State of Maryland

An Environmental Health Apprentice I an apprenticeship level of non-licensed work in the field of environmental health. Employees in this classification serve in an apprenticeship and receive on-the-job training in how to conduct environmental health surveys and investigations to determine compliance with applicable health and environmental laws and regulations. This position will be a full or part-time student in an academic training program approved for the apprenticeship, and will take coursework as specified by the Apprenticeship Supervisor and institutional Academic Advisor in tandem with training provided by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) or Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). The coursework will include a required Core Course in Environmental Health. The academic coursework will be tailored to each student’s prior training to ensure that the Apprentice meets the academic requirements of the Board of Environmental Health Specialists, and aligns with the training being provided at MDH or MDE. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from an Environmental Health Specialist and an approved Apprenticeship Supervisor. The work will be performed primarily in a participating academic institution, as well as at participating health departments and the Maryland Department of Health and Maryland Department of the Environment. The work may require use of safety equipment such as protective clothing, eyewear, and gloves. The work may require walking over uneven and rocky surfaces, and bending or stooping in confined spaces and carrying specialized tools and testing devices. Employees may be exposed to physical hazards such as toxic materials, fumes and other hazardous conditions. Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Environmental Health Apprentice I and Environmental Health Apprentice II are differentiated by the level of progression through the academic and apprenticeship standards. The Environmental Health Apprentice I is responsible for completing the required academic preparatory work and receives direct on-the-job training in various applied areas of environmental health under close supervision. The Environmental Health Apprentice II completes academic apprenticeship courses and receives direct on-the-job training in various applied areas of environmental health under close supervision.

Participates in academic preparation to meet requirements for work in environmental health, including coursework as prescribed by the Apprenticeship Supervisor;

Successfully masters academic content related to environmental health surveillance surveys, and testing of air, soil, water, waste or food samples;

Successfully masters academic content related to soil percolation tests;

Successfully masters content related to disease vector collection and control;

Successfully masters academic content related environmental health laws and regulations;

Successfully masters academic content related to waste management and waste management systems;

Successfully masters technical and applied subject material related to laboratory analysis and equipment use and maintenance;

Attends and participates actively in all required courses and the core environmental health specialist seminar;

Learns the fundamentals of inspecting, investigating, recording and reporting on the environmental public health impact of the manufacture, preparation, handling, distribution and sale of food and milk, waste water treatment and disposal, solid waste management and disposal, vector control and institutional and residential sanitation

Learns the fundamentals of performing soil evaluation and percolation tests for individual, subdivision and commercial plots in order to determine placement of wells and sewage systems;

Learns the fundamentals of reviewing plots and plans for new construction and renovations for housing, food and recreational facilities;

Learns the fundamentals of issuing permits, licenses and site plan approvals for wells, septic systems expansions and new construction, relocation of sewage easements and innovative and alternative septic systems;

Learns the fundamentals of investigating complaints concerning open burning, rodents and insects, asbestos, animal bites, trash, lead paint and nuisance complaints and other possible violations of environmental health regulations;

Learns the fundamentals of preparing and maintaining reports and records of health inspections, violations and permits;

Learns the fundamentals of providing advice and guidance in the interpretation of environmental health laws and regulations to builders, private businesses, governmental agencies and other interested parties;

Learns the fundamentals of providing advice and guidance in the interpretation of environmental health laws and regulations to builders, private businesses, governmental agencies and other interested parties;

Learns the fundamentals of testifying in hearings and court cases related to health inspections and investigations;

Learns the fundamentals of collecting samples at private and public wells, public beaches, pools and food facilities for chemical and bacteriological analysis;

Attends required Departmental meetings;

Fulfills all Departmental training requirements;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of English, spelling, punctuation, grammar and basic arithmetic;

Knowledge of environmental health and public health concerns;

Knowledge of soil, water, air and food science;

Knowledge of U.S. and Maryland political, legal and constitutional structure and function;

Ability to prepare and present reports;

Ability to conduct studies and investigations;

Ability to communicate effectively and with cultural competency with different audiences regarding technical information and public policy options.

Education: Minimum of 2 years of college experience (60 credits) or an Associates degree; must meet the entrance criteria for the Apprenticeship.

Experience: None

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions. Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, engineering, scientific and administrative professionals unit. As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation. An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series. In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.