Environmental health practitioner

You can study for a degree qualification approved by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health .

If you already have a degree in a related subject, you could get into environmental health through an accredited postgraduate course .

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You can apply to do an Environmental Health Practitioner Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

This usually takes 4 years to complete and combines on-the-job training with academic study at an approved university.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

You may be able to start as an environmental health technician and study for a part-time environmental health degree while you're working.

Professional and Industry Bodies

You could join the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health for professional development opportunities.

Further Information

You can find more about how to become an environmental health practitioner from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

As an environmental health practitioner, you could:

• inspect businesses to check health and safety and food hygiene standards
• investigate outbreaks of food poisoning and infectious disease
• collect samples for laboratory testing, for example water quality
• check houses to make sure they're safe for people to live in
• enforce environmental health laws and give evidence in court
• investigate accidents at work
• follow up on reports of spills and contamination events
• provide education and advice to community groups and businesses

You could work in an office, in the countryside or in a business.

Your working environment may be dirty and you'll travel often.

You may need to wear protective clothing.