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Healthy Homes Specialist Credential

 

Credential Overview

____________

 

 Application for HH Specialist Credential

The credential fee is $150 to $205.

 

References

 

CEHRC Visual Survey Exercise

 

Brochure

The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) and the National Healthy Homes Training Center and Network (Training Center) are partnering with the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) to offer a “Healthy Homes Specialist” credential.  The Healthy Homes Specialist Credential is designed for health and housing professionals in the public, private and non-profit sectors. 

 

Each partner brings strengths to the partnership.  NCHH provides technical expertise on healthy housing.  The Training Center brings a network of universities and training partners who can offer the training necessary to help Healthy Homes Specialist succeed.  NEHA is the leading national organization focused on environmental health already offering an array of eight credentials.  The partnership offered the first examination on June 17, 2007 at NEHA's Annual Environmental Conference in Atlantic City, NJ.

 

Individuals seeking a Healthy Homes Specialist Credential will need to meet the following qualifications:

  • Be 21 years old;

  • Have five years of experience in housing, environmental health or public health;

  • Achieve a score of 70% on qualifying examination; and

  • Successfully complete the CEHRC Visual Survey Exercise.

Candidates should review the on-line references to prepare for the exam.  They may also want to take the Training Center's two-day Essentials for Healthy Homes Practitioners Course.  The course covers most - but not all - of the topics on the exam.  For the convenience of students who take the course, the exam will usually be offered at the end of the second day of the training.

 

NEW!  The Health Homes Specialist Examination is now available via computer-based testing at LaserGrade Testing Centers.

How does it work?

  1. Contact LaserGrade at 800.211.2754 to schedule your exam.  Exam appointments must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.  
  2. Payment must be made to LaserGrade testing centers.  Upon completion of the exam, candidates will receive an "Exam Completion Letter" to present to NEHA.
  3. Candidates will have the option to choose an e-mail or fax confirmation of their exam time, date and location.  
  4. Pre-approval for the HHS credential is not required.  However, exam results will not be released until NEHA's HHS credential application is complete and credential fees are paid.
  5. One valid, non-expired government issued form of identification is required for admittance to the test center.  Identification must include photo and signature.  Examples of possible identification include:  driver's license, state-issued ID card, passport, military ID card.  
  6. Please give at least 24 hours notice before cancelling or rescheduling an exam.  Candidates who fail to appear for their scheduled exam appointment will forfeit their exam fee.
Questions?  Please contact Heidi Shaw at 303.756.9090, ext. 339 or hshaw@neha.org or check out this more detailed brochure.

For more information about the training or the visual assessment exercises, contact Susan Aceti of the National Center for Healthy Housing at saceti@nchh.org or 443-539-4153.  For more information about the examination and the application process, contact Heidi Shaw of the National Environmental Health Association at hshaw@neha.org or (303) 756-9090 ext. 339.

 

Target Audiences for Credential

While training is not a prerequisite to obtaining a credential, individuals who have completed the two-day Essentials for Healthy Homes Practitioners course offered by the National Healthy Homes Training Center and Network will have the foundation they need to succeed.  As of April 30, 2008, more than 2200 people have taken the Essentials for Healthy Homes Practitioners course in one of the more than 70 times it has been offered since being launched on June 1, 2005.  All course materials, including the exercises and videos, are available on-line.

 

A variety of professionals may be interested in the Healthy Homes Specialist Credential include the following:

 

1. Individuals who have been certified or licensed as lead risk assessors, radon measurement professionals, or mold professionals.  These individuals have developed a basic expertise in a specific environmental hazard in the home and should be interested in expanding their capability and services.

2. NEHA Registered Environmental Health Specialists seeking to document their experience and expertise in housing.

3. Public health nurses seeking to document their expertise in healthy homes. 

4. Health department and housing agency staff seeking to document their expertise in healthy homes or better position their agencies to receive HUD healthy homes grants.  

5. Licensed pest management professionals seeking to expand their services.  Resolving pest problems using integrated pest management essentially relies on a knowledge base similar to the Healthy Homes Practitioner.

6. Certified home inspectors seeking to expand their business by adding healthy homes to their standard services

 

Existing NEHA Credentials

 

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