History of the REHS Board
What is the practice of Environmental Health?
"Practice of environmental health" means the use of public health principles in the application of the sanitary sciences to prevent human injury and illness by identifying and evaluating environmental sources and hazardous agents and limiting exposures to hazardous physical, chemical, and biological agents in air, water, soil, food, and other environmental media or settings that may adversely affect human health.
What is an Environmental Health Specialist?
Environmental Health Specialists are commonly referred to as "Health Inspectors".
Over 90% of the registered environmental health specialists and trainees are employed in "public service"; the Southern Nevada Health District, Washoe County Health Department, Nevada Division of Health, Nevada Department of Agriculture and other state and local governments in Nevada and out of state.
Registration numbers are highly influenced by public employment, agency authorized positions and budget authority, and have ranged between 225 to 275 annually.
NRS 625A Review - History, Purpose of Registration
The Board of Registered Environmental Health Specialists was created in 1987 as the Board of Registered Public Health Sanitarians with voluntary registration of professional Sanitarians.
In 1995 the name of the Board was revised as the Board of Registered Environmental Health Specialists, and the profession title was changed to Registered Environmental Health Specialists.
Registration became mandatory effective July 1, 2007 by legislation enacted in 2005; the registration of Environmental Health Specialists Trainees was added at that time.
NRS 625A.015 Legislative declaration. The Legislature hereby declares that the practice of environmental health is a learned profession, affecting public safety and welfare and charged with the public interest, and is therefore subject to protection and regulation by the State. (Added to NRS by 2019, 2112)
Governing Structure, Administration and Fees
NRS 625A.030 creates the Board of Registered Environmental Health Specialists consisting of the Chief Medical Officer or designated representative and four members appointed by the Governor. Of the members appointed by the Governor:
- Two (2) members must represent the public; and
- Two (2) members must be environmental health specialists;
- one (1) employed by the Southern Nevada Health district; and
- one (1) employed by the Washoe County health district.
Originally, the Board's administration was conducted by the members, with administrative support provided by a part-time contract employee, when available. The Board did not have a physical location or permanent staff.
In September 2015, the Board entered into a co-location and cost sharing agreement with the Board of Occupational Therapy to establish a physical location and administrative office and contracted for a part-time Executive Director to manage the board’s administration.
The Board is funded solely from registration fees and does not receive funding from the state general fund. Fees are established in an amount sufficient to support the activities and operations of the Board.
Registration Terms, Renewal Cycles
Registrations are issued for a term of one (1) year. Effective July 1, 2017, new registrations expire one year from date of issuance. This change was made to ensure the registrant receives a full year registration prior to expiration.
Statutory Revisions / Updates and Revisions to NRS 625A / Updates and Revisions to NAC 625A
Beginning in 2016, the Board undertook the task of reviewing and revising the Board regulations NAC 625A, resulting in the adoption of LCB File No's. R049-16 and R017-17, the first updates since 2007. During the review, it was determined the Board law NRS 625A was lacking in conformity with legislative and administrative requirements for Boards and did not reflect the evolutionary changes in the field of environmental health on the state and national levels.
A Board work session was held, followed by a public workshop engaging stakeholders to participate in the review and revision of the proposed bill draft language. The Bill was be submitted and approved at the 2019 Legislative Session and implementing regulations LCB File No. R079-19 was approved by the Legislative Commission and became effective June 20, 2020.
The Board regulation LCB File No. R067-21 was approved by the Legislative Commission and became effective April 8, 2022. The regulation clarifies the time period in which an EHST may apply to the Board to take the REHS examination, updated the list of entities approved to provide training programs and revised fees charged for obtaining and renewing registrations.