Minimum Standards and Qualifications

(1) An applicant for certification as a Certified Health Officer must possess the following minimum education and/or experience in order to be eligible for certification: (a) A degree in medicine or a holder of a license to practice medicine in Massachusetts and one year of professional experience in a position requiring administrative responsibility for public health programs and completion of a course on public health law, as determined by the Department; or (b) A graduate degree in public health or equivalent as may be determined by the Department from an Approved School of Public Health as defined in 105 CMR 803.020 and one year of professional experience in a position requiring administrative responsibility for public health programs and completion of a course on public health law, as determined by the Department; or 803.200: continued (c) A bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 30 semester hours credit in public health related disciplines from an institution recognized as accredited by the United States Department of Education, or any like institution approved by the Department, plus two years of professional experience in a position requiring administrative responsibility for public health programs and completion of a course on public health law, as determined by the Department. 1. The 30 semester hours credit must be in at least two of the following disciplines: a. biological, environmental, or related sciences; b. public health; c. public health emergency preparedness; d. health promotion and disease prevention; e. occupational health; f. public health and environmental law; g. infectious disease and surveillance; h. public health administration and management; i. epidemiology. 2. The 30 semester hours credit may be taken outside the applicant’s bachelor’s degree program but must be offered by an institution recognized as accredited by the United States Department of Education, or any like institution approved by the Department. 3. As pertains to a particular applicant, the Department shall determine whether a course meets the disciplines listed in 105 CMR 803.200(1)(c)1. 4. In making any determination set forth in 105 CMR 803.200(1)(c)3., the Department reserves its right to require an applicant to submit documentation, which may include a syllabus, explaining course content to assist the Department in determining whether a specific course qualifies. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide sufficient information regarding specific course content. (2) The Department may, in its discretion, grant credit to an applicant for education received at an institution outside of the United States if the applicant submits proof satisfactory to the Department that such foreign education is substantially equivalent to that provided in an institution recognized as accredited by the United States Department of Education or otherwise approved by the Department. (3) Notwithstanding the requirements set forth in 105 CMR 803.200(1), the Department may, in its discretion, determine that an applicant who has passed the examination as required in 105 CMR 803.220 and completed a course on public health law that is satisfactory to the Department, meets the minimum education and/or experience in order to be eligible for certification as a Certified Health Officer.