Nebraska Administrative Code › Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM › Title 172 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE › Chapter 168 - CERTIFICATION OF A REGISTERED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST › Section 172-168-005 - CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

Current through June 17, 2024
On or before December 31st of each
				  even-numbered year, individuals holding an active Registered Environmental
				  Health Specialist certification in the State of Nebraska must complete at least
				  24 hours of acceptable continuing education hours during the preceding 24-month
				  period.
005.01
ACCEPTABLE
				CONTINUING EDUCATION.
The board does not pre-approve continuing
				education programs in advance. In order for continuing education programs or
				activities to be accepted for renewal or reinstatement of a certification, the
				continuing education programs or activities must relate to environmental health
				and it may focus on research, documentation, management, or education and must
				be open to all certificate holders.
005.01(A)
CONTINUING EDUCATION HOUR CALCULATIONS.
The following
				provides the hour calculations for acceptable continuing education. Each
				program must be at least 50 minutes in length. 1 hour of continuing education
				credit will be awarded for each 50 minutes of attendance. Credit will not be
				awarded for non-working breaks or meals.
005.01(A)(i)
STATE AND NATIONAL
				ASSOCIATION MEETINGS.
Attendance as State and National Association
				meetings is acceptable continuing education. This includes, but is not limited
				to, meetings of the Nebraska or other state environmental health associations
				or the National Environmental Health Association.
005.01(A)(ii)
WORKSHOPS,
				SEMINARS, OR CONFERENCES.
Attendance at workshops, seminars, or
				conferences is acceptable continuing education. This includes monitored
				videotapes and in-service programs where the content of the continuing
				education program or activity relates to environmental health.
005.01(A)(iii)
UNIVERSITY OR
				COLLEGE SPONSORED COURSES.
The credential holder must provide
				documentation of successfully completing the course. 1 semester hour is
				equivalent to 15 contact hours. 1 quarter hour is equivalent to 3.75 contact
				hours.
005.01(A)(iv)
FORMAL SELF-STUDY.
Formal self-study is acceptable
				continuing education and includes, but is not limited to, videotapes, internet
				courses, and correspondence courses. Certificate holders may complete a maximum
				of 12 hours of continuing education by formal self-study each renewal period.
				The formal self-study program must have a testing mechanism.
005.01(A)(v)
MANAGEMENT
				COURSES.
An environmental health specialist may complete a maximum
				of 6 hours of continuing education utilizing management courses each renewal
				period.
005.01(A)(vi)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES.
Professional
				Development courses are acceptable continuing education if the course includes
				the topics of quality improvement and communication. An environmental health
				specialist may complete a maximum of 4 hours of continuing education utilizing
				professional development courses each renewal period.
005.01(A)(vii)
NATIONALLY
				RECOGNIZED SPECIALTY CERTIFICATIONS OR REGISTRATION.
A credential
				holder will earn 24 contact hours of continuing education each renewal period
				for successful completion of a nationally recognized specialty certification.
				These include Certified Food Safety Professional (CFSP), National Environmental
				Health Association's (NEHA) Registered Environmental Health Specialist or
				Registered Sanitarian (REHS or RS), Registered Hazardous Substances
				Professional (RHSP), and Registered Hazardous Substances Specialist (RHSS).
				Documentation must include a copy of the credential holder's current
				certification.
005.01(A)(viii)
SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATION.
A certificate holder acting
				as an essayist or a lecturer to certified environmental health specialists will
				be awarded 1 hour of continuing education credit for each continuing education
				hour of scientific presentation at workshops, seminars, in-service training,
				conferences, or guest lectures which relate to environmental health. A
				certificate holder may receive continuing education credit for only the initial
				presentation during a renewal period, with a maximum of 4 hours of continuing
				education credit for presentations in a renewal period.