How to Become a Health Inspector in Washington State

Health inspectors work to prevent harm to the general public, workers, property and the environment. In the state of Washington, there are seven departments of health inspection: water recreation facilities, waste water management, radiation protection, food safety, drinking water, commercial shellfish and clandestine drug lab. The Department of Health in Washington state issues and regulates licenses from these departments to businesses. The type of education and training required depends on the specific field you want to specialize in. .

Instructions

Education

• 1

  Earn a bachelor's degree in environmental health, or other related courses, from an accredited university. If you are a resident of Washington, a number of campuses offer degrees in this field, such as Washington State University and The University of Washington, among others.

• 2

  Look for environmental health online courses available for residents of Washington state. Online courses offer different degree levels, including diplomas and certificates.

• 3

  Whether you choose not to pursue a degree or you want to add to your credentials, consider signing up for certifications, like Certified Safety Professional or Safety Trained Supervisor. A number of bodies, like The Council on Certification of Health, Environmental, and Safety Technologists, offer certifications for health inspectors. With more training and higher qualifications, a health inspector is more likely to advance in the industry.

• 4

  Study the applicable laws and inspection procedures specific to Washington State and those pertaining to the department you want to work in. Some Washington State laws pertaining to health inspectors in food safety, for example, include: WAC 296-800-23050, Dispose of garbage and waste safely; and WAC 296-800-23025, Provide convenient and clean washing facilities, and others.

Workplace

• 5

  The workplace where you obtain this training will likely require that you take an exam in order to become a certified health inspector with their company and continue your work with them. A health inspector will typically train in the company for approximately six months before taking this company exam.

• 6

  Research possible work opportunities. A significant number of health inspectors work with the government, like at local Department of Health offices in the State, but job opportunities can also be found in the private sector. Contact companies, many of which hire their own personal health inspectors, private or public hospitals, educational facilities, or consulting firms, which hire health inspectors to work with private companies. Look for health inspection jobs in the numerous government agency websites, most notably The Department of Health and USAJOBS.gov, the federal government's recruiting site.

• 7

  On-the- job training allows you to acquire experience in the specific field you want to specialize in, like food safety. Consider starting your on-the-job experience while you're still in school. Combining formal education and workplace experience increases your chances of moving up the ladder in the health inspection industry.