Becoming a Certified Environmental Public Health Professional

Certificate in Public Health Inspection (Canada)

The Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors grants the Certificate in Public Health Inspection (Canada), or CPHI(C), to candidates who fulfill the requirements established by the Board of Certification (BoC).

Departments of health and other agencies in Canada recognize the CPHI(C) as evidence of satisfactory training, and it is intended to meet the needs of the provinces, municipalities, federal government, and other employers of qualified environmental public health professionals.

The certification process

Academic qualification

Step 1: Academic qualification

Complete a bachelor’s degree from a BoC-accredited program from any of the following institutions:

British Columbia Institute of Technology (Burnaby, BC)

Cape Breton University (Sydney, NS)

Concordia University of Edmonton (Edmonton, AB)

Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning (Kitchener, ON)

Toronto Metropolitan University (Toronto, ON)

Université de Montréal (Montréal, QC)

All BoC-accredited programs teach to the Board of Certification’s Instructional Objectives.

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces may contact the BoC Canadian Armed Forces representative for more information on required academic qualifications.

Foreign-trained environmental public health professionals seeking a CPHI(C) may apply to gain recognition of their academic qualifications by the BoC. Learn more.

Membership

Step 2: CIPHI membership

Hold a current student membership in the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.

Membership Application Form

Practicum

Step 3: Practical experience

Successfully complete a minimum 12-week (420 hour) practicum from an approved practicum-training agency, supervised by a person who holds the CPHI(C). 

Practicum Guidelines for Training Agency and Trainees

You may seek practicum opportunities on the CIPHI Careers page or on an approved practicum training agency’s job board.

Examination

Step 4: Certification examination

Apply for the Certification Exam. See the Candidate Information Package for application details.

Pass the Certification Exam, which consists of two components:

  • Two written formal inspection reports (minimum passing grade: 60%)
  • An oral board examination (minimum passing grade: 70%)

Examination sitting

October 2023

50-day application deadline

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Examination date

Monday, October 30, 2023

Examination sitting

April 2024

50-day application deadline

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Examination date

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Candidates will receive their exam results by email within six to eight weeks after the exam date.

Successful candidates will receive their Certificate in Public Health Inspection (Canada) by mail within eight to 10 weeks after the exam date.

1

Academic qualification

Academic qualification

Step 1: Academic qualification

Complete a bachelor’s degree from a BoC-accredited program from any of the following institutions:

British Columbia Institute of Technology (Burnaby, BC)

Cape Breton University (Sydney, NS)

Concordia University of Edmonton (Edmonton, AB)

Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning (Kitchener, ON)

Toronto Metropolitan University (Toronto, ON)

Université de Montréal (Montréal, QC)

All BoC-accredited programs teach to the Board of Certification’s Instructional Objectives.

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces may contact the BoC Canadian Armed Forces representative for more information on required academic qualifications.

Foreign-trained environmental public health professionals seeking a CPHI(C) may apply to gain recognition of their academic qualifications by the BoC. Learn more.

2

Membership

Membership

Step 2: CIPHI membership

Hold a current student membership in the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.

Membership Application Form

3

Practicum

Practicum

Step 3: Practical experience

Successfully complete a minimum 12-week (420 hour) practicum from an approved practicum-training agency, supervised by a person who holds the CPHI(C). 

Practicum Guidelines for Training Agency and Trainees

You may seek practicum opportunities on the CIPHI Careers page or on an approved practicum training agency’s job board.

4

Examination

Examination

Step 4: Certification examination

Apply for the Certification Exam. See the Candidate Information Package for application details.

Pass the Certification Exam, which consists of two components:

  • Two written formal inspection reports (minimum passing grade: 60%)
  • An oral board examination (minimum passing grade: 70%)

Examination sitting

October 2023

50-day application deadline

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Examination date

Monday, October 30, 2023

Examination sitting

April 2024

50-day application deadline

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Examination date

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Candidates will receive their exam results by email within six to eight weeks after the exam date.

Successful candidates will receive their Certificate in Public Health Inspection (Canada) by mail within eight to 10 weeks after the exam date.

History of certification

In 1935, the Canadian Public Health Association established qualifications for inspectors relating to post-secondary education and technical training; conducted examinations for certification; and created the corresponding Certificate in Sanitary Inspection.

To carry out its responsibilities, the association appointed a national committee, the Committee on the Certification of Sanitary Inspectors (which is now the Board of Certification of Public Health Inspectors), with representatives from federal, provincial, and local health authorities, and the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.

In 1963, the title sanitary inspector was changed to public health inspector.

On July 1, 1979, the operation and administration of the Board of Certification was transferred from the Canadian Public Health Association to the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.