Public Health Inspector Career Profile
What is a Public Health Inspector (PHI)?
Public Health Inspectors conduct inspections and monitor activities to safeguard the environment and health of the public.They do this through education, consultation, inspection, monitoring, and enforcement of health legislation, regulations, and standards. This includes inspections of restaurants and other types of food facilities, communicable disease investigations, and inspection and monitoring of public recreation facilities, public accommodations, water supplies, and sewage disposal systems. Overall, the work of PHIs is very diverse and not one day is the same which makes for an exciting career.
What is it like working as a Public Health Inspector at the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA)?
Public Health Inspectors working for the SHA are a part of a interdisciplinary team that is focused on the needs of their clients. Duties such as conducting routine inspections of healthcare facilities, teaching courses to employees, students and the public, communicable disease investigations, sampling water samples and air quality monitoring for safety. PHIs may need to travel a lot and typically cover an area of the province to provide environmental public health services. Opportunities to move around the province in different roles and move up to supervisor and other leadership roles are available with the SHA.
What can I earn as a Public Health Inspector?
The current pay per hour is:
- Public Health Inspector - $38.13 - $46.55
- Public Health Inspector Supervisor - $44.48 - $54.30
In addition to the above pay bands, the SHA provides a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Extended Health and Dental benefits
- Defined-Benefit Pension Plan
- Life and Disability Insurance
- Employee and Family Assistance Program
- Annual Vacation
Public Health Inspectors working with the SHA are unionized employees and are members of the following union:
How do I become a Public Health Inspector?
A degree in Environmental Health and a certificate in Public Health Inspection is required to work as a Public Health Inspector in Saskatchewan. There is currently no training program in the province but the following Canadian institutions offer approved degree programs:
- British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) - Bachelor of Environmental Public Health
- Concordia University of Edmonton - Graduate Diploma in Environmental Public Health
- Cape Breton University - Bachelor of Health Sciences (Public Health)
- Toronto Metropolitan University - Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Health
- Université de Montréal - Bachelor of Environmental Public Health
After completing your program, along with meeting the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) certification requirements, you will need to obtain your Certificate in Public Health Inspection. The CIPHI certification process includes becoming member of the organization, completing a practicum, and passing the certification exam.