Minnesota Environmental Health Assocation
National Environmental
Health Association (NEHA)
The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) had its origins in the state of California where it was incorporated in 1937. The original impetus behind the creation of a national professional society for environmental health practitioners was the desire by professionals of that day to establish a standard of excellence for this developing profession. This standard, which has come to be known as the Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) credential, evidences that one has mastered a body of knowledge (which is verified through the passing of an examination) and has acquired sufficient experience, thereby indicating that work responsibilities in the environmental health field can be satisfactorily performed. The pioneers of the association believed that such a credential was necessary if the environmental health field was to grow and take shape as a legitimate and widely respected profession.
Drawing on the original effort that led to the creation of NEHA, the association today stands as a 5,000 member strong professional society. NEHA offers a variety of programs that are all in keeping with the association's mission which is as relevant today as it was when the organization was founded. The mission of the National Environmental Health Association is "to advance the environmental health and protection professional for the purpose of providing a healthful environment for all."
In pursuit of its mission, NEHA sponsors a variety of programs. Today, the association offers eight credentials (the Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS), the Certified Environmental Health Technician (CEHT), the Registered Hazardous Substances Professional (RHSP), the Registered Hazardous Substances Specialist (RHSS), the Registered Environmental Technician (RET), the Certified Food Safety Professional (CFSP), the Radon Measurement Proficiency Credential, and the Radon Mitigation Proficiency Credential).
In addition, NEHA conducts an Annual Educational Conference and a number of technical workshops (see upcoming events) each year, publishes the widely respected and peer reviewed Journal of Environmental Health, and the FOOD environment news digest, supports professional continuing education, functions as a one-stop-shop for publications that provides the NEHA member with education in virtually every area of the environmental field, and performs additional services ranging from networking to committee participation opportunities to the development of positions on timely and serious environmental concerns.
The pursuit of NEHA's mission is manifested through the various programs that the association sponsors. Just as important, however, is the manner in which it conducts these programs.
NEHA's large and growing membership encompasses the public and the private sectors, as well as academia and the uniformed services. The association's journal has subscribers in some fifty-three countries from around the world.
While a majority of NEHA's members work in the public sector (many are employed at local county health departments in the role of generalists), we constantly are moving toward membership which is representative of the entire environmental health field. The only qualification to be a regular active NEHA member is that the individual be a professional who is employed in the environmental field. This has given NEHA a most unique position of being the single organization which, because of its diversity, offers a forum for discussion of the issues. In this way we will find the solutions we all seek-together.
It is the association's desire to foster more cooperation and understanding between and among environmental health professionals, to contribute to the resolution of worldwide environmental health issues, and to work with other national professional societies to advance the cause, the image, and the professional standing of the environmental health profession. At the same time, NEHA remains solidly founded by its roots in efforts to improve the environment in cities, towns, and rural areas throughout the world in order to create a more healthful environment and quality of life for us all.
As a NEHA ACTIVE MEMBER you will receive the following benefits:
FREE subscription to the prestigious Journal of Environmental Health (JEH)! As a member, you will receive 10 journals per year! JEH has a fantastic new look and is an excellent resource for timely environmental health information and innovative, practical ideas. We have recently added 16 pages of more relevant information to JEH -- making the Journal 64 pages!
FREE membership directory on disk! This invaluable networking tool has recently been updated and provides you with the addresses, phone numbers, and areas of expertise of over 5,000 top professionals in environmental health. There are actually 40 different areas of expertise represented.
DISCOUNTS on credential fees! Enjoy substantial $avings and earn national recognition through NEHA's prestigious credentials. Currently NEHA offers the following credentials: Registered Environmental Health Specialist/ Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS), Certified Environmental Health Technician (CEHT), Registered Hazardous Substances Professional (RHSP), Registered Hazardous Substances Specialist (RHSS), Registered Environmental Technician (RET), Certified Food Safety Professional (CFSP), Radon Measurement Proficiency Credential, and the Radon Mitigation Proficiency Credential.
DISCOUNTS on registration fees for NEHA's Annual Educational Conference (AEC) & Exhibition. Meet your colleagues in the public sector, the private sector, the Uniformed Services and academia -- improve your skills, discover new products and techniques, and learn the latest in all disciplines of environmental health.
DISCOUNTS on invaluable reference materials available through NEHA's Publications. Select from over 300 titles representing environmental technical disciplines, professional development and management topics.
For more information, including how to become a member of NEHA, go to their website at www.neha.org