Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM
Title 172 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE
Chapter 168 - CERTIFICATION OF A REGISTERED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST
Section 172-168-005 - CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

Universal Citation: 172 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 168 ยง 005

Current through March 20, 2024

On or before December 31st of each even-numbered year, individuals holding an active Registered Environmental Health Specialist certification in the State of Nebraska must complete at least 24 hours of acceptable continuing education hours during the preceding 24-month period.

005.01 ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING EDUCATION. The board does not pre-approve continuing education programs in advance. In order for continuing education programs or activities to be accepted for renewal or reinstatement of a certification, the continuing education programs or activities must relate to environmental health and it may focus on research, documentation, management, or education and must be open to all certificate holders.

005.01(A) CONTINUING EDUCATION HOUR CALCULATIONS. The following provides the hour calculations for acceptable continuing education. Each program must be at least 50 minutes in length. 1 hour of continuing education credit will be awarded for each 50 minutes of attendance. Credit will not be awarded for non-working breaks or meals.
005.01(A)(i) STATE AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. Attendance as State and National Association meetings is acceptable continuing education. This includes, but is not limited to, meetings of the Nebraska or other state environmental health associations or the National Environmental Health Association.

005.01(A)(ii) WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, OR CONFERENCES. Attendance at workshops, seminars, or conferences is acceptable continuing education. This includes monitored videotapes and in-service programs where the content of the continuing education program or activity relates to environmental health.

005.01(A)(iii) UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE SPONSORED COURSES. The credential holder must provide documentation of successfully completing the course. 1 semester hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours. 1 quarter hour is equivalent to 3.75 contact hours.

005.01(A)(iv) FORMAL SELF-STUDY. Formal self-study is acceptable continuing education and includes, but is not limited to, videotapes, internet courses, and correspondence courses. Certificate holders may complete a maximum of 12 hours of continuing education by formal self-study each renewal period. The formal self-study program must have a testing mechanism.

005.01(A)(v) MANAGEMENT COURSES. An environmental health specialist may complete a maximum of 6 hours of continuing education utilizing management courses each renewal period.

005.01(A)(vi) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES. Professional Development courses are acceptable continuing education if the course includes the topics of quality improvement and communication. An environmental health specialist may complete a maximum of 4 hours of continuing education utilizing professional development courses each renewal period.

005.01(A)(vii) NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SPECIALTY CERTIFICATIONS OR REGISTRATION. A credential holder will earn 24 contact hours of continuing education each renewal period for successful completion of a nationally recognized specialty certification. These include Certified Food Safety Professional (CFSP), National Environmental Health Association's (NEHA) Registered Environmental Health Specialist or Registered Sanitarian (REHS or RS), Registered Hazardous Substances Professional (RHSP), and Registered Hazardous Substances Specialist (RHSS). Documentation must include a copy of the credential holder's current certification.

005.01(A)(viii) SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATION. A certificate holder acting as an essayist or a lecturer to certified environmental health specialists will be awarded 1 hour of continuing education credit for each continuing education hour of scientific presentation at workshops, seminars, in-service training, conferences, or guest lectures which relate to environmental health. A certificate holder may receive continuing education credit for only the initial presentation during a renewal period, with a maximum of 4 hours of continuing education credit for presentations in a renewal period.

005.02 NON-ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING EDUCATION. Continuing education credit will not be awarded for programs where the content does not relate to environmental health, including but not limited to:

(A) Stress management;

(B) Environmental health on-the-job training; and

(C) Environmental health orientation programs, including orientation to new policies, procedures, equipment, forms, responsibilities, services, etc.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Nebraska may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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