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REHS/RS Credential Eligibility & Application

Eligibility Requirements

Candidate must meet all of the criteria for Track A, Track B, or Track C to be eligible to apply for the REHS/RS exam.

Track A – Environmental Health Degree

Candidates must meet the following criteria to apply for this track:

  1. Hold a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree or PhD from a college or university accredited in the United States. Review the requirement for international degrees and diplomas on our Transcript Review page
  2. Hold a degree in Environmental Health
  3. Have attended a school and degree program that has been accredited by the Environmental Health Accreditation Council:

Proof of work experience is not required.

Track B – Bachelor's Degree

Candidates must meet the following criteria to apply for this track:

  1. Hold a bachelor's degree, master's degree or PhD from a college or university accredited in the United States in any subject. Review the requirement for international degrees and diplomas on our Transcript Review page.
  2. Have earned 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of college credit in basic science coursework. Basic sciences include life sciences, natural sciences, physical sciences, or health sciences.
  3. Have earned credit for a college level math or statistics class.
  4. Have two or more years of full-time, paid experience working in environmental health. Eligible areas of environmental health include: general environmental health (including inspections, environmental microbiology, and contamination control), food protection, wastewater, solid and hazardous waste, potable water, inspections of facilities, vectors and pests, institutions and licensed establishments, swimming pool inspections, radiation, occupational safety and health, healthy housing, indoor air quality, disaster and emergency planning, and environmental health issues related to climate change.

Track C – In Training

This track allows candidates with less than two years of qualifying work experience to take the exam.

Candidates must meet the following criteria to apply for this track:

  1. Hold a bachelor's degree, master's degree or PhD from a college or university accredited in the United States in any subject. Review the requirement for international degrees and diplomas on our Transcript Review page.
  2. Have earned 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of college credit in basic science coursework. Basic sciences include life sciences, natural sciences, physical sciences, or health sciences.
  3. Have earned credit for a college level math or statistics class.

Proof of work experience is not required.

Certificates for those who pass the exam in this track:

  • Will receive a certificate that says "REHS/RS – In Training"
  • Have three years to obtain two years of work experience
  • Must submit work experience to us to qualify for the full REHS/RS

"In Training" status expires if work experience is not submitted within three years.

Individuals cannot qualify for the REHS/RS Credential if they:

  • Do not hold a bachelor's degree, master's degree or PhD from a college or university accredited in the United States in any subject (and no international degree).
  • Have not earned 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of college credit in basic science coursework. Basic sciences include life sciences, natural sciences, physical sciences, or health sciences.
  • Have not earned credit for a college level math or statistics class.

The REHS/RS credential criteria are set by our Board of Directors. We cannot accept work experience in lieu of college coursework.

Fees

All fees must be paid in full before the application is processed.

Member RateNon-Member Rate
Application Fee$95.00$130.00
Examination Fee$185.00$335.00
Pearson VUE Fee$140.00$140.00

Application

Applications must be completed and returned to us for review at least four weeks prior to the exam date. Applications received less than four weeks prior to the planned exam date may require rescheduling the exam for another date.

A complete application must include:

  • All official college transcripts. Transcripts must be provided to us in one of the following ways to be considered an official transcript:
    • In the sealed envelope from the college Registrar's Office/Transcript Office
    • Emailed from the school or transcript service to credentialing@neha.org
  • Work Experience Verification Form, unless applying Track A or C
  • Appropriate fees
  • Third party review if education is international

Expiration

Applications are valid for one year from the date we receive them. If the test has not been taken within one year of applying, new application and fees must be submitted. Pearson VUE testing authorizations are valid for one year.

Apply

To apply, complete the online application:

  • Go to MyNEHA.
  • Select "NEHA Credentials" in the top right.
  • Select "Apply for Certification."
  • Login or create a free NEHA account. Use an email as the username.
  • The REHS/RS application will appear.
  • Complete the application and submit. Progress can be saved and returned to as needed.

REHS/RS Credential Maintenance

  • To maintain the REHS/RS credential, individuals must:
  • Earn and submit a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education every two years
  • Pay renewal fee every two years ($130.00 members; $345.00 non-members)
  • Agree to and sign our Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Policy

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