Public and Environmental Health & Safety Professionals
Formal Description
“Public and environmental health and safety professionals review, evaluate and monitor public health and environmental safety hazards and develop strategies to prevent, control and eliminate disease and environmental impact caused by biological and chemical factors. They inspect restaurants, industrial establishments, municipal water systems, public facilities and institutions to ensure compliance with government regulations regarding sanitation, pollution control and the handling and storage of hazardous substances. They are employed throughout the public and private sectors.” (NOC 2021)
Sample Job Titles
This category includes a variety of job titles that may not necessarily be reflected by the category title. For a full index of job titles, see the category entry on the ESDC site. Example job titles include:
Environmental Health Inspector
Environmental Safety Consultant
Food Inspector
Nursing Home Inspector
Public Health Unit Supervisor
Public Safety Coordinator
Quarantine Officer - Public Health
Sanitary Standards Inspector
Welfare Institute Inspector - Public Health
Typical Employment and Education Requirements
The following typical requirements are listed on the ESDC’s 2021 entry for this occupational category:
- A bachelor’s degree in a discipline such as food science, environmental studies, chemistry or health and safety is usually required.
- Public health inspectors employed outside Quebec require certification with the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.
- Environmental health and safety professionals may require certification with the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP).
Success with a Social Sciences Undergraduate Degree and Beyond
The requirements listed for each occupational category will tend to vary across particular roles, job titles, and contexts.
When reviewing typical requirements, please remember:
- Degree and diploma listings often end with a purposefully open-ended phrase (“or a related field”, “or a similar discipline”) that acknowledges the variety and applicability of social sciences and liberal arts degrees.
- Employers often focus less on the name or title of a candidate’s degree, and more on how they articulate their transferable skills and experiences.
- Many qualifications and certifications are available as post-graduate certificates aimed at recent university graduates; these can make an excellent further education option for a social sciences or liberal arts degree.
Related Categories
Here are a few other categories that might interest you:
Related Sectors
Whereas Economic and Social Development Canada’s ‘occupational’ categories tend to focus more on the duties and functions that people play in specific roles, exploring careers by ‘sectors’ helps us to sort by employer type, industry, or general field of work. Here are just a few of the sectors that may be relevant to this category:
Academic Program Connections
As you select your program of study and the courses you will take, you can chart a path towards success in this sector from any one of our social sciences departments and programs. Here are just a few examples of academic disciplines that have connections with this sector:
Environment & Society Learn More
Environment & Society graduates often become environmental and public health professionals because their interdisciplinary training equips them with both ecological knowledge and an understanding of human-environment interactions, enabling them to protect natural resources while engaging effectively with communities.
Social Work Learn More
Graduates of Social Work programs often become health and safety professionals because their expertise in advocacy, risk assessment, and supporting vulnerable populations equips them to promote safe, inclusive, and healthy environments in workplaces and communities.
Work & Labour Studies Learn More
Graduates of Labour Studies programs may pursue careers in health and safety because their strong foundation in workers’ rights, social justice, and regulatory frameworks equips them to navigate the complex intersections of environmental protection, labor practices, and well-being.
Health & Society Learn More
Courses in Health & Society may foster understanding of public health, environmental health risks, and preventative strategies, enabling graduates to promote human well-being and sustainable community development.
