Sec. 10.60.02.05. Certificates

A. Certificate of Eligibility for Obtaining Employment.

(1) The Board shall issue a certificate of eligibility for obtaining employment to an applicant who:

(a) Meets the educational requirements set forth in COMAR 10.60.01.03;

(b) Has submitted an application in accordance with Regulation .01 of this chapter;

(c) Is not currently practicing as an environmental health specialist in Maryland; and

(d) Has not previously completed an environmental health specialist-in-training program under an environmental health specialist-in-training certificate issued by the Board.

(2) The certificate of eligibility for obtaining employment shall expire 12 months after the issuance date and may be renewed at 12-month increments if the certificate holder:

(a) Submits a request for renewal on a form provided by the Board; and

(b) Forwards the form to the Board together with the renewal fee established by COMAR 10.60.06.

B. Environmental Health Specialist-In-Training Certificates.

(1) The Board shall issue an environmental health specialist-in-training certificate to an applicant who has been employed to practice as an environmental health specialist under a certificate of eligibility for obtaining employment issued by the Board if the applicant:

(a) Has returned a completed certificate of eligibility for obtaining employment to the Board; and

(b) Is participating in an environmental health specialist-in-training program.

(2) The environmental health specialist-in-training certificate shall expire 36 months after its effective date unless the expiration date has been extended in writing by the Board in accordance with §B(4) or (6) of this regulation.

(3) The Board may not renew an environmental health specialist-in-training certificate for which the expiration date has been extended.

(4) Upon a written request from the holder of an environmental health specialist-in-training certificate, the Board may extend an environmental health specialist-in-training certificate for up to 6 months due to physical incapacitation of the environmental health specialist-in-training or for other reasons acceptable to the Board.

(5) The Board may place the environmental health specialist-in-training certificate on inactive status due to reasons acceptable to the Board upon a written request from the holder of an environmental health specialist-in-training certificate.

(6) The Board may reactivate the environmental health specialist-in-training certificate within the original 36 month period with an expiration date that reflects the balance of remaining time for training:

(a) Upon a written request from an individual whose environmental health specialist-in-training certificate is inactive; and

(b) Along with a letter of support from a sponsor.

(7) If the holder of an environmental health specialist-in-training certificate is a temporary employee as defined in COMAR 10.60.01.01, the Board, upon written request from the holder of the environmental health specialist-in-training certificate and upon receipt of the renewal fee as required by COMAR 10.60.06, may renew a valid certificate for a period of 24 months.

(8) If a temporary employee is hired as or otherwise converted to a permanent employee:

(a) The employee shall submit the employee’s current environmental health specialist-in-training certificate to the Board within 30 days;

(b) Upon receipt of the certificate referenced in §D(6)(a) of this regulation, the Board shall renew a new environmental health specialist-in-training certificate that is valid for 36 months; and

(c) The Board may reduce the required number of months of experience in an environmental health specialist-in-training program.