Sanitarians in West Virginia

Sanitarians are environmental health professionals whose professional pursuits and duties are necessary to the promotion of life, health, and well-being of the public.  In West Virginia, Sanitarians are employed at both Local Health Departments and with the Bureau for Public Health in the Office of Environmental Health Services.   Generally, these folks work in the Public Health Sanitation Division, although Sanitarians do hold positions in other divisions or agencies and work under other functional job titles.

Sanitarians are governed by a Board of Registration under Chapter 30 Article 17 of the West Virginia Code.  Anyone performing the duties of a Sanitarian in West Virginia is required to follow the registration law.  The law requires that all newly hired Sanitarians attend and pass a 300 hour Sanitarian Training course provided by the Bureau for Public Health.  Once this has been accomplished, the trainee submits an Application for Registration as a Sanitarian in Training to the Board.  After working for 2 years in this capacity, individuals are eligible to take a national, comprehensive registration exam provided by Professional Examination Services (PES) at a cost of $90.  Each individual who passes the PES exam is eligible to become a Registered Sanitarian (R.S.) by submitting an Application for Registration as a Registered Sanitarian to the Board.  In addition, the Board requires that all professionals under their jurisdiction obtain 15 hours of continuing education each year.  

 

How Do I Become A Sanitarian in West Virginia?

 

Links

• Available Study Materials for the RS Exam

  This is an external link to the non-profit Public Health Foundation. 
  The study materials are the text for a self-study correspondence course. 
  The study materials reference the following books:


 
• Salvato, J. A, Jr., Environmental Engineering and Sanitation, 4th ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1992, ISBN: 0-471-52377-1

  Note: this book has be revised and its name has been changed.  Salvato, J. A., N. L. Nemerow, and F. J. Agardy, Environmental Engineering, 5th ed.  New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2003, ISBN: 0-471-41813-7

   

• Salvato, J. A. and J. E. Beck, Environmental Engineering and Sanitation: 1994 Supplement - New Tools for the Environmental Engineer/Specialist. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1994, ISBN O-471-06396-7
   

An internet search for these books will yield a variety of choices.