The Environmental Health Section of the Burke County Health Department functions as the local government arm of the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources (DEHNR) in the enforcement of state laws and rules concerning the public health of county citizens and protection of the environment. Every specialist is certified in one or both of the two major program areas. These two major program areas are the food, lodging and institution program and the on-site wastewater/private well program.
Environmental Health Specialist
An Environmental Health Specialist is a graduate from an accredited 4-year college or university and possesses a minimum of 30 semester hours of study in the physical or biological sciences. The Environmental Health Specialist is a Registered Sanitarian (RS) with at least 2 years' experience in environmental health laws/rules and successful in passing the Registered Sanitarian Exam. Each specialist must be certified by DEHNR for the particular environmental health program in which they work. Environmental Health Specialists must obtain a minimum of 15 hours per year of continuing education.