work as a wildlife ecologist. You can also gain experience in laboratories and field offices by collecting data and conducting research.

Certification

Unlike most professions, environmental scientists do not require any specific certifications and licensure. However, you can move ahead in your career by acquiring a few certificates like AAEES (American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists) or CES (Certified Environmental Scientist). Certifications like these can help get better jobs in this field. Other than this, you don’t necessarily have to attain a license to pursue this career.

Four Best Environmental Health Careers

Environmental Health Career path is one of the best. With handsome salary packages, exciting jobs, and extensive career opportunities, one can pursue this path to secure their future.

Environmental Health and Safety Specialist

Environmental health and safety specialists protect the public and environment by highlighting the issues, examining the hazards, enforcing regulations, preventing accidents, etc. Moreover, they also work to establish security policies and suggest changes that help optimize safety and health. The average salary of environmental health specialists is almost $80,550, with a growth rate of nearly 6%.

Corporate Health and Safety Director

Corporate Health and Safety Directors usually work with the CFOs, CEOs, and HR directors to assure consistent implementation of safety measures. As a director, the primary responsibility is to direct other health and safety programs efficiently. Other duties of a health environmentalist are to audit the test compliance with OSHA safety requirements, utilize safety measures, and manage the health and safety plans for the betterment of humans. Since you’re a director, the salary package in such a case is quite good. A corporate health and safety director makes almost $126,800 every year, making it a highly-paid job.

Food Safety Inspector

Food safety inspectors protect the consumers from spoiled, expired, and diseased food items. They carefully apply, interpret and explain food product standards before and after processing to assure they are healthy. As a food inspector, you need to be prepared to work in noisy environments, both indoor and outdoor.

There are sub-paths in this field as well. You can work as a consumer safety inspector to examine meat products, egg processing, and poultry. Besides, you can also work as an import inspector to maintain the sanitation, health, and safety regulations.

OSHA Inspector

OSHA hires OSHA inspectors via the Department of Labor. As an OSHA inspector, you will have to conduct assessments in both the public and private sectors. The three distinctive paths you can opt-in this sector are industrial hygienists, safety and occupational health specialists, and safety engineers. You can choose any based on your convenience and interest.  

Bottom-Line

There are so many more fields and career paths that you can pursue in Environmental Health. This article has discussed the various areas and career paths that you can choose.

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