 CIEH chief executive Anne Godfrey |
A new blueprint for professional development in environmental health
has been announced by CIEH.
The radical proposals, which have been approved by the CIEH board,
will see registration with the environmental health registration board (EHRB)
replaced by the completion of a new two-year chartered environmental health
practitioner programme, as the gateway to professional practice. The chartered
EHP programme will launch in September 2018.
Under the proposals it will be possible to progress to chartered
status through apprenticeships and professional qualifications in subjects
allied to environmental health, as well as the current degree route, thus greatly
broadening access to the profession.
Anne Godfrey, chief executive of CIEH, said: ‘There are many reasons
why this change is needed now. The landscape in which environmental health
operates has altered profoundly. Apprenticeships are attracting significant
funding and interest from industrial and professional sectors. We are also seeing
the introduction of new technical qualifications, T-levels, and the increasing
digitisation of further education. Most importantly, the current route to
professional qualification is not working, causing a bottleneck in the creation
of new practitioners. This step change will not only ensure that environmental
health remains relevant but will allow it to prosper across all three sectors.
I commend the CIEH board for having had the imagination and foresight to approve
this bold step.’
Ms Godfrey said that the announcement is the result of several years’
work, culminating with the recent learning review, benefitting from the input
of multiple stakeholders. It complements CIEH’s new membership pathways and
professional standards.
She commented: ‘The building blocks for the CIEH of the future are now
in place. Instead of “registration for life” we will now have a modern
approach, reflecting the practice of other chartered professional bodies. The
new routes and pathways will provide meaningful professional development and
give government, the public and business confidence that our practitioners are fully
equipped to meet the needs of changing world, whatever sector they work in.’
She explained that, unlike for EHRB, the register of chartered EHPs
will be managed and dynamic.
She added: ‘Members, understandably, will have lots of questions. We
will be communicating the changes with all of our stakeholders over the next
few months, working with the Learning and Qualifications Advisory Group. There
is a lot of supporting information online (see below) and our membership team
should be able to answer any questions that you have.’
The new programme and EHRB will run in parallel for a two-year period.
All existing students and graduates will be able to access the chartered
practitioner programme. They can also choose to pursue the EHRB certification
of registration if they are able to complete all of the elements by June 2020.
In the long term, it is intended to roll out the chartered practitioner
programme internationally, through a network of accredited universities
Dawn Welham, CIEH president, said: ‘I see this development as a logical step. It will ensure that we move
with the times, creating an inclusive and dynamic organisation that allows for the
breadth and depth we need as a profession to be able to deliver for our
communities. I personally welcome them and look forward to seeing the changes
come on stream.’
For more information:
www.cieh.org/ehrb-faqs
membership@cieh.org