The 2007 core curriculum – opening up new career opportunities
Q&A
Why create a new core curriculum?
The 2007 curriculum has been designed with the specific aim of delivering an environmental health profession that meets the requirements of our customers in government and its agencies, the private sector and local authorities.
The CIEH is committed to ensuring the environmental health profession remains firmly positioned at the very heart of the preventative public health agenda, and that we continue to make our voice heard at all levels of government and industry.
In order to do this we need to ensure that all our practitioners are fully equipped for the diverse range of career options which are available to them now and in the future.
Since the introduction of the 2003 curriculum, significant changes have occurred in the public and private sector that have made this change necessary including the:
- Emergence of competence frameworks – the Government requires practitioners to demonstrate a minimum requirement of skills, knowledge and competencies in all key areas of environmental health. The CIEH has been working with the Health and Safety Executive and other stakeholders to develop a joint competence framework that will be used as a benchmark for local authority enforcement officers. The CIEH is also working closely with government departments and agencies to develop other competence frameworks relevant to the profession
- Need to increase training placement opportunities
- Need to ensure environmental health practitioners can be flexibly deployed in the public, private and non-profit sectors where they can contribute to the preventative public health agenda
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Has the 2007 curriculum been introduced at accredited universities?
The 2007 curriculum is being rolled out across all CIEH accredited universities.
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What is a competence framework?
Competence means the ability to perform all the activities required in a particular occupation to the levels of performance expected. It includes the ability to apply skill and knowledge to new situations. In relation toEHPs, it encompasses organisation and planning of the work of undertaking enforcement action in accordance with legal procedures and the interpersonal skills necessary to deal with colleagues and the public.
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What are the main differences between the 2007 curriculum and the existing one?
- The 2007 curriculum will deliver more choices for students including the ability to specialise at university – specialist graduates will be capable of being assessed as ‘competent’ on qualification
- Students will still have the ability to pursue a generalist route (this will give you a firm grounding in all the key areas of environmental health such as food, health and safety, environmental protection, housing and public health).
- However a general practice graduate will not meet any of the emerging competence frameworks in full. Candidates will need to undertake additional learning and development once employed
- Students who know at an early stage which aspect of practice they initially wish to pursue will have the opportunity to undertake a qualification route that develops the chosen specialism
- For example if you chose the food route, you will graduate with an environmental health degree with a specialism in food
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Where can I work?
Your qualification will enable you to seek employment in the environmental and public health fields in local government, central government and its agencies and across the private sector. More and more job opportunities are opening up for EHPs – we have colleagues who are working for the BBC, the armed forces and overseas. A CIEH accredited degree is recognised across the world including: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore and the USA.
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What will my salary be?
Salaries for EHPs range from £20,000 for entry level positions to around £35,000 for experienced practitioners – salaries can reach around £ 65,000 for senior managers
Despite the present economic situation, there is still a national shortage of EHPs demand for qualified practitioners remains high.
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How do I qualify?
You will need to undertake a CIEH accredited course at any one of the following universities http://www.ehcareers.org/where_what_study.html
If you do not have an EH degree, you can access qualification via the accredited associate route – please visit the website for the necessary criteria.
You will also need to provide evidence of work-based learning (ELP).
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Do I need a environmental health degree to practice?
Yes you do. Y will need to contact your preferred university to discuss entry requirements.
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Where can I get a degree?
More and more universities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland offer CIEH accredited degree programmes visit: http://www.ehcareers.org/where_what/BSc.html
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How does the work-based learning element work?
Students electing to specialise will need to undertake their work-based learning in their area of specialisation at the end of the university course. Those undertaking the general practice route have the choice of undertaking work-based learning during or at the end their course.
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Will there be professional exams?
Yes there will – if you choose to specialise you will then be examined in your chosen specialism.
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